How Long Does Dressing Last In The Fridge?

How long does dressing last in the fridge?

In this brief guide, we are going to answer the question “how long does dressing last in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of different dressings. Moreover, we are going to discuss whether or not you can store a dressing at room temperature and the basic types of dressings.

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

How long does dressing last in the fridge?

The shelf life of different types of dressings varies in accordance with the different ingredients and processing techniques that were used to make them. Generally, a dressing lasts for 2-3 months in the fridge in an air-tight container or plastic zipper bag.

Moreover, the main ingredient that is used in their formulation also impacts their shelf life a lot. For instance, vinegar and oil based dressings have a longer shelf life as compared to mayonnaise-based dressings or cream based dressings.

Moreover, whether the dressing is home-made or store-bought, it also impacts its shelf life as homemade dressings do not have any added preservative in them while commercially processed store-bought dressings have added preservatives that prolong their shelf life. So below we are going to have a bird’s eye view of the shelf life of different dressings.

Homemade dressings

Homemade dressings have a shorter shelf life and different homemade dressings that have different main ingredients present in their formulation have a different shelf life.

The dressings that have vinegar added to them will have a longer shelf life as compared to the ones that do not have vinegar in their formulation.

The homemade dressings that have some citrus fruit juice (lemon, lime, or orange juice) in their formulation instead of the vinegar have a shelf life of about 1 week in the fridge as the lemon juice undergoes oxidation that can change the flavors of the dressing.

On the other hand, when it comes to the mayonnaise-based homemade dressings, then they have a shelf life of 1 week in the fridge.

Last but not least the dairy-based dressings like those made from yogurt, buttermilk, sour cream, etc, or the ones that have eggs added in them have the shortest shelf life and last for about 2-5 days in the fridge.

Store-bought dressings

Balsamic vinaigrette lasts for about 3-4 months in the fridge if stored properly at or below 40°F in an air-tight container or bottle.

The blue cheese dressing lasts for about 1-2 months in the fridge if stored properly at or below 40°F in an air-tight container or bottle.

The ranch dressing lasts for about 1-2 months in the fridge if stored properly at or below 40°F in an air-tight container or bottle.

Thousand island dressing lasts for about 1-2 months in the fridge if stored properly at or below 40°F in an air-tight container or bottle.

The Ceasar dressing lasts for about 1-2 months in the fridge if stored properly at or below 40°F in an air-tight container or bottle.

Italian dressing lasts for about 3-4 months in the fridge if stored properly at or below 40°F in an air-tight container or bottle.

When it comes to salad dressing dry mix, you do not need to refrigerate it, rather it can stay fresh for about 3-6 months if it is stored in a cool, dry, and dark corner of your pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.

It is worth mentioning that when it comes to freezing, we do not recommend you to freeze your dressing as the texture and the flavor of the dressing will change a lot after freezing. So you won’t get the same flavor and texture once the dressing is thawed.

Can I store dressing at room temperature?

Unopened bottles of dressings last for about 2 months in a cool, dry, and dark corner of the pantry away from direct sunlight and heat.

In the case of the opened bottles of dressings, most of them need to be refrigerated once they have opened while for the others like Italian dressing it is up to you whether you want to store it in the refrigerator or the cool, and dark corner of your pantry.

What are the basic types of dressing?

There are four basic types of dressing.

Oil and vinegar-based dressing also known as a vinaigrette
Cream-based dressing
Mayonnaise based dressing
Yogurt based dressing like raita

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “how long does dressing last in the fridge” with an in-depth analysis of the shelf life of different dressings. Moreover, we discussed whether or not you can store a dressing at room temperature and the basic types of dressings.