How long is Alfredo sauce good for in the fridge? (factors)

In this article, we will answer the question “How long is Alfredo sauce good for in the fridge?” and discuss what determines the shelf life of Alfredo sauce in the fridge, if Alfredo sauce can be frozen and how to know if Alfredo sauce has gone bad.

How long is Alfredo sauce good for in the fridge?

Alfredo sauce is good for approximately 4 days in the fridge (1). The exact shelf life of Alfredo sauce in the fridge is difficult to predict and varies depending on many factors.

Alfredo sauce can be made with a diversity of ingredients, which affects the shelf life of the sauce (2, 3). Leftovers of homemade sauces have a shelf life of about 3 to 4 days in the fridge and should be stored within 2 hours after cooking (4).

Commercial pasta sauces containing cheese or cream as an ingredient can be stored for 6 to 12 months unopened in the pantry in a cool and dry place, protected from light. After opening, it should be stored in the refrigerator or freezer for 4 days or 4 months, respectively (1).

What determines the shelf life of Alfredo sauce?

The shelf life of Alfredo sauce varies with the type of alfredo sauce (homemade, bought from the market), the storage condition and the ingredients that compose the sauce.

The main factors that determine the shelf life of Alfredo sauce are the following (2, 3, 4, 5, 6):

The ingredients used to produce Alfredo sauce: In the case of commercial Alfredo sauce, the addition of stabilisers, acidifiers and other natural and chemical preservatives can increase the shelf life of Alfredo sauce.

In the case of homemade Alfredo sauce, the addition of spices will help reduce the risks of microbial spoilage, as many spices, such as mustard, have antimicrobial compounds.

On the other hand, Alfredo sauce contains milk ingredients with a high amount of fats. These fats can oxidise during storage and how fast this process occurs depends on the composition of the fat ingredients.

The cooling rate: How fast the Alfredo sauce is cooled to a safe temperature of 40 °F (4 °C) depends affects the shelf life of the sauce in the fridge. Keeping the cooked food at higher temperatures than 40 °F favours microbial growth.

Packaging: In the case of commercial products, packaging with improved barriers against oxygen, light and gas is preferable and may extend the shelf life of Alfredo sauce. In the case of homemade sauces, it is necessary to protect the food from the environment during storage, by using an airtight container.

The hygienic conditions during the food preparation: Proper food handling and improved hygienic conditions of the cooking place are required to ensure the shelf life and reduce the risks of microbial contamination.

Can you freeze Alfredo sauce?

Yes, you can freeze Alfredo sauce. It is possible that freezing and thawing of Alfredo sauce causes negative effects on the texture of the sauce, especially in the case of homemade Alfredo sauce.

Commercial cream sauces can support freezing and thawing processes better, including several cycles of freezing and thawing due to the addition of food additives used to reduce the losses of consistency and phase separation of the creamy and watery phases (5).

However, Alfredo sauce contains cream and other milk components containing milk fat. Milk fat globules are disrupted due to freezing and thawing, which may accelerate oxidative reactions and rancidity (6).

How to know if Alfredo sauce has gone bad?

To know if Alfredo sauce has gone bad, it is necessary to carefully inspect the Alfredo sauce regarding possible changes in the odour, colour, flavour and texture.

Alfredo sauce contains cream and other milk ingredients, which can oxidise, generating off-odours and off-flavours, such as rancid, oxidised, sour, metallic and alcoholic (6, 7).

Degradation caused by the action of microorganisms or enzymes can also lead to changes in the texture, leading to phase separation, slime formation and ropiness.

Fermentation processes caused by microorganisms can generate gas, leading to bloating of the packaging. Disolourations can also be an indication of microbial spoilage.

Conclusion:

In this article, we answered the question “How long is Alfredo sauce good for in the fridge?” and discussed what determines the shelf life of Alfredo sauce, if Alfredo sauce can be frozen and how to know if Alfredo sauce has gone bad.

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References

1.-

Usda.gov. [cited 2023 Aug 15]. Available from: https://www.fsis.usda.gov/shared/data/EN/FoodKeeper-Data.xls

2.-

Belemets T, Radzievskaya I, Tochkova O, Yushchenko N, Kuzmyk U, Mykhalevych A. Evaluation of oxidity resistance of milk-containing products based on blending of vegetable oils. Technology audit and production reserves. 2021 Feb 26;1(3):57.

3.-

Chattopadhyay RR, Bhattacharyya SK. Phcog Rev.: Review Article Herbal spices as alternative antimicrobial food preservatives: An update. Pharmacogn. Rev. 2007 Jul;1:3-5.

4.-

Coorey R, Ng DS, Jayamanne VS, Buys EM, Munyard S, Mousley CJ, Njage PM, Dykes GA. The impact of cooling rate on the safety of food products as affected by food containers. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety. 2018 Jul;17(4):827-40.

5.-

Ghosh S, Coupland JN. Factors affecting the freeze–thaw stability of emulsions. Food Hydrocolloids. 2008 Jan 1;22(1):105-11.

6.-

Kilcast D, Subramaniam P, editors. The stability and shelf-life of food.

7.-

Rawat S. Food Spoilage: Microorganisms and their prevention. Asian journal of plant science and Research. 2015;5(4):47-56.