How Long Marinara Sauce Lasts In The Fridge, Open Or Closed

That's a spicy meatball! Why? Maybe because you put some marinara sauce on it. The popular tomato-based sauce is the perfect topping for homemade pasta recipes, and it makes a great dipping sauce for pizza and breadsticks. Jarred marinara sauce is one of the most convenient and cheapest finds at your grocery store, making it a key ingredient for an easy and delicious dinner. Best of all, the leftover sauce can be easily stored in the refrigerator. But how long does marinara sauce last in the fridge?

For an unopened jar of marinara, you can store it in the pantry for about a year without worrying about expiration. However, once you've opened your jar of sauce, you will want to keep it in the fridge. According to the USDA, leftover marinara sauce can last anywhere from five to seven days if stored in a refrigerator set below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. But this can vary, and you should always be on the lookout for signs of spoilage. So, next time you reach for that half-empty (or half-full) jar of tomato sauce, make sure that it hasn't been hanging out in your fridge for too long.

You will, of course, want to be careful with how you store your marinara sauce in the fridge. For starters, you'll want to keep your sauce in a closed container. Keeping food in an open container leaves it vulnerable to drying out, creating an unpleasant texture. It might also lead to other flavors from your fridge seeping into your sauce, which is not all that appetizing. Additionally, you will want to make sure that your marinara is in a refrigerator below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, avoiding areas of the fridge that are prone to temperature fluctuations, such as the door. And if your marinara came in a tin can, you will want to transfer your leftover sauce to another container entirely to avoid some unpleasant effects. If you're not planning on eating your leftover sauce within the five-to-seven-day freshness window, you can always freeze it. Your marinara sauce will stay good for up to six months in the freezer.

Regardless of how you store your leftover marinara sauce, you should be aware of potential signs of spoilage or contamination. There are a few things that you can look for to ensure that you're not scooping out rotten sauce. For one, if your marinara has changed in color, or has taken on a sour scent, you should go ahead and toss the jar. And if there's mold on or in your sauce, it should be thrown out immediately, since mold toxins can make you sick. If you're in doubt, it's always best to just toss the sauce in the trash rather than risk it.

It's also important to note that even unopened containers of marinara can be spoiled. Tin cans of marinara in particular are susceptible to botulism — a serious foodborne illness — especially if the can has been damaged in any way. For this reason, any cans that have major bulges, holes, or dents (especially on seams) should be tossed out immediately, just to be safe.