Does Horseradish Go Bad? How Long It Lasts, How to Store, and More

Does Horseradish Go Bad, How long does it last?

Horseradish is a spicy root vegetable that hails from the mustard family. Its spiciness has persuaded people to use this vegetable in the form of sauce. For example, it is added to salads, hummus, eggs, meat, fish, etc. But you might save this sauce for special occasions and meals, prompting the bottle to lay dormant for years. This might make you wonder about its shelf life.

While Horseradish will go bad (the vegetable as well as the sauce), you can elongate its shelf life with the right storage techniques. Storing it correctly will help you restore the original taste and texture of the food item.

Continue scrolling if you’d like to know more about the storage techniques and shelf life of Horseradish!

How Long Does Horseradish Lasts? (Horseradish Root & Horseradish Sauce)

horseradish

Just like wasabi, broccoli, mustard, radish, cabbage, etc., Horseradish is an edible root vegetable from the Brassicaceae family.

This makes it obvious that Horseradish, too, can go bad. Irrespective of its form, it can go bad after a specific duration.

So it is mandatory that you store it well. It can sometimes last as long as a month, or sometimes just a day or two.

Horseradish typically has a pretty long shelf-life, but it does lose its intensity as time passes. It tends to lose its flavors and textures as soon as you open the jar and it comes in contact with oxygen.

That does not mean it has gone bad all of a sudden. So knowing how long it lasts would likely provide you a better understanding of Horseradish and its shelf-life when stored properly.

How long does Horseradish last (Shelf-life refrigerated &  not refrigerated)?

Horseradish root has a pretty long shelf life compared to most similar vegetables like broccoli, radish, wasabi, etc. When stored properly, it can stay entirely fresh for as long as a month or two.

If you have a grated or pieces of Horseradish, you will notice some change in its texture after ten to fifteen days. So it is best to consume Horseradish bought in jars within a few days of opening.

If you have horseradish sauce, you will have a best by the date mentioned on its packaging. Your horseradish sauce will stay fresh until a few more days as well until stored properly at an accurate temperature.

The sauce won’t go bad suddenly, but the quality might seem to degrade after its best-by date.

So if you have an opened jar of horseradish sauce, it is advisable to finish it in a month or so. We recommend consuming a homemade horseradish sauce within two to three weeks if you have a homemade horseradish sauce.

This is because homemade horseradish sauce contains no preservatives and hence would start developing unwanted bacteria.

Hence, if you have a horseradish root, it will last up to two months. When chopped would last up to a week, and when in sauce, Horseradish would last up to a month.

How To Tell If Horseradish Has Gone Bad

How Do You Know If Horseradish Is Bad? How to check?

Well, to begin with, horseradish root, it is important that you buy a fresh one. Usually, Horseradish is found in very rare cases in grocery stores, so it is mandatory to check if it’s fresh.

While buying horseradish root, make sure there is no kind of discoloration or molds over it.  Also, when horseradish root goes bad, it generally gets dark, mushy, and soft, and you should surely avoid that.

When left out for a longer duration, it also can get brownish due to oxidation. This is clearly a sign that Horseradish is not too fresh any longer, so you should give it a try before consuming it.

If you have horseradish sauce, and it smells a bit off, or you notice any kind of discoloration, you should definitely discard it. Horseradish sauce also develops mold when it is too old, and it’s a clear sign that it is not consumable.

So basically, when Horseradish goes bad, your senses will definitely tell you.

In case there is no such sign of spoilage, we recommend giving it a taste. Its flavors tend to degrade as Horseradish or anything prepared from it starts to age.

However, storing your Horseradish properly can surely increase its shelf life, and here’s what you should know about it.

How to Store Horseradish

how to store Horseradish

When it comes to storing Horseradish, it is important to consider its form. Horseradish roots should be stored differently than storing horseradish paste or sauce.

So horseradish roots should be stored similarly as you would store other vegetables. That means it should be refrigerated. Since roots tend to spoil too quickly when stored a room temperature, it’s better to keep them in a refrigerator.

If you are planning to use it the next day or in two, you can also keep horseradish roots out. Also, know that cutting or grating horseradish roots before storing them will accelerate their spoilage.

It can also develop a bitter taste, so it is recommended to cut or grate it only before using it.

Other than that, you can also loosely wrap Horseradish in aluminum foil or a plastic bag. Make sure to allow some air circulation.

You can also cut Horseradish into pieces and soak them in vinegar, but make sure to store it in a refrigerator. This will make it last a bit longer, and the flavors and texture will stay intact.

Anything made using Horseradish should be immediately refrigerated to save it from getting stingy or smelling off. It is better to store it in an air-tight container or bag for better longevity.

Doing so will likely make it last for approximately six months or so. This is for sauces or grated Horseradish.

What about the Non-alcoholic Horseradish mix? 

A bottle of non-alcoholic horseradish mix lasts for 2-3 years since it does not contain any alcohol.

What about the Alcoholic Horseradish mix? 

On the other hand, since alcoholic horseradish mix contains preservatives, its alcohol content helps it last for more than 4-5 years.

How long does jarred Horseradish stay good?

If you have a ready-made unopened jar of Horseradish, you can keep it in a cool, dry, and dark place anywhere away from direct sunlight if not refrigerated. It will last for several months if stored appropriately.

