Soy sauce is a fantastic accompaniment to a variety of dishes. You may be desiring it but are unsure if it is a smart idea to utilize that old bottle at the back of your counter.
Does soy sauce have a shelf life? Soy sauce does expire, however it does not go bad like other foods. Unopened bottles of soy sauce should keep for up to three years. As soy sauce expires, it simply merely degrades in quality, making it taste much less fresh.
The remainder of this article will teach you all you need to know about soy sauce, such as how long it lasts, how to store it correctly, and how to identify when it’s gone bad.
Contents
- How Long Does Soy Sauce Last?
- How Should You Store Soy Sauce?
- How Do You Tell If Soy Sauce is Still Good?
- Can You Eat Expired Soy Sauce?
- Final Thoughts
- FAQs
- Is it OK to use expired soy sauce?
- How do I know if my soy sauce is bad?
- How long does soy sauce last after expiration date?
- How long is soy sauce good after opening?
- Can I use a year old soy sauce?
- Can I use expired Kikkoman soy sauce?
- What does spoiled soy smell like?
- Do you really need to refrigerate soy sauce?
- Does soy sauce need to be refrigerated once opened?
- What is the shelf life of Kikkoman soy sauce?
How Long Does Soy Sauce Last?
Every bottle of soy sauce has an expiry date on it, but it will most likely survive much longer than that. This is because soy sauce contains a lot of salt, which helps preserve the sauce and makes bacteria grow more difficult.
If properly maintained, an unopened bottle of soy sauce will typically survive around 3 years over the listed expiry date. An opened bottle will typically last 1 to 2 years before losing its quality.
Soy sauce, in whatever form, lasts a very long period. Even if you wait more than two or three years, your soy sauce will most likely be safe to ingest. The issue with old soy sauce is that it loses its taste and freshness, which is why it is often discarded.
How Should You Store Soy Sauce?
Preserving your soy sauce is simple and shouldn’t give you too much bother. It is easier to keep it in its original container, and there is no necessity to shift it out. If you do place it in a separate glass jar, be sure it is well sealed so that nothing in the air contaminates the sauce.
Soy sauce should be kept in a cold, dry place. This means you may store it in the pantry or the refrigerator. Most people keep unopened sauce in the pantry and then move it to the fridge after it’s opened. This is an excellent strategy for keeping your sauce fresh.
You may alternatively keep it in the fridge from the start, or in the pantry the whole time. But bear in mind that storing your soy sauce in the refrigerator will help it last longer. Opened soy sauce placed in the pantry may lose its freshness after 6 months, although it will keep fresh in the fridge for around 2 years.
It’s all up to you, and if you know you’ll consume your soy sauce soon, there’s nothing wrong with putting it in the pantry. Yet, if you want to extend its life, utilizing the fridge will be really beneficial.
How Do You Tell If Soy Sauce is Still Good?
Unless there is mold growing on it, it is difficult to tell when soy sauce has gone bad (which is very rare). Typically, substandard soy sauce will just taste odd and old, and it will not be deemed up to most people’s expectations.
Soy sauce that is of poorer grade or tastes slightly wrong will not harm you. Unfortunately, it is technically rotten at this point, and most people will toss it away due to the unpleasant taste.
If soy sauce has a very strong scent or flavor that is significantly different from the original, you should be wary. If it’s really off, it’s generally best to simply throw it away since it won’t be pleasurable anyhow.
Additionally, mold may form in soy sauce on occasion. This only occurs if it is not securely sealed and has been left out for an extended period of time. But there is a possibility, and if you are skeptical about your soy sauce, you should pour it into a separate glass and check for mold.
If you see mold or notice unusual odors or tastes, it is recommended to discard your soy sauce and replace it.
Can You Eat Expired Soy Sauce?
If your soy sauce has expired but still looks and tastes nice, you may consume it. This is due to the high salt content in soy sauce, which acts as a preservative and makes it difficult for the sauce to expire. It will be rather clear if your soy sauce has gone bad enough to make you sick.
Even soy sauce that seems to be old or stale is typically safe to consume. Having said that, you are unlikely to like eating outdated soy sauce, so tossing it away is still an option. New soy sauce usually tastes nicer, but if you don’t mind eating lower-quality sauce, you can consume it even if it’s expired.
The only reason you wouldn’t want to consume expired soy sauce is if it was moldy or had an unusual flavor or smell. You’d have to leave the soy sauce out for a long time for this to happen, but it’s feasible, and you don’t want to consume it since it might make you ill.
When consuming outdated soy sauce, take prudence and your best judgment. 9 times out of 10, the soy sauce will be OK and will not hurt you.
Final Thoughts
Soy sauce has a lengthy shelf life and only loses freshness and flavor when it goes bad. Soy sauce is undoubtedly one of the most reliable meals since it is very difficult to deteriorate.
Thus, whether you decide to consume that old soy sauce at the back of your cabinet or not, we hope that this article helped you to a decision and that you learned more about soy sauce in the process.
FAQs
Is it OK to use expired soy sauce?
Is it possible to become ill from outdated soy sauce? Condiments often carry a best-before or best-by date rather than an expiry date, which means that if kept correctly, you may still use your soy sauce after that date has passed.
How do I know if my soy sauce is bad?
How do you determine whether opened soy sauce is contaminated? The best method is to smell and inspect the soy sauce: if it develops an odd odor, taste, or appearance, or if mold forms, it should be thrown.
How long does soy sauce last after expiration date?
An unopened bottle of soy sauce will keep for at least a couple of years beyond the expiration date. Once opened, it keeps its optimum quality for approximately a month at room temperature and maybe half a year in the fridge, although it remains safe and good for much longer.
How long is soy sauce good after opening?
Another need is soy sauce. It will keep for around three years if left unopened, however it should be consumed within one month if refrigerated after opening.
Can I use a year old soy sauce?
With a few exceptions, it may lose some flavor but will not spoil. An unopened bottle of soy sauce can last for two or three years (basically forever), and an opened bottle can be left out of the refrigerator for up to one year.
Can I use expired Kikkoman soy sauce?
Kikkoman Soy Sauce may be stored for many months. All of the items have BEST BEFORE dates on the back of the labels and should be OK up to this date if refrigerated after opening.
What does spoiled soy smell like?
Indeed, and the symptoms of spoiled soy milk are extremely similar to those of spoiled cow’s milk. The fragrance and texture of poor soy milk are two signs. If you smell the milk and something doesn’t smell right—soy milk, like normal milk, will begin to smell sour—probably it’s time to throw it out.
Do you really need to refrigerate soy sauce?
By refrigerating the sauce, the taste and quality will be preserved for a longer amount of time. If no water or other ingredients were added to the soy sauce, it would not deteriorate if not refrigerated.
Does soy sauce need to be refrigerated once opened?
Since many mass-produced soy sauce brands have preservatives and a high salt content, you may safely keep them at room temperature, even after opening, particularly if you intend to use the bottle shortly.
What is the shelf life of Kikkoman soy sauce?
Soy sauce should be used within two years of its manufacturing date code for unopened plastic bottles, while teriyaki marinade & sauce, rice vinegars, and other Asian sauces should be used within 18 months.