How long do dinners last?
Dinners keep for 2 days in the fridge once opened. Times are USDA FoodKeeper quality guidelines from the point of purchase unless noted.
No guideline
Should be discarded after use-by date.
2 days
after opening
No guideline
How to tell dinners have gone bad
General signs for baby food, the group USDA lists dinners under.
- Lid pops or bulges when you open the jar
- Sour or off smell instead of the usual mild scent
- Colour looks darker or duller than a fresh jar
- Watery separation that will not stir back together
- Mould spots on the surface or under the lid
More on baby food. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Store unopened jars and pouches in a cool, dark cupboard away from the stove. Once opened, refrigerate immediately in a sealed container and use within the time on the label, usually one to three days. Never feed a baby straight from the jar with a used spoon, since saliva speeds spoilage; scoop out a portion instead.
More in baby food
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.