How to store marinades
Best place: the pantry until opened, then the fridge. Unopened, marinades keep for 1 year in the pantry. Once opened, the fridge gives 6 months.
1 year
from the package date
6 months
after opening
No guideline
How to tell marinades have gone bad
General signs for condiments, sauces & canned goods, the group USDA lists marinades 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.