There is a lot of debate over whether soy sauce belongs in the fridge or the pantry.  Some say keeping it in the fridge is the only way to keep it good, while others say the pantry is just fine.  So, who’s right?

Quick Answer

Soy sauce does not need to be refrigerated.  However, keeping it in the fridge will help it to stay good longer.

• Even if it stays in the pantry, soy sauce will not go bad as long as nothing has been added to it (for example, water).
• Refrigerating soy sauce helps to preserve its taste and freshness.

Whether you store your soy sauce in the fridge or the pantry, it should stay good as long as it’s stored properly.  This means that refrigerating it is your choice. read more

It’s always good to have some extra rice around the house, but just how long can that rice last?  Does uncooked white rice actually go bad?  It’s important to find out how long-term your long-term storage can last.

Quick Answer

Unlike brown rice, uncooked white rice has an indefinite shelf life.

• Uncooked white rice can be stored in the pantry, fridge, or freezer.
• It should be stored in a cool, dry place.
• Keep it in an airtight container to avoid contamination.
• Uncooked white rice that has become moist should be thrown away.
• If you spot any mold, pests, or spots on the rice, throw it away as it has been contaminated.

Although uncooked white rice is easy to store, there are some variations on how and where you can store it.

Does Uncooked White Rice Go Bad? How Long Does Uncooked White Rice Last?

There are several places you can store your white rice.  It’s best to understand how each of them will affect the lifespan of your rice. read more

Cream cheese can be an essential ingredient in your kitchen. If you are using a recipe that calls for softened cream cheese, it can be challenging to determine how long it can be out of the fridge before it goes bad.

Quick Answer

Cream cheese can be left out of the refrigerator for a total of two hours. If it is left out for longer than that, harmful bacteria, E. Coli, can grow on cream cheese and cause sickness. The cream cheese temperature needs to be below 40 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it is safe to use. read more

It is easy to take butter for granted. You may often go through several sticks of butter without worrying about its quality. But if butter goes unused for a long time, will it expire?

Quick Answer

Butter does go bad. It will eventually go through a process called oxidation and no longer be safe to consume. Butter comes with an approximate expiration or ‘sell by’ date, but it can be used well past that date depending on where and how it is kept. The type of butter will also affect how long it will last. If stored properly, butter can be preserved for as long as 12 months past the expiration date. read more

Do you have an old teabag sitting in your drawer? Maybe it has been days, months, or even years. You are probably wondering if it is any good to drink. Worry no longer, I have researched this very question and will share what I found with you in this article.

Quick Answer

The date listed on teabags is not an expiration date but more, so a best used by date. If stored properly, tea bags will not spoil. Dried leaves are the primary ingredient in tea bags. Dried leaves do not go old. The best used by date is for consumers to know how long they will have until it loses its freshness. read more

If you’re an occasional balsamic vinegar user, you could have a bottle of balsamic vinegar on your shelf for quite a while.  If that’s the case, you might find yourself wondering just how long that bottle will stay good.

Quick Answer

Balsamic vinegar can last for years without going bad.  It rarely becomes unsafe for consumption, but some things to note are:

• If you find any mold in the bottle, throw it away.
• If the balsamic vinegar tastes fine, it should be fine to consume.
• There is little to no risk of balsamic vinegar going bad if you store it with the lid on.
• Although it usually won’t go bad, balsamic vinegar can degrade in quality.

Even if it’s safe to consume, your balsamic only stays in peak quality for a specific period of time.  Use it within that time for the ideal experience. read more

Because there are so many ways to store walnuts, it can be hard to keep track of how long they stay good for.  The way you store walnuts will largely dictate how long they will last.

Quick Answer

Although it can be hard to get an accurate estimate of how long your walnuts will last, there are some guidelines you can follow:

• Unshelled walnuts may last 6 months in the pantry.
• Shelled walnuts may last 1 or 2 months in the pantry.
• Unshelled and shelled walnuts may last 1 year refrigerated.
• Unshelled and shelled walnuts may last 2 years frozen.

Because there are a lot of factors to consider, it’s best to arm yourself with information to determine how long your walnuts will stay good.

How Long Do Walnuts Last? Do Walnuts Go Bad?

Depending on how walnuts are stored, including whether they are shelled or not, their lifespan may vary quite a bit. read more

Apple cider vinegar can be a great ingredient in recipes and is always good to keep around the house.  If you’re a lover of apple cider vinegar, or if you simply like to buy in bulk, you may be wondering if it can go bad.

Quick Answer

Apple cider vinegar has a self-preserving quality, which means that it will almost never spoil.

• If it is contaminated, there is a risk of spoilage, but most contaminants will not survive in apple cider vinegar.
• Apple cider vinegar will change its taste over time, and this change may be undesirable, but it is still perfectly safe.
• To check whether your apple cider vinegar is okay to use, simply taste a little bit.

While apple cider vinegar will, under most circumstances, be safe to use indefinitely, it will undergo some changes which you should be aware of.

Does Apple Cider Vinegar Go Bad? How Long Does Apple Cider Vinegar Last?

Apple cider vinegar will usually preserve itself indefinitely, but its flavor may become undesirable after some time.  The way it is stored will have an effect on how long it stays fresh. read more

Gatorade is a flavored drink that replaces carbohydrates and sodium lost during exercise. If you are especially active and you frequently drink Gatorade, you probably stock up to quench your thirst. Well, what about that 8 pack of cool blue that you’ve had sitting in your pantry that is 6 months past the “best by date”? Let’s explore if Gatorade can spoil, if it can be frozen, and how long it lasts once it is opened.

Quick Answer

Gatorade can spoil, once it is opened it should be consumed with in three days if left at room temperature. If the beverage is opened, consumed, then left in the fridge then it should be finished in 5 days per PepsiCo’s suggestion. This 3 to 5 day mark guarantees the freshness of the flavor. Moreover, you’ll likely know if your Gatorade is spoiled by the color change, change in texture, and odor. Also, if you’re feeling brave, the taste will be very different. read more

During summer cleaning,  you’ve purchased a new bottle of vinegar then you come home to find there is a half bottle of vinegar on your shelf. Sometimes it is difficult to remember the purchase date and it seems it best to use the new bottle and to toss the opened one, but that usually is not the case.

Quick Answer

Vinegar has been named one of the most versatile products on the shelf. It can be used for a variety of culinary applications from making marinades to being used as a tenderer for tough cuts of meats.  Vinegar is not a product that can necessarily go bad or sour. In fact, it can actually lose its bitter taste if the storing conditions aren’t met. The color and smell can change overtime as well. read more