Does Sriracha Go Bad? How Long Does It Last?

by Editorial Staff | Updated on July 30th, 2022

Is it possible for Sriracha to go bad? How do you tell if Sriracha is bad, and how should you keep it? This concise guide contains all of the solutions.

Do you like to season your meals from time to time? Then you’re probably one of those folks that methodically work through a bottle of Sriracha. And you still have plenty of spicy sauce after the expiration date on the label.

Perhaps your chance to peek at the label today and are wondering if it is okay to continue using it. Can Sriracha spoil?

Here’s some good news: Sriracha is shelf-stable and will keep for a long time even if not refrigerated.

Let’s look at how to tell whether it’s spoiled, how long it can keep its quality, and how to store it.

How Long Does Sriracha Last?

This is the trickiest part. Because of the sauce’s decline in quality, most consumers toss it not because Sriracha is tainted and hazardous to consume.

Your bottle of Sriracha has a best before date, which indicates how long it will keep fresh. However, because Sriracha contains vinegar, it will likely remain in its optimal condition for several months after that date.

Here are some general guidelines to keep you on track:

• If you have unopened Sriracha in your cupboard, it may be used for another two years after the best before date.
• Keeping an opened bottle of Sriracha in the pantry will last 6-10 months.
• If opened Sriracha is stored in the refrigerator, it will keep its quality for more than two years.

How Long Will Homemade Sriracha last?

Because homemade sriracha sauce has no preservatives, its shelf life is naturally reduced.

While vinegar acts as a natural preservative, it is best to keep homemade Sriracha in the fridge. Homemade Sriracha will keep for around 4 to 6 months.

When left in the Countertop’s Room Temperature

Leaving Sriracha on the counter is a common storage technique, and happily, for most Sriracha fans, this is a safe option if you loathe cold hot sauce.

Sriracha may be left open on a tabletop for up to nine months before the flavor begins to fade.

When Sunlight Exposed Room Temperature

When keeping anything that isn’t in the refrigerator or freezer, keep it out of direct sunlight.

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 for 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 chilly, this is the approach to use for the longest shelf life.

What changes can we expect from Sriracha?

Though the Sriracha will not spoil, there will be certain alterations. For example, 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 completed by the time you observe a color change.

The tastes will also get hotter as the ingredients combine, which is a benefit if you’re a hot sauce connoisseur. However, if the heat is too much for you, you may delay the process by refrigerating the bottle.

So, can Sriracha go bad? In principle, sure, but even someone who enjoys Sriracha mildly will be able to finish their bottle within three years. You should be able to get through it, given how long it takes for the color to shift somewhat. Whatever your favorite spicy sauce is, you should be able to use it all before it goes bad.

Darkening of Sriracha

Sriracha becoming a deeper red (or browning) is not a symptom of deterioration. Chili peppers darken with age, and most spicy sauces, such as Tabasco, exhibit the same effect.

The darkening process is completely natural (I discussed it in further depth in my post on the spicy sauce), and it does not affect the sauce’s flavor. Of course, the flavor is slightly different, but that’s about all.

Is it necessary to keep Sriracha refrigerated?

Even after opening the bottle, Sriracha does not need to be refrigerated. This is because the condiment’s components are resistant to bacterial development and do not deteriorate readily. It may be stored in a cold, dry location.

In other words, Sriracha isn’t your standard salsa that needs to be refrigerated once opened.

However, almost all spicy sauces benefit from chilling, and Sriracha is no exception. If you store it in the fridge, it will not brown as rapidly and will preserve its flavor for longer.

The basic line is that it’s acceptable to store open Sriracha at room temperature if you intend to complete the bottle within a few months. However, if you want it to be stored for longer than six months, it is best to refrigerate it.

When Sriracha is opened, does it darken faster?

Once opened and exposed to air, you’ll notice your Sriracha sauce darkening over time. This is because the more you use it and the longer it is exposed to air, the darker it will turn.

Is it true that Sriracha darkens faster when left at room temperature?

At room temperature, Sriracha darkens faster. However, the cool temperature of the refrigerator aids in the preservation of both the flavor and look of the spicy sauce. So, if you want your Sriracha to maintain its brilliant red color for longer, store it in the fridge.

Is it true that Sriracha darkens faster when refrigerated?

Refrigerating Sriracha is the greatest way to preserve its color and flavor. Note that darker Sriracha does not indicate how it will taste; rather, it is a visual effect generated by the peppers.

How to Tell if your Sriracha has gone bad

Don’t think it’s spoiled if your Sriracha has darkened slightly. Chili peppers darken over time.

It is a natural occurrence that has no bearing on the quality of the Sriracha. However, the process is accelerated by exposure to light and air. As a result, if you open and use your hot sauce frequently, it will darken faster.

The following are some symptoms of spoilage:

• Any organic or mold development fermented or offensive odor
• Changes in texture and flavor may occur if the bottle or container becomes bloated, damaged, or leaks.

Furthermore, it should be discarded if the bottle is more than 4 to 5 years old after the best before date. Better to be cautious than sorry!

Is it possible to become sick with Sriracha?

You shouldn’t be overly concerned if you’ve eaten some Sriracha that tastes a bit odd. In the worst-case scenario, you may have ingested some mold or aged yeast. Although your stomach may be disturbed, the danger of long-term harm is quite minimal.

How should Sriracha be stored?

Sriracha sauce should be stored in the same manner as other spicy sauces. Although it has a long shelf life, it is always necessary to offer proper storage techniques. Continue reading to learn how to store Sriracha.

Store in a cool and dark environment

It is preferable to keep Sriracha in a cool environment. Avoid coming into contact with hot spots. Please keep them away from the heat source to prevent them from worsening.

Exposing Sriracha to areas where the temperature fluctuates for an extended time may degrade its quality. Therefore, this sauce may be kept at room temperature.

Pantry storage

Keep it away from any source of heat, such as an oven. If you’re wondering if 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 cautiously. To do so, check to see if it is constantly firmly shut. What are you waiting for if you don’t? Seal it as soon as possible. When not in use, Sriracha should be securely closed.

Refrigeration

Do you think keeping spicy sauces like Sriracha in the fridge is a good idea? If you want to preserve the spicy sauce for an extended period, don’t keep it in the refrigerator. Sriracha includes vinegar, which helps it hold its quality longer than other spicy sauces and doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

An unsealed bottle of sriracha sauce may 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 delay 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 any longer than storing it in the fridge.

This is because sriracha sauce has a high quantity of acid in the form of vinegar. Therefore, bacteria will find it difficult to colonize the spicy sauce due to its strong acidity.

In addition, spicy chili pepper is employed as an ingredient. The capsaicin present in peppers aids 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 more than storing it in the fridge or cupboard.

Conclusion

It is a popular spicy sauce. You may keep it in your kitchen cabinet or pantry at room temperature. You may also store 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.

Editorial Staff

Our writers, editors, content managers, and SEO specialist. We all take part in crafting amazing articles. We spend hours ensuring that each article is based on facts, researched, and thorough. You'll never want to click the back button to look for more answers other than here!