How to store horseradish
Best place: the fridge. USDA gives horseradish a fridge time (12 months, from the package date) and no pantry time, so it belongs in the fridge as soon as you get home.
No guideline
12 months
from the package date; after opening: 3 to 4 months
No guideline
How to tell horseradish has gone bad
General signs for condiments, sauces & canned goods, the group USDA lists horseradish under.
- Dented, bulging or rusted cans, especially at the seams
- Hissing sound or spray when a can or jar is opened
- Mould on the surface of a sauce or condiment
- Separation, discoloration or a sharp off smell from the jar
- Metallic taste or cloudy liquid in canned food
More on condiments, sauces & canned goods. 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
Refrigerate opened condiments and sauces with their lids on tightly, and use a clean spoon each time to avoid contamination. Store unopened cans in a cool, dry cupboard, and once opened, transfer leftover canned food to a covered container in the fridge rather than storing it in the can.
How to store other condiments, sauces & canned goods
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.