Does Sriracha go bad or not? How can you tell whether Sriracha has gone bad, and how should it be stored? This concise guide contains all of the answers.
Do you like to spice your food from time to time? Then you’re probably one of those folks that methodically work their way through a bottle of Sriracha.
And you still have plenty of hot sauce after the expiration date on the label.
Perhaps you looked at the label today and wonder if it is okay to continue using it. Can Sriracha go bad?
Here’s some encouraging news: Sriracha is shelf-stable and will last for a long time even if not refrigerated.
Let’s look at how to tell if it’s spoilt, how long it can keep its quality, and how to store it.
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How long does Sriracha last?
This is the trickiest part. Because of the sauce’s decline in quality, most people discard it. And not because Sriracha has gone bad and is no longer safe to use.
Your bottle of Sriracha has the best before date, which gives you an idea of how long it will keep fresh. However, because Sriracha contains vinegar, it will likely remain optimal for several months after that date.
Here are some general guidelines to keep you on track:
- Unopened Sriracha can be stored in the pantry for up to two years after the best before date.
- If an opened bottle of Sriracha is stored in the pantry, it will last 6-10 months.
- If opened Sriracha is stored in the fridge, it will keep its quality for more than two years.
| Unopened | Best buy date plus two years |
| In the fridge | Two years |
| Room temperature away from sunlight | Six – nine months |
| Room temperature in sunlight | One – four months |
How long does homemade Sriracha last?
Because homemade sriracha sauce contains no preservatives, its shelf life is naturally reduced.
While vinegar is a natural preservative, keeping homemade Sriracha in the fridge is best. Homemade Sriracha will keep for around 4 to 6 months.
Room temperature on the countertop
Leaving Sriracha on the counter is a common storage practice, and happily, for most Sriracha fans, this is a safe method if you hate cold hot sauce.
Sriracha can be left open on a countertop for up to nine months before the flavor wanes.
Room temperature exposed to sunlight.
Keep it out of direct sunlight when storing anything in the refrigerator or freezer.
While it is difficult to determine how quickly the flavor of Sriracha changes when exposed to sunshine, we have discovered that Sriracha exposed to sunlight is fine anywhere from one to four months, depending on how hot the weather is.
If your kitchen is bright and sunny, put your Sriracha in a pantry or any other spot that does not receive direct sunlight.
In the refrigerator
If you want to keep the flavor of Sriracha for as long as possible, store it in the refrigerator. Because the cold kills microorganisms, the delectable sauce can have a substantially longer shelf life of up to 2 years when stored in the refrigerator.
If you don’t mind having your Sriracha cold, this is the approach to use for the longest shelf life.
What changes can we expect from Sriracha?
Though the Sriracha will not go bad, you should expect some certain changes. The Sriracha will change color from a bright red to a mellow dark red.
Because this process takes a long time, the bottle will either be empty or finished when you observe a color change.
The flavors will also become hotter as the ingredients combine, which benefits if you’re a hot sauce connoisseur. If the heat is too much for you, you can slow the process by refrigerating the bottle.
So, can Sriracha go bad? In theory, yes, but even someone who enjoys Sriracha moderately will be able to finish their bottle within three years. You should get through it, given how long it takes for the color to shift slightly.
Whatever your favorite hot sauce is, you should be able to use it all before it goes bad.
Sriracha darkening
Sriracha turning a darker red (or browning) is not a sign of spoilage. Chili peppers darken with time, and most hot sauces, such as Tabasco, exhibit the same effect.
The darkening process is completely natural (I discussed it in further depth in my article on the hot sauce), and it has little effect on the quality of the sauce.
Sure, the flavor is a little different, but that’s about all.
Does Sriracha need to be refrigerated?
Even after opening the bottle, you do not need to refrigerate Sriracha. The condiment’s ingredients are resistant to bacterial growth and do not spoil easily.
It can be stored in a cool, dry place.
In other words, Sriracha isn’t your average salsa that needs to be refrigerated after opening.
Almost all hot sauces benefit from refrigeration, and Sriracha is no exception. If you keep it in the fridge, it won’t darken as quickly and longer hold its flavor.
