Who doesn’t like to spice up their dinner routine with homemade pasta sauce? But you also don’t want to waste it, right? Are you wondering how long you can keep that jar of delicious spaghetti sauce in the refrigerator?
If so, then you’re in the right place! We’re here to talk about the shelf life of both homemade and store-bought pasta sauces and how to make the most of the pasta sauce you’ve purchased.
If you want to know more about how long does pasta sauce last in the fridge, keep reading!
What are the Different Types of Pasta Sauce?
There are several varieties of pasta sauce, each with its distinct flavor and components. Here are some of the most popular pasta sauces:
- Marinara sauce: prepared with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs like basil and oregano, this classic tomato-based sauce is prepared with tomatoes, garlic, onions, and herbs like basil and oregano.
- Bolognese sauce: A hearty meat sauce made with ground beef or pork, tomatoes, onions, garlic, and occasionally carrots and celery.
- Alfredo sauce: Made with butter, milk, and Parmesan cheese, this rich and creamy sauce.
- Pesto sauce: Pesto sauce is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic, and Parmesan cheese, all combined with olive oil.
- Carbonara sauce: This sauce is often served over spaghetti and is created with eggs, pancetta, and Parmesan cheese.
- Arrabbiata sauce: Arrabbiata sauce is a spicy tomato sauce prepared with red pepper flakes, garlic, and tomatoes.
- Vodka sauce: Tomatoes, cream, and vodka are combined to make this creamy tomato sauce.
- Puttanesca sauce: Made with tomatoes, olives, capers, and anchovies, this savory sauce is a must-try.
- Meatball sauce: A tomato-based sauce with onions, garlic, and herbs that are used to cover meatballs.
These are just a handful of the numerous varieties of pasta sauce. Each region of Italy, down to its homes, has its own distinct recipes and variants of these classics.
The most interesting thing about jarred spaghetti sauce is that it has an exceptionally extended shelf life when unopened. Unopened jars of store-bought tomato sauce can be stored at room temperature for up to a year.
This is also true with homemade sauces. Your sauce can safely last 1-2 years if packed in an airtight container, such as a glass jar.
If the sauce is heavy cream-based, such as Alfredo sauce, it can be stored unopened in the pantry for up to 8 months. Tomato acidity aids in the preservation of tomato-based sauces.
Cream-based pasta sauces do not have this benefit, hence they do not last as long. However, you can always make cream-based pasta sauce easily. So, it may be wiser to instantly make this type of sauce rather than storing them for a long time.
When a jar of spaghetti sauce is opened, however, the clock begins to tick. Refrigerate immediately after opening. Open jars of sauce will only keep in the fridge for about a week. Tomato-based sauces keep for up to 10 days after opening, whereas cream sauces keep for up to 7 days.
The following table holds up an approximate measure of the shelf life of your pasta sauces:
| Storage | Length |
| Pantry (Store-bought) | 8 months – 2 years |
| Refrigerator | 7 – 10 days |
| Freezer | 6 months |
Understanding the Best Way to Store Pasta Sauce
Unopened jars of pasta sauce should be stored at room temperature in a cupboard or pantry. If you prefer, you may also store them in the refrigerator. Jars of pasta sauce that have been opened can be stored for 3-5 days in the refrigerator.
- Use an airtight container: Before keeping the pasta sauce in the refrigerator or freezer, place it in an airtight container. This helps prevent air from entering and spoiling the sauce.
- Refrigerate if used within a few days: Refrigerate the pasta sauce if used within a few days. Place it in the coldest portion of the refrigerator, which is normally the rear of the bottom shelf.
- Freeze for long-term storage: If you don’t intend to use the pasta sauce within a few days, freeze it. Use freezer-safe containers or resealable freezer bags, and identify them with the date so you know when they were created.
Frozen spaghetti sauce can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Before usage, defrost the sauce thoroughly: If you freeze the pasta sauce, make sure to thoroughly defrost it before using it.
The easiest approach to defrost the sauce is to place it in the refrigerator the night before you intend to use it. If you’re in a hurry, you may also use your microwave’s defrost mode.
Read More About: How Long Is Pasta Good For In the Fridge?
Refrigerating an Opened Jar of Pasta Sauce
It is important to transfer pasta sauce to an airtight container before storing it in the refrigerator. The container should be labeled with the date it was opened and the best temperature for storing it should be below 40°F (4°C).
The sauce should be stored within 4-5 days and should be frozen at any time during the 3-5 days. Experts recommend storing an opened jar of sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Longevity of Pasta Sauce in the Fridge
The most important details to remember when it comes to jarred spaghetti sauce are to check the expiry date on the jar, defuse the sauce after expiry, proper storage, and homemaking.
Unopened jars of pasta sauce have a shelf life, while homemade pasta sauce has an equal unopened shelf life but only lasts 3-5 days in the fridge. Tomato-based sauce can last up to 10 days, while the cream-based sauce is good for up to 7 days.
Homemade tomato sauce has a shorter shelf life due to its higher acidity and fewer preservatives than store-bought sauces.
Signs of Spoiled Pasta Sauce
It is easy to tell if a pasta sauce has gone bad, but it is important to look out for three particular factors. First, if the sauce smells off or the taste doesn’t smell right, toss it out immediately.
If there is any mold on the inside of the container, it is no longer safe to eat. Mold is the only visible sign of spaghetti sauce and unless it contains dairy, there will be no smell or taste indicators of spoilage.
Even mold can be difficult to spot due to the varying texture of the sauce, as well as the sour smell and visible mold. To practice top-quality food safety, one can reheat the spaghetti sauce in a pan to kill any bacteria present in the sauce and avoid food poisoning.
