How long does fresh salsa last is the question asked by almost everyone. Those who use tomato-based salsa, they are always wondering that for how long they can keep the salsa inside the refrigerator.
Well, the shelf life of salsa is dependent on things like the best before use date, the amount of preservative used by the company and the kind of salsa you are using. Salsa is often prepared by chopping various spices, veggies like onions, tomatoes and even peppers. An unopened pantry salsa lasts for approximately 1-2 months and the opened one also lasts for 1-2 months if refrigerated continuously.
If the salsa is homemade, it will last for one week. It is already an established fact that salsa lasts till ‘best by date’ or till the expiry date as put up by the manufacturer. Fresh salsa can last for a long time and thus you may use it in order to compliment your favorite snacks and meals. Even after the date of expiry, you may use salsa to enhance the taste of the dish.
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How To Tell If The Salsa is Fresh or Not?
If you practice food safety techniques and proper hygiene, it will prevent food borne illnesses. Stale salsa appears thicker and acquires a deep maroon color. So, eventually, mold begins to grow and if this happens, you need to throw away the entire salsa. It is through the color, smell and texture of salsa that you may judge whether the salsa is fresh or not.
The original state of salsa gets transformed if kept for too long. So, it is always wise to enjoy salsa much before the date of expiry given on the container. You must never consume spoiled salsa even if it tastes good. There are a lot many health risks attached to it. So, to stay safe, enjoy your food much before the date of expiry.
How long Does Salsa Last When Used in The Dish?
For instance, if you prepare beef using salsa, the time of expiry relies on the time period for which the beef remains fresh. In short, salsa stays fresh only till the time the meal stays fresh.
I'd like to share with you some easy recipe with salsa that you can make at home:
How Long Does Fresh Salsa Last?
If the salsa is freshly chopped, the cilantro, the tomatoes will wilt in 3-4 hours. In case, the salsa is prepared in the blender or molcajete, you can keep the salsa refrigerated for one week’s time. But, if it is the green salsa made from tomatillos, the salsa thickens just after a few days of refrigeration. This is all due to the pectin content of tomatillos. After salsa is kept in the refrigerator, it loses its heat. However, the blended salsa may stay fresh in the refrigerator for a month’s time. So, just make a lot of salsa, keep it frozen and use in the dish as you like.
When it comes to the flavor, the salsa can last for 1-2 days. But with respect to food safety, the salsa lasts much longer. It is seen that salsa does not improve with refrigeration. If you wish the salsa to last longer, you may prepare the lacto-fermented salsa which lasts for a long time in the refrigerator. This can go for a couple of weeks. One good point about lacto-fermented salsa is that its flavor is not very different from the non-fermented lacto salsa verde. In fact, the lacto-fermented is more acidic in nature. To do this, you just need a bit of whey or just strain yogurt through the cheesecloth. This needs to be added to the salsa verde and the final product needs to be left in the room temperature.
However, if you refrigerate the salsa for more than a week, the fresh salsa loses its freshness, taste and looks since the acids break down. But, the normal shelf life of salsa which is prepared properly can be 6-8 weeks. A lot depends on refrigeration. Once the jar of salsa is opened, it does not stay fresh for a long time.
Salsa Expiration Date
| (Unopened) | Pantry | Refrigerator |
|---|---|---|
| Past Printed Date | Past Printed Date | |
| Salsa (Jar) lasts for | 1-2 Months | 1-2 Months |
| (Opened) | Pantry | Fridge |
| Salsa lasts for | -- | 1-2 Weeks |
| Homemade Salsa lasts for | -- | 5-7 Days |
How Long Does The Homemade Salsa Last?
So, you have prepared the salsa at home and thinking how long does fresh salsa last. You need to know that the homemade salsa will last for one week and not more than that. If your salsa acquires a thicker texture and turns into maroon color, it is time to discard it. In fact, if it acquires foul smell, it again has to be discarded. Always preserve the salsa in an air tight container to keep intact the freshness.
When you buy the sauce from any food store, check out the label carefully. Look for the expiry date and if you see that the date of expiry is nearing, do not buy the product. You may make salsa and store it in the air tight container. Use the sauce for any dish relating to eggs, meat or chilaquiles.
If you don't know how to make homemade salsa at home, see below video:
Please post the “spicier” salsa recipe.
Hi Steve. Thanks for your comment. The video above that talks about a “spicier” recipe is actually a link to a different website’s video. However, I emailed her to see if she would post or send me the spicier version. If I hear back, I will let you know.
In the meantime, my neighbor makes a killer spicy salsa:
Throw all of this into the food processor:
6 large washed and quartered beefsteak tomatoes
One bunch cleaned green onion with the blanched green ends cut off
2-3 cloves peeled garlic
1/3 cup cilantro (depending on preference)
2 cans of roasted hatch chiles (she actually roasts her own on the grill and keeps in seeds and membranes, which give it even more heat)
1 can roasted jalapeños (again, she roasts her own)
4 limes (ends up being about 1/3 cup juice)
2 tablespoon salt
pepper taste
Extra tip: if you don’t use food processor and use above in pico de gallo form, then just add crushed avocado, and you have an amazing guacamole!
Another tip: If you don’t want your guacamole to brown, use a little pickled jalapeno juice
I thought salsa lasted a long time due to the acidity of the tomatoes and the kapow of the peppers. I make my salsa with ghost peppers and tomatoes with chiles and stuff. I guess I was wrong.
Hi Stacie.
Thank you so much for reading and for the comment. Without the preservatives, homemade salsa does go bad between 5-7 days. You can try to freeze it, but the texture really changes, and you would only want to add it to a recipe, not use it on its own after you take it out. Your salsa sounds yummy and spicy!
I bought a container of fresh cilantri salsa.It says expires 05/09/19.. Can i eat it after that day?