The mainline is that if you intend to finish the bottle within a few months, it’s fine to store open Sriracha at room temperature. However, if you intend it to be in storage for longer than six months, it is best to refrigerate it.
Does Sriracha darken quicker when opened?
When your Sriracha sauce is opened and exposed to air, it will darken over time. The more you use it and the longer it is exposed to air, the darker it will grow.
Does Sriracha darken quicker when left at room temperature?
At room temperature, Sriracha darkens faster. The fridge’s cool temperature helps retain both the flavor and look of the hot sauce.
So, if you want your Sriracha to stay bright red for longer, keep it in the fridge.
Does it darken faster when Sriracha is refrigerated
Refrigerating Sriracha is the best way to keep its color and flavor. Remember that darker Sriracha is not an indication of how it will taste; rather, it is purely a visual effect caused by the peppers themselves.
How to tell if your Sriracha is bad
Now, if your Sriracha has turned darker, don’t think it’s spoilt. Chili peppers darken with age.
It is a natural occurrence that does not affect the quality of the Sriracha. Light and air exposure hastens the process. As a result, if you open and use your hot sauce frequently, it may darken faster.
Some signs of spoilage include
- fermented or unpleasant smell
- any organic or mold growth
- change in taste
- change in texture
- bottle or container may be dented, swollen, or leaking
Furthermore, if the bottle is more than 4 to 5 years past its best before date, it should be discarded. It’s better to be safe than sorry!
Can Sriracha make you sick?
You shouldn’t be overly concerned if you’ve eaten some Sriracha that tastes a little odd. You may have ingested some mold or aging yeast in the worst-case scenario.
Although your stomach may be disturbed, the danger of long-term damage is quite minimal.
How should Sriracha be stored?
Sriracha sauce should be stored in the same manner as other hot sauces. Although it has a long shelf life, it is always necessary to provide accurate storage methods.
Continue reading to learn how to store Sriracha.
Store in a cool and dark place
It is preferable to keep Sriracha in a cool environment. Avoid coming into contact with hot areas.
Please keep them away from the heat source to prevent them from becoming worse.
Exposing Sriracha to areas where the temperature fluctuates for an extended time may degrade its quality. This sauce can be kept at room temperature.
Store in pantry
Keep it away from any source of heat, such as an oven. If you’re wondering whether it’s safe to store it in a kitchen cabinet or pantry, you’re lucky since Sriracha would fit right in.
The ideal place to store Sriracha is in a kitchen cabinet or pantry.
Once the bottle has been opened, it must be stored with extreme caution. To do so, check to see if it is constantly tightly shut.
What are you waiting for if you don’t? Seal it as soon as possible. When not in use, Sriracha should be tightly closed.
Refrigeration
Do you think it’s a good idea to keep hot sauces like Sriracha in the fridge? If you want to keep the hot sauce for an extended period, don’t keep it in the refrigerator.
Sriracha contains vinegar, which helps it hold its quality longer than other hot sauces and doesn’t need to be refrigerated.
An unsealed bottle of sriracha sauce can be kept in the fridge for up to two years. The longer it sits, the hotter the flavor becomes.
If the heat is too much for you, you may simply slow the process by refrigerating the bottle. A refrigerator, on the other hand, is not advised.
Is sriracha sauce freezable?
Freezing sriracha sauce is an option, but it will not extend the shelf life or keep the flavor quality longer than storing it in the fridge.
This is because sriracha sauce has a high acid concentration in the form of vinegar. Bacteria will find it difficult to colonize the hot sauce due to its strong acidity.
In addition, spicy chili pepper is used as an ingredient. The capsaicin present in peppers helps in the prevention of the formation of fungus and bacteria.
All of this is to say that freezing sriracha sauce is viable, but it won’t benefit you any more than storing it in the fridge or cupboard.
The bottom line on Sriracha
It is a popular hot sauce. You can keep it in your kitchen cupboard or pantry at room temperature. You may also keep it in the fridge to keep it fresher for longer.
If your Sriracha has any evidence of spoilage (scroll up if you missed it) or is more than 4 or 5 years old, don’t use it.
