spaghetti sauce that's opened --

[mafibisha]

How long can you use spaghetti sauce thats been opened? Not sure how long it's been in the fridge, but probably two weeks.
It looks and smells okay but I don't think I should use it, or can I? It's oldest DDs and DSs fav kind and I don't have any more of it. TIA.

 

[GoofyBaseballMom26]

Personally, I wouldn't use it if it's been open that long. But I'm kinda peculiar about stuff like that.. once something hits an expiration date, it's history in my house.

 

[golfgal]

When in doubt, throw it out. 2 weeks for spaghetti sauce is usually ok but any more then that and I would toss it. We get the huge jars of Prego and when I open it I put the date opened on the lid with a sharpie so I know how long it has been in there.

 

[Feralpeg]

Toss it! Things with tomatoes in it goes bad faster than many other things due to the acid content.

 

[mafibisha]

Thanks, I didn't think so or really want to use it. And probably wouldn't have. The kids are really picky about spaghetti sauce but will just have to enjoy mine tonight!

 

[Pooh67_68]

Throw it out.

 

[CathrynRose]

Personally, I wouldn't use it if it's been open that long. But I'm kinda peculiar about stuff like that.. once something hits an expiration date, it's history in my house.

Not too long ago, I was very lenient on expiration dates. Until December 3rd, 2009. (yes - it was so terrible I remember the date)

It was French Onion soup. I know it had expired (in the can) but thought "Come on...it's canned. What could happen to it?"

Heck knows what the heck happened to it, but I paid for it for 2 days. I don't think I ever had stomach cramps like that in my life. It was awful. AWFUL!

Just throw it away. It's worth the $3 to get a new one. Unless you're looking for a quickie weight loss solution before the weekend.

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

well, being that is my field/ it should say on the jar. but I would get rid of it after 3 days. I personally do not do any leftovers what so ever! I also never take ....left overs, microorganisms just totally builds up on things. you would not believe what I have seen! put it this way...I just do not eat out!! period! it is gross

 

[marcyinPA]

when I open it I put the date opened on the lid with a sharpie so I know how long it has been in there.

Great idea! I'm embarrassed to say that this had never crossed my mind...such a simple thing to do!

 

[nashville_minnie]

Don't you wish everything would just say so on the label so that we know!

I also do the sharpie trick, not just on sauce, but on everything. DH is not really on board real well, so most of our petty arguements stem from me happenning across something in the pantry/fridge that's open with no date on it!

 

[NatashaDisneyCM]

Don't you wish everything would just say so on the label so that we know!

I also do the sharpie trick, not just on sauce, but on everything. DH is not really on board real well, so most of our petty arguements stem from me happenning across something in the pantry/fridge that's open with no date on it!

there's dates...you just need to know where and how there are there. they are also usually very small, on the rims etc.

 

[NikkiLovesWDW!]

What?! I never thought to throw away an opened jar of spaghetti sauce until the expiration date! I use sauce for MONTHS after I open it because I just figured the expiration date was when it expired....not when it expires if it stays in the jar! EWW! I'm so gross! Going in my fridge RIGHT NOW to throw away the latest jar...when I say latest, it's been there for at least a few weeks now!

Who knew?

 

[DMickey28]

I neve thought about it! I just threw out a two jars with 1/4 left in them this AM but they were past the experation date anyway. I would think twice if it was before the date on the jar ... but I have opened leftover jars that had OBVIOUSLY went bad.

I majored in Food Service in college and took many safety classes. I am probably a lot more cautious than most but try not to go over board.

 

[MIGrandma]

I wouldn't eat opened spaghetti sauce if it was more than a couple of days beyond the expiration date. But, if there is lots of time before that date I will eat it until there is visible mold on the lid. Maybe that's gross to some, but it has never hurt me and I hate wasting it.

 

[Pakey]

I work for a food manufacturing company (yes, we bottle a lot of the pasta sauces you are probably talking about).

I just called the lab manager to get a verification. He said 7 days tops.

BTW, the codes on the side of the lid, called day codes, are not telling you when the product will expire. Those are put on there to give you the production dates in case of product recall. We are required to day code everything in 2 hour increments. If it turns out that an ingredient is bad or adulterated, we have to be able to find every jar that was packed with that ingredient.

Some items will have an expiration date posted on the lid/box/etc. but those are because that particular brand wants it listed; it's not really going to go from good to spoiled on a particular date while sitting on the shelf in the store. More often than not, items will lose flavor and companies to do want their old product with less flavor out there because they want repeat business.

 

[C.Ann]

A couple of bouts of serious food poisoning has left me somewhat jaded..

I would toss it!

 

[laurie31]

I think it says somewhere on the jar to use within 7 days after opening. We also keep a Sharpie on the fridge and write dates on stuff. The expiration date is for if it stays sealed until that time.

As for keeping it for months - wow, we go through a couple of jars a week. The only way one makes it 7 days is if the kids open a new one without realizing there's already one open.

 

[dis-happy]

Next time toss the jar with the leftover sauce in the freezer. It will still be good and you don't have to waste half a jar.

 

[mafibisha]

well, being that is my field/ it should say on the jar. but I would get rid of it after 3 days. I personally do not do any leftovers what so ever! I also never take ....left overs, microorganisms just totally builds up on things. you would not believe what I have seen! put it this way...I just do not eat out!! period! it is gross

Wow! I love the DIS! Its so interesting to hear so many different opinions in such a short time! It would take forever to call my mom, my sister, ect ect to get their opinions (but that's because we'd have to discuss the latest events of the day, too )

What?! I never thought to throw away an opened jar of spaghetti sauce until the expiration date! I use sauce for MONTHS after I open it because I just figured the expiration date was when it expired....not when it expires if it stays in the jar! EWW! I'm so gross! Going in my fridge RIGHT NOW to throw away the latest jar...when I say latest, it's been there for at least a few weeks now!

Who knew?

 

[N.Bailey]

When foods have expiration dates on them, they are referring to the shelf life of the product if it's kept sealed. Think about cereal. It will last a long time, but once opened, that shelf life no longer applies and cereal can start getting stale the moment it's opened (depending on various factors of the storage area).

As for tomato based products, those with vinegar on the ingredients list have a fairly long shelf life when opened. Think ketchup. Spaghetti sauce however does not have vinegar in it (none that I've seen anyway that doesn't mean no brand does), and has a very short shelf life when compared to the other types of products (BBQ sauce does). Spaghetti sauce follows the 3 day rule in my house. I do NOT take chances.