** The important thing with spaghetti sauce is that the jar lid must not be "popped" or raised prior to opening. If your lid is raised, return it to the store for a refund.

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. Most pasta sauces do NOT have any preservatives. Therefore, be sure to cook your sauce if it has been opened and stored in the fridge for longer than 4-5 days - but toss the sauce for sure if it has been more than 9-10 days or if you see any signs of mold formation.

Many have asked about opened jars of spaghetti sauce. So, we added this table with information directly from the manufacturers of pasta sauce. These are their recommendations for their products. 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.

Table of Manufacturer Recommended Shelf Life of Opened Pasta Sauce:

How to tell if Spaghetti Sauce is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Spaghetti Sauce will begin to darken from a bright red to a maroon color and will get thicker over time. After the eat by date has passed, the spaghetti sauce will begin to form mold, even in the refrigerator. If there is any visible mold (mould) at all, the entire jar should be thrown away - even if it is just on the lid of the jar!

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Spaghetti Sauce to extend its shelf life?

You can help spaghetti sauce stay fresh longer by storing it in the refrigerator in a sealed container to prevent spoilage and keep out contaminants.

For a long term option, spaghetti sauce can be placed in a freezer safe container in the freezer.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

Interesting facts about Spaghetti Sauce:

How long is Spaghetti Sauce good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does spaghetti sauce last? That depends. How long does meat last? In general, spaghetti sauce will only last as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish.

What are our shelf life resources?

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. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Spaghetti Sauce.

*An important note about expiration dates...

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. Please eat responsibly!