Mustard adds zesty, spicy flair to all kinds of foods – from hot dogs and pretzels to sandwiches and charcuterie boards – with its zesty spice adding bold flavor. An unsung hero in terms of delivering flavor, mustard brings big flavors to many different dishes!
But mustard can quickly outlive its welcome if left sitting around too long. If you have ever observed a crusty or dusty-topped mustard bottle with suspicious features, then this guide is here for you.
No more opening and sniffing jars multiple times to learn their shelf lives; now you can confidently enjoy mustard! We take away all the mystery surrounding its shelf life so you can confidently enjoy this delectable spread!
Do You Know If Mustard Goes Bad? In short, yes. Mustard will inevitably turn bad over time.
Don’t just throw away those jars just yet – quality mustard stored properly can last an amazing amount of time! Let’s dig deeper!
All mustards contain three essential components that ensure their stability and shelf-stability:
1. Vinegar (or another acid like wine, verjus etc)
2. Salt
3. Mustard seed/powder.
This triple combination prevents microbial growth by acidifying mustard to lower its pH level and create an inhospitable environment for bacteria growth, keeping mustard fresh for as long as possible.
Air exposure over time causes quality degradation through oxidation, ingredient separation, moisture loss and off-flavors – including yellow hues fading over time in mustards; seeds sinking; vinegar bite fading to bland blandness and off-flavors developing.
Before these changes impact overall product quality and make mustard inedible or spoilage occur, it can take months or years.
Though mustard has no official “expiration date”, its shelf-life can’t last indefinitely either.
Let’s investigate the average shelf life ranges of mustard.