Does Applesauce Go Bad? How Long it Lasts, How to Store and More

Waking up to a good and hearty breakfast meal, preferably applesauce muffins and pancakes, can be the perfect start for the day. Well, it can also go drastically wrong if you find an old bottle of applesauce that is way past its best-by date.

Even though applesauce can go bad, it will most likely last you for a good couple of months. The trick lies in understanding the severity of the situation.

Should you just go ahead and use it? How long does it last? What will happen if you end up using expired applesauce? If these questions are lingering in your mind, then you have come to the right place. We shall explain everything that you’ll need to know about applesauce so that you can use and store it wisely.

How long does applesauce last?

A jar of apple sauce can last for years if it isn’t opened, but the clock starts ticking once it is. And the number of days you can keep applesauce open depends a lot on the brand you buy.

How long does applesauce last once opened?

When you keep applesauce open in the refrigerator, it will last for up to 1-2 weeks. 

When you decide to freeze applesauce to extend its shelf life, make sure you leave at least half-inch on top for expansion. 

How long does applesauce last unopened?

When applesauce has not been opened, it will last for a few extra months after expiration. It stays in the fridge for at least seven days after opening, while some makers allow for up to 30 days of storage.

How long does applesauce last at room temperature?

You can keep your bottle of applesauce at room temperature for 5 days if you have already opened the bottle. If not, you can keep it in your pantry for 12-18 months.

How long does applesauce last in the refrigerator?

An opened bottle of applesauce lasts for 7-10 days in the refrigerator. If you have an unopened bottle of applesauce, it can last for up to 2 years.

 

	Shelf life	Refrigerator
Unopened applesauce	Best by + 2-4 months
Opened applesauce		7-10 days or as per the label
Homemade applesauce		7-10 days

How Can You Tell if Applesauce Sauce Is Bad?

Just like other fruits, applesauce is also made up of one. If you don’t store it properly, the chances are that it will go bad.  

The most evident spoilage indicators are an off-odor, mold, and discoloration, as they always are (good applesauce is a light yellow-green color).

The applesauce should be thrown if it acquires an off odor, flavor, or look or if mold occurs.

All applesauce from leaking, rusted, bulging, or badly dented bottles or containers should be discarded.

You should most certainly discard applesauce if it has been opened and unused for a week. However, obvious indicators of decay might take a long time to show. Being careful is your best strategy, especially with items that need to be refrigerated.

If everything looks excellent, keep it for a little longer. However, taste a small amount if you’re not sure. If it starts to taste strange, it’s obviously past its prime! 

Is it okay to use expired applesauce?

A best-by or best-before date is almost usually printed on store-bought applesauce. The expiration date estimates how long the product will stay fresh. It has nothing to do with food safety and isn’t a date to determine if the food is edible or not. 

According to the Department of Agriculture, it is acceptable to eat items that have passed their expiration date in certain circumstances for up to 18 months. Applesauce has a storage life of 12 to 18 months.

It could seem like it’s been fermented, and more hazardous bacteria or mold could have grown undetected. So it’s not safe in the sense that there’s a risk involved.

Several things could happen depending on the mechanism of spoiling. If the fruit is rotten and moldy, you could consume hazardous bacteria, fungi, or spores. 

If the fruit or fruit product is fermented in an anaerobic environment, a type of alcohol is produced, making you intoxicated but is unlikely to harm you physically.

Can you freeze applesauce?

Yes, applesauce can definitely be frozen! In fact, as applesauce contains no milk ingredients, it freezes extremely well and lasts far longer than many frozen sauces. Freezing applesauce is simple and quick, and it ensures that you have delicious sauce all winter.

The sauce can be frozen in any freezer-safe container. Freezing smaller servings can prove beneficial when you want to eat small portions of applesauce at a time. Huge batches of applesauce frozen together can be a task.

Small freezer bags would be ideal for this. The only disadvantage of freezing this sauce is that it takes a few hours to defrost before using it. 

The entire procedure is as easy as it gets, and all you need is a few minutes, some standard freezing tools, and a little forethought to get it correctly.

Applesauce can be frozen for at least a few months without deteriorating quality. That goes for both chunky applesauce with small apple fragments and smooth applesauce.

