Prep

How long does vinegar last?

FoodKeeper gives vinegar 2 years unopened, as a US guide to quality. Once opened, it has no figure in FoodKeeper.

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 it at room temperature with the cap on, out of direct sun. It doesn't need the fridge.

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

Some vinegars go cloudy or form a stringy layer with age. That's a harmless by-product called a mother, and you can strain it out if you don't like it.

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

FoodKeeper gives 2 years unopened, and no opened figure. Its acidity is why it's used to preserve other foods.

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 vinegar last unopened?

2 years, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long does vinegar keep once opened?

FoodKeeper gives no figure for an opened pack in the cupboard. FoodKeeper gives no fridge figure.

Can I eat vinegar after the best before date?

Best before is about quality, so vinegar 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 vinegar?

Some vinegars go cloudy or form a stringy layer with age. That's a harmless by-product called a mother, and you can strain it out if you don't like it.

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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