Food Expiration Dates 101: How Long to Keep Pickles, Mayo and Other Condiments

By Lisa Cericola

Almost everyone has a jar of something really old in the back of their fridge. And that mystery jar usually contains some sort of condiment. Read on for StillTasty's guidelines on keeping and tossing ketchup, mayonnaise, mustard, salad dressings and more!



1. Ketchup
Unopened: 12 months in the pantry.
Opened: 6 months in the refrigerator, 1 month in the pantry.
While you see opened bottles of ketchup sitting out on restaurant tables, it's best to store your own ketchup (which probably gets used less often) in your refrigerator.

2. Mayonnaise
Unopened: 3 to 4 months after the sell-by date on the package.
Opened: 2 to 3 months after the sell-by date on the package.
Sell-by dates represent the manufacturer's estimate of how long the product will be at peak quality. In most cases, opened food is safe to consume after a sell-by date if it has been stored properly and continuously refrigerated.

3.Barbecue Sauce
Unopened: 12 months in the pantry.
Opened: 4 months in the refrigerator, 1 month in the pantry.
Store opened barbecue sauce in the refrigerator to extend its shelf life. Toss any sauce that develops an off color or scent.

4. Mustard, All Types
Unopened: 2 years in the pantry.
Opened: 1 year in the refrigerator, 1 to 2 months in the pantry.
Opened mustard has a very long shelf life (one year!) when stored in the refrigerator. Toss any mustard that develops an off color or scent.

5. Relish
Unopened: 2 years in the pantry.
Opened: 1 year in the refrigerator.
Like mustard, opened relish has a long shelf life when refrigerated. If relish develops an off color, odor or appearance, discard it.

Click here for 13 more food expiration dates

More from iVillage.com:

38 Egg Recipes: Omelets, Quiches, Frittatas and More!

20 Delicious Winter Salad Recipes

Mix Up Your Mac: 30 Macaroni and Cheese Recipes

Food Expiration Dates 101: How Long to Keep Spices, Peanut Butter and Other Pantry Items