Does Crisco expire?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “Does Crisco expire” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not Crisco expires. Moreover, we are going to discuss the shelf life of Crisco, whether or not Crisco goes bad after the “best by” date, and the proper way to store Crisco.

So without much ado, let’s dive in and figure out more about it.

Does Crisco expire?

Yes, Crisco expires after a certain period of time and its shelf life depends on opening and the storage condition. The unopened can of Crisco lasts for around one to two years past the expiration date. Whereas, opened Crisco lasts for about a few weeks if kept at room temperature or in the fridge.

What we mean by expired Crisco is that such Crisco will go rancid or go stale and it won’t have the same aroma and flavor as that of fresh Crisco.

There are certain indicators that you should keep into consideration to find out whether your Crisco has gone rancid or not.

1. Crisco can go rancid and it can develop that unpleasant rancid aroma that is noticeable if you take a sniff test of the Crisco. 

2. Moreover, if you feel some unpleasant taste or rancid taste while taking a bite of food in which Crisco was added then it means that your shortening has gone rancid and it is better to discard it.

3. Moreover, if you notice that Crisco has gone a few shades darker then it is also an indication of rancid shortening.

4. If you spot a mold or any other organic growth on your Crisco (a rare phenomenon), then it is an indication of bad Crisco and you should discard it.

5. Moreover, with time the texture of Crisco also becomes hard.

How long does Crisco last?

Crisco shortening cans

Unopened Crisco cans last for about 1-2 years when stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.

Opened Crisco cans last for about 1 year when stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. You should never store Crisco cans in a humid environment because if moisture somehow finds its way to your shortening, it will mess up its quality.

Crisco sticks

Unopened Crisco sticks last for about 1-2 years when stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.

Opened Crisco sticks last for about 6 months when stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. You should never store Crisco sticks in a humid environment because if moisture somehow finds its way to your shortening, it will mess up its quality.

It is worth mentioning that these figures are just the estimated shelf life of Crisco and Crisco can even last longer than this, provided that it was stored properly. 

Is it necessary to refrigerate Crisco?

When it comes to refrigeration, there is no need to refrigerate Crisco shortening and it can stay just fine in a cool, dark, and dry corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat. 

But if you still want to refrigerate it, you can go ahead but remember that it is better to bring the 

Crisco shortening back to room temperature before using it for getting the best results.

You can read whether shortening is good or bad for your health here.

Is it safe to use Crisco shortening after the “best by” date?

The “best by” or “ best before” date is written on the can of Crisco instead of the expiration date. 

The “best by” or “best before” date that is written on the can of Crisco refers to the quality rather than safety so Crisco doesn’t necessarily go bad immediately after the best before date. 

This date refers to the time during which you can enjoy the peak quality of Crisco but you can still use Crisco shortening that is past this date as long as it was stored properly.

How to properly store Crisco?

1. You should store your Crisco away from direct sunlight and heat. As sunlight and heat can increase the rate at which Crisco can go rancid or stale.

2. You can store the unopened Crisco easily in a cool, dry, and dark corner away from direct sunlight and heat. Thus you can store Crisco in your pantry or kitchen cabinet. You can store the Crisco in the pantry even after it has been opened and it can last for a long time there.

3. You should close the lid of the can containing Crisco as soon as you have taken out the shortening that you need.

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does Crisco expire” with an in-depth analysis of whether or not Crisco expires. Moreover, we discussed the shelf life of Crisco, whether or not Crisco goes bad after the “best by” date, and the proper way to store Crisco.

Citations

https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18312

Does Crisco Shortening Go Bad? Storage, Shelf Life, Spoilage