How long do cream sauces, milk solids last?
In the pantry, cream sauces, milk solids keep for 6 to 12 months from the package date.
6 to 12 months
from the package date
No guideline
No guideline
Do cream sauces, milk solids go bad?
Cream sauces, milk solids are shelf stable, so the pantry time is about quality rather than safety: past it, flavour and texture fade before anything becomes unsafe. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How cream sauces, milk solids compare with other condiments, sauces & canned goods
USDA FoodKeeper gives cream sauces, milk solids one time: 6 to 12 months in the pantry from the package date, and no figure for the other places. A blank usually means the food is not stored that way, not that the data is missing. The foods USDA lists next to cream sauces, milk solids in condiments, sauces & canned goods show the range for the group:
| Food | Pantry | Fridge | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broth | no guideline | 3 to 4 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Chicken broth/stock/consommé | Use by the package date | 7 days | 2 to 3 months |
| Chutney | 1 year | no guideline | no guideline |
| Cooking wine | Use by the package date | Use by the package date | no guideline |
| Cranberry sauce(first of 2 kinds) | 2 years | no guideline | no guideline |
| Dry gravy mixes | 2 years | 1 to 2 days | no guideline |
| Duck fat | no guideline | 30 days | no guideline |
| Frying oil | no guideline | 1 month | 6 to 9 months |
| Gravy | 2 to 5 years | no guideline | no guideline |
| Hoisin sauce | 18 to 24 months | no guideline | no guideline |
About condiments, sauces & canned goods. Many condiments last for months in the fridge after opening because of their salt, sugar, vinegar or oil content, though quality fades before safety does. Canned goods are shelf stable for years unopened, but the can itself needs checking before use. All condiments, sauces & canned goods.
How to tell cream sauces, milk solids have gone bad
General signs for condiments, sauces & canned goods, the group USDA lists cream sauces, milk solids 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.
How long do other condiments, sauces & canned goods last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.