You have probably bought salad dressing in a bid to stay healthy and then forgotten about the half-opened bottle.
Don’t worry – we’ve all been there, and today, we’re running through all the different types of salad dressing, how to store them, and how to tell if they’ve gone bad.
What’s the deal?
The Different Types Of Salad Dressing: How To Tell If They’ve Gone Bad
There are many types of salad dressings. There are many types of salad dressings, from Caesar to vinaigrette and French to Italian.
Here’s the good news: for storage purposes and telling if they’ve gone bad, there are basically only three categories you have to worry about.
What to do if dry mix salad dressing is bad?
Dry mix salad dressing can be made by combining water with the dry mix before pouring it on your salad.
If you’ve opted for a dry mix salad dressing, this should be fine as long as water hasn’t gotten in. If it has, you’ll see clumps and maybe even mold. If you see these signs, it’s time to dump your dry mix.
What to do if your unrefrigerated salad dressing is bad?
It’s really easy to tell if your dressing is classed as unrefrigerated. Basically, if it’s not sold in the chilled section of the grocery store, and the storage instructions don’t say you need to refrigerate it, then it’s unrefrigerated salad dressing.
You need to check for any changes in appearance, smell, and taste – in that order. You should look for signs of mold and any changes to the odor. You should give the mixture a small taste if they both appear fine.
It is possible for your salad dressing to go bad if it has not been refrigerated. However, you can still try a small amount.
A note about one thing: Separation in salad dressings containing oil and balsamic vini is perfectly normal. It’s not a sign of going bad or rancidity.
What to do if your Refrigerated Salad Dressing is Bad?
You might have guessed – refrigerated salad dressing is the type you’ll find in the chilled section of the supermarket.
It is best to keep this stuff refrigerated because there are fewer preservatives so that it lasts longer. You should therefore be more vigilant when checking for potential problems. Here’s what you should check for:
- Mold
- Separation: Refrigerated salad dressings made with dairy-based dressings such as blue cheese dressing may separate. This is a sign that the dressing has been stored too long. Mix it up and taste it to be sure.
- Scent changes
- It has a rancid taste Rancidity refers to food whose oils or fats have been oxidized by oxygen. It can cause a bitter taste or odor. While rancid foods aren’t unsafe to eat, they’re definitely not tasty!
How to store your salad dressing
Stores are important Dry mix dressing kept in your pantry or kitchen cabinet Seal the cabinet tightly once it has been opened. You can leave any dry mixture in the cabinet; however, you might need to move it into an airtight container.
For leftover salad dressings made with dry ingredients, store it in an airtight bottle or container and keep it out of direct sunlight.
Unrefrigerated, bottled salad dressings must be stored in cool, dry and dark places, away from heat or light. Keep dressing out of direct sunlight, especially if it is in clear bottles.
Once you’ve opened your previously unrefrigerated salad dressing, you should reseal the bottle and store it in the refrigerator.
You guessed it – refrigerated salad dressings should be stored in the refrigerator. If you’re ever in doubt whether your salad dressing is refrigerated or unrefrigerated, storing it in the refrigerator won’t do either salad dressing any harm!
Now: you shouldn’t freeze salad dressing, as the texture will change after thawing. That said, feel free to freeze salad dressing that’s in a dish – like marinated meat.
One last thing – if you’re salad dressing isn’t a squeezy bottle, and you need to use utensils to scoop it out, then don’t double-dip, and always use clean utensils.
The storage period for salad dressing
To ensure that your salad dressing is safe, follow the expiration and best-by dates.
Those are my thoughts. The quality of dry mixtures will decrease after their best-by dates, however they should still be usable for three months.
Salsa dressing can be kept unopened and refrigerated for up to two weeks. Once it’s open, you should use it within 3-6 months.
Salad dressings can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.. Different ingredients and preservatives can cause storage time variations.
Although refrigerated dressings don’t last ages, the good news is that opening them doesn’t make them degrade any faster.
If you’re making your own salad dressing, expect it to last about 3-5 days in an airtight container or bottle in the refrigerator. Dry mix dressings will only last for one week.
Here’s the Roundup on Salad Dressing
Although there are many types of salad dressings available, it is best to stick with three main categories for your storage needs.
- Mixture of dry and wetThis can be kept in your pantry or kitchen cabinet, open or not. After opening the box, seal it with a plastic wrap.
- Unrefrigerated salad dressing: It will keep for 3 to 6 months if kept in the refrigerator after opening.
- Refrigerated salad dressing: Go by the expiration or best-by date here because there’s a huge variance in ingredients, manufacturing processes, and preservatives. You can generally expect salad dressings that last between two and two months in the refrigerator.
