After buying a bottle of corn syrup for that homemade Thanksgiving pecan pie you notice it’s still sitting on your pantry shelf and now you’re wondering how long it lasts.  Let’s find out.

Quick Answer

Corn Syrup pretty much lasts indefinitely.  Corn syrup will have a best-by date stamped on the bottle, but properly sealed and stored on your pantry shelf away from light and heat corn syrup will last almost indefinitely past its best-by date.  Corn syrup will eventually lose some of its sweetness but as long as there are no obvious signs of spoilage, it should be fine.  If you’re in doubt, it’s always best to taste just to be sure.

Corn syrup is great to have on hand for baking and to make your own pancake syrup.  Stored properly, your corn syrup will be good from one Thanksgiving pie to the next.

Does Corn Syrup Go Bad? How Long Does Corn Syrup Last?

Corn syrup is best stored on your pantry shelf.  It’s a great item to have on hand for a multitude of desserts or as a sweetener.

How Long Does Corn Syrup Last Outside?

Unopened corn syrup should be stored on your pantry shelf.  Once opened, the corn syrup should be tightly sealed and returned to the pantry shelf.

Be sure to tightly seal the bottle once you are finished pouring it.  You also want to be sure that no corn syrup remains on the lip of the bottle so it will seal properly when closed.

It’s also important that you pour the corn syrup into something rather than using a knife or other implements to dip into the bottle of corn syrup.  You will want any remaining corn syrup to be free from contaminants.

How Long Does Corn Syrup Last in the Fridge?

Corn syrup does not need to be refrigerated, but it can be.  Once it is put in the refrigerator, however, it should stay in the refrigerator.

Corn syrup is naturally thick, but it should remain pourable even once refrigerated.  If it seems too thick to pour, you can leave it on the counter for a few minutes and try again.

Refrigerated corn syrup will last indefinitely, like corn syrup that remains on the pantry shelf.  There is no appreciable increase in time by refrigerating your corn syrup since corn syrup already stays good for a long time on the pantry shelf.

How Long Does Corn Syrup Last in the Freezer?

Corn syrup should not be frozen.  Freezing will cause the texture of the corn syrup to change and the end result will not be favorable.  Frozen and thawed corn syrup doesn’t even work well as an ingredient in baked goods.

Given how long corn syrup lasts on the pantry shelf there is no incentive to freezing it anyway.  Oftentimes freezing an ingredient can extend its shelf life.  That is not the case with corn syrup.

Items baked with corn syrup, such as that Thanksgiving pecan pie, can be frozen and thawed with no noticeable change.  Once the corn syrup is mixed with the other ingredients you won’t notice the change in texture from freezing.

Corn syrup is a great shelf-stable ingredient used in baked goods.  It is best stored on the pantry shelf, but it can also be refrigerated.  Regardless of whether it’s stored in the pantry or the refrigerator, corn syrup will last for a long time.

How To Tell If Corn Syrup Has Gone Bad? / How To Know Corn Syrup is Fresh?

Corn syrup will last pretty much indefinitely either on the pantry shelf or in the refrigerator.  If you are concerned about the freshness of your corn syrup, there are a few things to look for.

Give it a sniff:  If you are in doubt as to the freshness of your corn syrup, give it a sniff.  It should smell sweet and pleasant.  If your corn syrup has an odor or it just doesn’t smell right, then you should probably throw it away.

Significant change in color:  If your corn syrup has dramatically changed in color, you should probably consider throwing it away.  Corn syrup is often either light or dark in color.  If your light corn syrup has changed colors it is rather obvious.  If your dark corn syrup seems very dark, it may have spoiled.  Regardless, if your corn syrup no longer looks like you expect it to, it’s safest to just throw it away and start over.

Obvious mold:  If your corn syrup has developed obvious mold, then it should be thrown away.  Mold is a definite sign that your product has spoiled.

Taste it:  You can always taste your corn syrup to see if it still has the sweet taste you would expect.  If it doesn’t, it’s probably time to replace it.

How to Store Corn Syrup?

If stored properly, corn syrup will last for a very long time.  Knowing how to properly store your corn syrup will ensure it’s always waiting for your next baking adventure.

Properly seal the bottle:  You want to be sure the bottle is free from any corn syrup residue and it is tightly sealed when you are finished pouring it.  This will help your corn syrup to stay fresh.

Away from heat and light:  Your corn syrup will be best stored on your pantry shelf or in your refrigerator and away from heat and light.  Both will cause your corn syrup to spoil faster.

Can You Freeze Corn Syrup? How?

Corn syrup does not react well to being frozen.  Corn syrup that is frozen and thawed will undergo a change in texture, resulting in an inferior product.  Freezing is not advisable.

No increased storage time:  Often you look to freeze something to extend the amount of time it will be good.  Since corn syrup stays good indefinitely on either the pantry shelf or in the refrigerator, attempting to freeze it won’t increase the amount of time it will be good.  It also doesn’t take well to being frozen and will undergo a change in texture.

Freeze in baked goods:  You can freeze baked goods, such as pies, fudge, and candy containing corn syrup with no change in the end result.  Once corn syrup is mixed with other ingredients the change in texture is not noticeable.

Don’t freeze it:  Corn syrup should not be frozen on its own.  The thickness of corn syrup doesn’t lend itself to freezing.

How to Thaw Corn Syrup?

Since corn syrup should not be frozen on its own there are no concerns with correct thawing procedures.  Corn syrup will change in freezing so freezing is not advisable.

Baked goods with corn syrup as an ingredient can be frozen without concern.  Be sure to follow your recipe to be sure.  As with most baked goods, you will want to wrap it carefully to keep moisture away.

Frequently Asked Questions About Corn Syrup’s Shelf Life

If corn syrup turns yellow has it spoiled?  Not necessarily.  Corn syrup that has been on the pantry shelf for awhile may start to appear more yellow in color, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it has spoiled.  If your corn syrup smells sweet and tastes sweet, it is fine to use.

If corn syrup is past the best-by date is it spoiled?  Not necessarily.  Corn syrup, stored properly, lasts indefinitely on the pantry shelf or in the refrigerator.  The best-by date is a possible indication of freshness, but corn syrup will stay good for a long time past the best-by date.

Wrap Up

As long as it is stored properly, corn syrup is good either on the pantry shelf or in the refrigerator indefinitely.  Tell us in the comments below whether you store your corn syrup in the pantry or the refrigerator.