How long does Horseradish last after opening? 

Once opened, make sure you use clean spoons to avoid any kind of contamination. It also increases its shelf-life. But as a precautionary measure, an opened bottle of Horseradish must be consumed within 3-4 months.

How long does Horseradish last in the fridge?

Once you open it, Horseradish must be transferred to an airtight container. This will help you use it for at least 1-2 months without feeling any difference in the taste or quality.

Horseradish sauce, when refrigerated, should be kept away from the door. This is to ensure constant temperature to preserve it well. Also, if you are using it near to or past its expiry date, we recommend giving it a try.

Sometimes when refrigerated for a longer duration, horseradish sauce tends to have a bit more watery texture. This does not necessarily mean it has gone bad.

Just make sure you are aware of its best by date, and give it a taste before adding it to your meal if you are using horseradish sauce past its expiry date.

Can you freeze Horseradish?

Freezing it can be a good choice if you are sure of not using Horseradish for the next few months.

But make sure you do not freeze it whole. Grate Horseradish or cut it into tiny pieces. Transfer it into the freezing bag, and your Horseradish can stay there fresh for a while.

Before using, simply thaw it, and you are good to go.

If you consider freezing horseradish sauce, make sure you transfer it into an airtight jar. Oxidation can probably affect its longevity, so it is better to keep it in an air-tight container.

This will make your sauce last approximately 2 to 3 months more than it generally would.

However, we want you all to know that freezing horseradish or horseradish sauce will lead to a slight change in texture as well as flavors. That does not necessarily mean Horseradish is gone bad.

You can simply give it a try if you are not really sure of it. If the taste seems good, make sure you add it to your meal.

What happens if you eat expired Horseradish?

Eating stale or spoiled food might give you the satisfaction of not wasting it, but there are chances it would result in severe health issues. And consuming expired or bad Horseradish is no exception. Adding spoiled Horseradish to sauce or any kind of purey can spoil your overall dish. The dish might smell off or taste a bit bitter due to not-so-fresh Horseradish.

Various risk of consuming expired or rotten Horseradish includes skin irritation or itching in the nose, stomach, or month.

It can lead to stomach infections, digestive issues, or even diarrhea. So it is advisable to avoid consuming Horseradish that is not fresh.

Benefits of having Horseradish in your diet

Although not a frequent member in your nearest grocery store, Horseradish has impressive health benefits, which we are not aware of.

To mention a few, Horseradish is a powerhouse of nutrients. It contains a variety of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, Vitamin C, zinc, folate, and a lot more. These nutrients eventually help you maintain good health.

Horseradish also has some excellent antibacterial properties that kill various bacterias and microbes, leading to severe infections—no wonder why doctors often recommend consuming Horseradish for urinary tract infections.

It is also said to boost blood circulation, help lose weight, speed up metabolism and improve digestion. Horseradish also enhances immunity and has specific anti-cancer properties as well.

These health benefits indeed are enough why you should now preserve Horseradish as much as you can and save it from going bad.

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

In case you find yourself with a degraded horseradish sauce, you can replace it with the following substitutes:

  • Wasabi
  • Spicy brown mustard
  • Red radish
  • Ginger
  • Parsnips

FAQs about Horseradish

Can expired Horseradish make you sick?

Everything has a limit irrespective of health benefits, and Horseradish is no exception. Consuming an excess amount of Horseradish can lead to an upset stomach, vomiting, and diarrhea.

It can also affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. The only way to avoid these health issues is by consuming them in an appropriate proportion and by preparing them in mustard oil.

Can you eat Horseradish every day?

There is not much information available regarding having Horseradish in your everyday diet. But since we know Horseradish is a bit too spicy, we recommend consuming it sparingly and not in your regular meals.

Having a lot of spicy food regularly can lead to skin irritation and digestive problems, so it is better to avoid it in all your meals. Three to four times a week won’t be an issue, though.

Why does Horseradish lose its potency?

The bottled Horseradish loses its potency over time because it contains volatile oils that are released through enzymes when we crush root cells.

When Horseradish is constantly exposed to air or is not stored appropriately, it can quickly lose its pungency, specifically when ground. This makes it highly essential to store Horseradish properly in an air-tight container.

Why does Horseradish often show discoloration?

Horseradish contains a higher amount of acids, and oxidation accelerates when exposed to oxygen. This leads to discoloration and brown spots, and sometimes it turns mushy and soft when stored out for a longer duration.

So it is advisable to add lemon juice or vinegar to neutralize its acidity. This will keep Horseradish fresh, and you can eventually use it for a longer duration.

Why did my Horseradish turn gray?

The absence of proper storage techniques can make your Horseradish appear gray. This happens when its pungent compounds mix with oxygen in the air and change its overall color.

The Bottom Line

This is all you should know if you are planning to buy Horseradish or have already got one. You are not sure when you will be consuming it. However, just make sure you refrigerate it well. Freezing is not always necessary.

This will help you keep it safe from any kind of discoloration or change in texture. If you notice that Horseradish is a bit too soft, mushy, or has a lot many brown spots, it could be an indication of going bad.

So this is how your senses will definitely help you figure out if Horseradish has gone bad or if it’s still fine to eat. We are definitely sure that it provides you don’t want to waste with such a wide range of health benefits.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top