How to store salad dressings
Best place: the pantry until opened, then the fridge. Unopened, salad dressings keep for 10 to 12 months in the pantry. Once opened, the fridge gives 1 to 3 months.
10 to 12 months
from the package date
1 to 3 months
after opening
No guideline
USDA notes for salad dressings
- Refrigeration ensures that commercial sauces and condiments stay fresh for a longer period of time. Shelf-stable commercial salad dressing is safe when stored at room temperature after opening. Quality, not safety, is the reason the labels on these products suggest that they be refrigerated after opening.
How to tell salad dressings have gone bad
General signs for condiments, sauces & canned goods, the group USDA lists salad dressings 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.