Tips for Extending the Shelf Life of Pasta Sauce
Here are some suggestions for increasing the life of spaghetti sauce:
- Refrigerate or freeze: As previously stated, keeping pasta sauce in the refrigerator or freezer can help extend its shelf life. Before storage, place the sauce in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.
- Use clean tools: To avoid introducing bacteria into the spaghetti sauce, use clean utensils when scooping it out of the jar.
- Don’t double-dip: Don’t dip your fork twice into the jar of spaghetti sauce. This can bring germs into the sauce, causing it to deteriorate more quickly.
- Keep the jar securely closed: Always keep the lid of the pasta sauce jar tightly closed to prevent air from seeping in and spoiling the sauce.
- Add vinegar: A spoonful of vinegar to your spaghetti sauce might make it last longer. The acidity in vinegar might help keep the sauce fresher for longer.
If you don’t intend to use the entire jar of spaghetti sauce, freeze it in little parts rather than one huge container. This makes it easy to defrost and use as needed, avoiding the need to thaw and freeze many times.
You can increase the shelf life of your spaghetti sauce and reduce waste by following these suggestions. However, before ingesting the sauce, inspect it for symptoms of decomposition, such as mold or odd scents. To avoid the danger of foodborne disease, always throw the sauce if in doubt.
The Shelf Life of Homemade Pasta Sauce
Homemade pasta sauce has a shelf life that varies based on the components used, storage circumstances, and preparation techniques. In general, homemade pasta sauce may be stored in the refrigerator for 4-5 days and in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Some rules should be followed to increase the shelf life of homemade pasta sauce:
- Use clean utensils and equipment: To avoid introducing bacteria into the sauce, use clean utensils and cookware while making homemade pasta sauce.
- Refrigerate or freeze: If you aren’t going to use the pasta sauce right away, put it in airtight containers or freezer-safe bags in the refrigerator or freezer. This will assist prevent air from entering and spoiling the sauce.
- Label and date the containers: Before storing the pasta sauce containers, make sure to label and date them. This will allow you to keep track of how long the sauce has been in the fridge or freezer and when it is time to throw it out.
- Reheat properly: When reheating homemade pasta sauce, heat it to at least 165°F (74°C) to destroy any possible germs that may have formed.
- Check for spoiling: Before eating homemade spaghetti sauce, look for symptoms of spoilage such as mold, odd scents, or color or texture changes. If you detect any of these symptoms, throw out the sauce.
You may securely preserve and prolong the shelf life of homemade spaghetti sauce by following these tips. However, while assessing whether or not a product is safe to consume, it is always crucial to apply your best judgment and trust your instincts.
Methods to Preserve Pasta Sauce
Pasta sauce can be stored in a variety of ways. The methods you can follow to preserve pasta sauce for an extended period of time are given below:
Canning
Canning is a common way of preserving pasta sauce since it can increase the sauce’s shelf life by up to a year. Sterilize the jars before filling them with hot spaghetti sauce and processing them in a boiling water bath.
Freezing
Another common way of preserving spaghetti sauce is freezing, which can increase its shelf life by up to 6 months. Allow the pasta sauce to cool fully before transferring it to airtight containers or freezer-safe bags to freeze.
Dehydration
Dehydrating pasta sauce is eliminating all of the moisture from the sauce, which can increase its shelf life by up to a year. This method entails spreading the sauce in a thin layer on a dehydrator tray and drying it at a low temperature until totally dry.
Acidification
By decreasing the pH of the pasta sauce and limiting the growth of germs, acidic additives such as vinegar or lemon juice can help preserve it. This procedure, however, may affect the flavor of the sauce.
Fermentation
Fermenting pasta sauce includes introducing helpful bacteria to the sauce, which can help preserve it while also improving its flavor and nutritional value. This approach necessitates some knowledge of fermentation processes and should be used with caution.
You may preserve spaghetti sauce and increase its shelf life by employing these techniques. To prevent the danger of foodborne illness, it is necessary to follow strict food safety procedures when preserving food.
After opening, keep spaghetti sauce in the refrigerator at 40°F or lower.2 If you don’t have an urgent purpose for leftover spaghetti sauce, it can be frozen if moved to the freezer within four days after opening. According to Barilla, it may be frozen for up to three months, but it’s better to let it cool before portioning it into a container or freezer bag and labeling it with the date.3
It’s critical to locate an airtight container or jar to put homemade pasta sauce in for good preservation. This way, your homemade Sunday sauce will last as long as possible.
What If The Sauce Hasn’t Expired Yet?
When reading the expiration date on shop-bought pasta, keep in mind that it is a quality indicator. The date on the jar also relates to the jar’s shelf life when unopened and stored at room temperature.
- The expiration date marked on the opened container of spaghetti sauce is no longer valid.
- You can make a point of writing the date of opening a jar of spaghetti sauce. That way, you will know how long it has been in the fridge.
- The date of opening the jar is a far better indicator of the safety of the sauce than the stated date. Check for the presence of any unpleasant scents.
Conclusion
Ultimately, the shelf life of pasta sauce is affected by various factors, including the type of sauce, storage circumstances, and whether or not it has been opened. In general, an unopened jar of spaghetti sauce may keep in the pantry for up to 1-2 years, whereas an opened jar can keep in the refrigerator for around 1 week.
Homemade pasta sauce and other specialty pasta sauces, on the other hand, may have a shorter shelf life. To increase the shelf life of spaghetti sauce, keep it in airtight containers, mark and date the containers, and inspect for indications of deterioration before using.
You can properly keep and enjoy spaghetti sauce for longer periods of time if you follow these rules!