If your lid is raised, return it to the store for a refund. The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize shelf life, store in a cool, dry area. Tomato-based sauces should be used within five (5) days after opening with proper refrigeration. How long can Ragu pasta sauce (unopened) be used before going bad? Remember, once spaghetti sauce is opened - whether it came from a jar, a can, a package, or homemade spaghetti sauce it should be kept stored in the refrigerator and used within within 5-10 Days depending on the brand of sauce. ? Discard all spaghetti sauce from cans or packages that are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented. How can you tell if spaghetti sauce is bad or spoiled? How long does unopened spaghetti sauce last at room temperature? Please eat responsibly! The "Best if used by" date is 7/26/2007. Although the Spaghetti Sauce shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Spaghettis sauce can last a year beyond a "best by" date if you take everything into consideration. So, we added this table with information directly from the manufacturers of pasta sauce. That depends. All rights reserved. How long does unopened spaghetti sauce last at room temperature? Spaghetti Sauce will begin to darken from a bright red to a maroon color and will get thicker over time. Most pasta sauces do NOT have any preservatives. Properly stored, unopened spaghetti sauce will generally stay at best quality for about 12 to 18 months, although it will usually remain safe to use after that. How long does pasta sauce last? Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste. They do also say that jars can last longer or shorter depending on the temperature of the refrigerator, the length of time outside of the refrigerator, the exposure to bacteria and any cross contamination that may have occurred - just like with any other food product. First check the top of the cap. In determining how long Spaghetti Sauce lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. All rights reserved. The shelf life of spaghetti sauce, pasta sauce or tomato sauce depends on a variety of factors including the best by date, the preparation method and the way it is stored. Spaghetti sauce, or pasta sauce, is most often tomato based but also comes in a variety of other bases including cream. So, how long does spaghetti sauce last past its best by date? When properly stored, the shelf life of spaghetti sauce past its best by date is approximately... Rakuten partners with thousands of stores to get you additional cash back on your purchases. ** The important thing with spaghetti sauce is that the jar lid must not be "popped" or raised prior to opening. After the eat by date has passed, the spaghetti sauce will begin to form mold, even in the refrigerator. Many have asked about opened jars of spaghetti sauce. If the expiration date on your Ragu sauce actually says "best by" or "best if used by" a certain date, that only means that your sauce "may" lose quality on or after that date not that it will necessarily go bad or that it is unsafe to use. Spaghetti Sauce - how long does spaghetti sauce last? Yes, provided it is properly stored and the can is undamaged - commercially packaged spaghetti sauce will typically carry a "Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the spaghetti sauce will remain at peak quality. That’s a rather safe estimate and in most cases it should remain just fine for at least a few months more. The expiration date is probably hidden in the lot number and you have to contact the manufacturer to find out. This sauce comes in handy for use in many other dishes besides just spaghetti. Storage time shown is for best quality only - after that, the spaghetti sauce's texture, color or flavor may change, but in most cases, it will still be safe to consume if it has been stored properly, the can is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below).