How Long Does Applesauce Last? Can It Go Bad?
How To Store Applesauce? You can find commercially-produced applesauce sold in bottles, pouches, glass jar, or in a single-serve cup. Some of these applesauce products undergo pasteurization before it is packed, transported, and sold in the market. Pasteurized applesauce packs are usually shelf-stable. In other words, as long as you haven’t unopened it, you can keep them in the pantry without the need to refrigerate it.
For shelf-stable applesauce, keep them in a cool dark place and make sure to keep them away from heat and sunlight exposure. The pantry or your kitchen cupboard is an excellent place to store your shelf-stable apple sauce. As long as it is still unopened, the chances for microbial contamination is small as these kinds of products are pasteurized and sealed tightly. On the other hand, the applesauce you got from the refrigerated section will always require refrigeration as they are most likely unpasteurized. So, see to it that your new store-bought refrigerated applesauce should immediately go inside the refrigerator when you get home. An opened jar of applesauce must always be kept in the fridge afterward. And it should always be closed tightly. Or, read and follow the producer’s storage instructions and check the label for its expiration. As for homemade applesauce, it should always be kept in the fridge and have it sealed tightly all the time so that it doesn’t lose its quality. Any food item that requires refrigeration should always be returned to its storage after using it. If the refrigerator is not available, you can do the canning method for your homemade applesauce to make it shelf-stable. Make sure to have the mason jars sterilized before you fill it with your applesauce. Then, after filling the jar, sterilize it again to kill the rest of the microorganisms. Cool the jars down before keeping them in your kitchen pantry or cupboard. See to it that the storage area for your applesauce is cool, dry, and it should be away from sources of sunlight and heat. But once you open the jar, you should refrigerate it then.Can I freeze applesauce?
If you’re pondering whether or not it is okay to freeze applesauce, the answer is YES. Depending on how you want to do with your applesauce or when you are going to use it, it is not a bad idea to store it in the freezer. With this storage method, you can even keep it for the longest possible time. Before you freeze your applesauce in the freezer, there are a few things that you should be aware of:1.The texture of frozen applesauce will change once you have taken it out of the storage for thawing. In detail, your apple sauce may turn out to have a watery and mushy consistency after you freeze it and store it.
2.Although your applesauce’s consistency may change after freezing, that does not mean it is not usable anymore. You can use it for baking purposes, and you won’t even notice such a change of taste or flavor after you finish baking.
1.Transfer your chilled applesauce into a freezer-safe container or freezer bag. You can also divide your apple sauce into smaller portions by filling them in an ice cube tray. If you think the ice cube tray is too small for a single portion of the applesauce, you can also use a muffin tin instead.
2.Push the air out if you keep the applesauce in a freezer bag by gently pressing and flattening it.
3.If you are keeping the applesauce inside an airtight container, make sure to leave one-inch inch space for it to expand.
4.Seal and label your container or freezer bag with today’s date.
5.Store your applesauce in the fridge.
Can appesauce go bad?
Yes. Once you open a bottle or jar of applesauce, its shelf life shortens, and it becomes more prone to contamination and spoilage. Generally speaking, if you have an unopened bottle of applesauce, it is unlikely that it would go bad for months, even if it is past the date as long as its seal stays intact.How long does applesauce last?
Store-bought applesauce comes with a “best-by” date, “best-before” date, or expiration date labeled on its packaging. These dates on the label will give you an idea of how much time left for you to store the product at its prime. Basically, applesauce can last up to one year if you haven’t opened it yet. As long as you haven’t opened it yet and stored it in ideal conditions, your applesauce can last for at least two months past the date. However, it’s not possible to give a definitive answer on how long after that date your unopened package of applesauce will last. This will depend on a whole lot of factors that come into play. It is expected that your applesauce’s quality depreciates as time goes by regardless of how well you keep it. If you are opening an expired jar of applesauce that has passed a month or two, don’t expect that your applesauce will taste as fresh and delicious as the newly-produced ones. Store-bought applesauce can last around 10 to 14 days inside the refrigerator. Other manufacturers would suggest consuming the product in less than 5 or 7 days from the time you opened it. And there are also other brands that indicate that you have 20 to 30 days to consume it. It all depends on how these producers process their own applesauce products. Make sure to return your applesauce to the refrigerator after opening it. If you left it outside the fridge for 2 hours, it might have already harbored contaminants that can potentially cause food spoilage and food poisoning. Homemade applesauce can last in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the type of storage or preservation method you used. How to tell if applesauce has gone bad? Remember to always inspect the quality of your applesauce and the label before using it. To find out if your jar or bottle of applesauce is still suitable for cooking or baking, here are the spoilage signs you should look for that will tell you that you should immediately discard the applesauce:- There is mold growth.
- It has an unusual or off-smell
- It shows any signs of discolorations
- It tastes bad.
- There are leaks or damages in its packaging.
