Prep

How long does apple sauce last?

FoodKeeper gives apple sauce 12 to 18 months unopened, as a US guide to quality. Once opened, that's 7 to 10 days in the fridge.

These are US figures, for quality. They come from USDA FoodKeeper. The date on a UK pack comes first, and Food Standards Agency rules take priority: never eat food after its use-by date. Best before is about quality.

How to store it

Keep jars in a cool, dark cupboard. Once opened, it needs the fridge: FoodKeeper doesn't recommend keeping it at room temperature.

USDA says temperatures below 85°F (about 29°C) are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the cooker, under the sink, or in a damp garage or cellar. Once it's open, follow the storage instruction on the label.

What to look for

Throw it out if you see mould, or if it's fizzing or smells fermented. A lid that's loose or bulging before you open it means the jar's seal has failed.

Don't use food from a cracked jar, or a jar with a loose or bulging lid. Don't taste it to check.

Worth knowing

The fridge time is long for an opened fruit product, at 7 to 10 days, but it's still far shorter than the jar's life on the shelf.

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

There's no UK shelf-life dataset, so these figures are from the US. The date on your pack comes first. On a UK pack, use by is about safety and best before is about quality, so never rely on this page to go past a use-by date.

Common questions

How long does apple sauce last unopened?

12 to 18 months, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long does apple sauce keep once opened?

FoodKeeper doesn't recommend keeping this at room temperature once opened. 7 to 10 days in the fridge.

Can I eat apple sauce after the best before date?

Best before is about quality, so apple sauce past that date is usually safe, but may not be as good. A use-by date is different: never eat food after it.

What should I look for before using apple sauce?

Throw it out if you see mould, or if it's fizzing or smells fermented. A lid that's loose or bulging before you open it means the jar's seal has failed.

Sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Checked on 2 November 2026. This is an independent tool and not official advice. See sources and method.

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