The primary problem with freezing fruit is that it becomes soft and mushy when it is thawed. 

Since applesauce is made of apples that are already mushy and soft, this won’t necessarily be an issue. Although, freezing and thawing applesauce will have no effect on its texture.

How to Thaw Applesauce?

The best way to thaw applesauce is by transferring it from the freezer to the refrigerator. Do it a day prior to when you are planning on using it. In this way, you will get the right consistency of the applesauce for your recipes.

On the other hand, if you want quick results, you can place the container of apple sauce in a bowl of lukewarm water. Let it sit for a couple of minutes. This will give you the required consistency in just a few minutes.

How to Store Store-bought Applesauce? 

Here are a few methods that can prove effective when storing applesauce!

• Canning:

Canning applesauce is simple (and a terrific canning project for newbies), and the canned applesauce that emerges is delicious for side dishes, desserts, baking recipes, smoothies, and more. According to research, canning can be done using three methods- 

• Boiling water bath method: A lot of products like tomatoes, fruits, and pickles can be processed using this method. Even jams and jellies can be canned successfully when this technique is used. Food jars are cooked by being submerged in hot water in this approach.
• Atmospheric steam canning method: Natural acidic or adequately acidified foods with a pH of less than or equal to 4.6 must be canned in the steam canner.

A lot of fruits and vegetables that are pickled can be categorized under this. Low-acid items like vegetables and meats should not be canned in a steam canner.

• Pressure canning method: Low-acid foods can only be safely canned with pressure canning (those with a pH of more than 4.6). The majority of vegetables combined with poultry and seafood items can be categorized under this.

These items must be canned in a pressure canner due to the risk of botulism. Botulism is a bacterial-caused food illness.

2 to 3 inches of water is heated up to 240° Fahrenheit, and the food jars that are supposed to be canned are placed on it. Only a pressure canner can attain this temperature.

• Refrigeration: 

Applesauce can be kept refrigerated for a longer period. It will extend the life of applesauce, whether opened or unopened.

How to Store Homemade Applesauce? 

After you’ve opened a jar of home-canned applesauce, please keep it in the fridge and eat it within a week. It is advisable to use airtight containers to preserve their quality, taste, and aroma. 

Pop it in the refrigerator if you are planning to use it in the next week. If not, it is advisable to freeze it. In this way, you will be able to use it for up to 2 months.

What happens if you eat expired applesauce? 

Eating expired applesauce will not be a priority for anybody. However, you might have to make terms with what you have in times of emergency. In such cases, should you just use expired applesauce?

Well, even if your applesauce is past its best-by date, it is still consumable. The best-by date only signifies the time period in which the sauce retains its best quality, after which the quality starts degrading.

As long as you do not see any molds or foul smells, you can consume expired applesauce.

But discard it as soon as you get any funky smell or molds as such applesauce can cause health issues like diarrhea and nausea.

What are the Alternatives to AppleSauce if it has gone bad? 

In case your applesauce bottle is home to molds and a foul smell, you can use the following alternatives:

• Plain yogurt
• Coconut milk
• Butter
• Peanut butter
• Pureed Pumpkin

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can you get botulism from applesauce?

Botulism is food poisoning caused by dangerous microorganisms in the meal. In high-acid situations, botulinum is inactive. All the vegetable products that are acidified, such as relishes and pickles, as well as apple sauce and fruit jams, can be incorporated here.

Do you need lemon juice to can applesauce?

You can add sugar to your applesauce if you prefer. Lemon juice, on the contrary, is a required component. Lemon juice is added to assist in preserving the natural color of the apples and ensure the finished product’s acidity, as varied kinds and harvesting conditions can result in apples with reduced acidity.

Is applesauce as healthy as apples?

Whole apples have nearly the same amount of fiber as applesauce. Fiber is considered to be soluble, which is why blood cholesterol levels are maintained. Lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure can help you avoid heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

The Bottom Line

Applesauce is a delicious delicacy. It is considered a best friend to desserts since it can be paired with almost any of those. 

Now that you have acquainted yourself with the proper storage techniques, you have nothing to worry about if and when it goes bad and how long it lasts.

You can dwell on the healthy and sugary goodness of this sauce!

If you found this information helpful, let us know in the comment section below.