There’s nothing more frustrating than preparing to cook your weekly pasta recipe, opening the pantry for your favorite jarred sauce, and realizing that it smells a little funky. Whether you’re trying a plethora of jarred Alfredo sauces like us or swearing by Rao’s homemade marinara sauce, you’re probably not using a whole jar at a time—meaning there’s always leftover sauce that could go to waste.
It’s important to know exactly how long you should let leftover jars live on your refrigerator shelf. Although marinara sauce and tomato sauce are two different types of tomato-based sauces (marinara is thinner and tomato is thicker), both still need to be refrigerated after opening. That being said, things don’t take long to go south.
Opened Jarred Tomato Sauce Lasts Only 5 to 7 Days
First off, to accurately determine how long your opened jar of tomato sauce will last, you should always check the storage instructions on the jar. According to the USDA, high-acid canned goods (like tomato sauce) should only be stored for five to seven days after opening. Consider how quickly fresh, whole tomatoes spoil—they are highly perishable, making them vulnerable to bacterial growth.
An unopened jar of marinara sauce can last up to 18 months in the pantry. If you have leftover jarred sauce that you know you’re not going to cook before it spoils, then we recommend placing it in a plastic or glass container and freezing it to get a few extra months out of it. Pasta sauce can last in the freezer for up to six months before freezer burn sets in, but, like any perishable food, it’s always better to use it as soon as you can. To store the remaining jarred tomato sauce in the refrigerator, keep it fresh by placing it in an airtight container for up to the USDA’s allotted time frame.
How To Tell if Your Sauce Has Gone Bad
There are blatant signs that your jarred sauce has hit its expiration date. Discoloration, clumpy texture, and mold growth (anything fuzzy, slimy, or darkened that has a different consistency and color than the original sauce) are the biggest indicators of spoilage. If your jarred sauce smells sour, rotten, or just off, trust your gut and kick it to the curb. If your opened tomato sauce passes the seven-day mark, it’s best to trash it. When it comes to expired food, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Looking for innovative, new pasta recipes to add to your weekly rotation? Check out our six ways to make jarred pasta sauce taste homemade.