Does tabasco sauce go bad?
In this brief guide, we will address the question, “does tabasco sauce go bad” as well as other related questions pertaining to the subject at hand like how much time does tabasco sauce take to go bad or what are some of the storage practices needed to prolong the shelf life of tabasco sauce.
Does tabasco sauce go bad?
Just like soy sauce and other Chinese sauces, tabasco sauce does not go bad. It simply loses its flavour over the course of time. The peppers used in the preparation of tobacco sauce are aged in vinegar and salt. The acid in the vinegar, the capsaicin in the chilli peppers and salt act as preservation agents that prevent the growth of bacteria. Therefore, this sauce is not susceptible to spoilage.
Tobacco sauce is used in small quantity; therefore, such questions are prevalent, and people often wonder if it goes bad or not. Well, you have your answer now.
It will also retain its freshness and flavour after the expiry date for a good period of time before it starts to lose its efficacy and flavour. Keep in mind that it is still safe to consume. The only change you’re going to experience is a darker colour and stronger aroma due to the oxidation process.
The shelf life of tabasco sauce
The shelf life of tabasco sauce depends upon its storage conditions. An unopened bottle of tabasco sauce can last long up from 4 to 5 years or even more if stored at ideal storage conditions. When you open the bottle, the shelf life of sauce reduces as the flavour change process speeds up a bit.
Packaging material or container in which it is placed also matters in prolonging the shelf life. Not only tabasco sauce, anything can go bad if not stored appropriately
The shelf life of fish sauce can be prolonged if placed at the dark and dry area away from heat or light source. If you expect to hold onto that bottle of hot sauce for longer, make sure your storage practices are on point.
How to tell if tabasco sauce has gone bad?
Being a fermented beverage, it is highly unlikely that tabasco sauce will spoil. It can only go bad if proper hygiene and safety measures are not ensured. Tabasco sauce rarely spoils but its quality deteriorates by time.
Colour of tobacco sauce darkens by time because of light exposure but this does not mean the sauce is spoiled. The other problem you might face during storage of tobacco sauce is particles of the mashed pepper settles down by the time which can be resolved by shaking the bottle before use.
But if you observe the change in flavour, microbial spoilage or mould growth on the surface. Discard the bottle and buy a new one for your recipe.
To check this, you can take out the tabasco sauce in an open container and do a visual and sensory analysis of the sauce. But keep in mind that it happens rarely.
How to store tabasco sauce?
The ingredients used in tobacco sauce act as self-preservative and have antimicrobial properties, which lessens the possibilities of microbial spoilage. Therefore, tabasco sauce can be stored at room temperature. But once opened it should be stored at refrigeration temperature. Storing in the fridge will help to preserve the flavour of the sauce and retain its quality for a longer period of time.
Tabasco sauce is prone to oxidative degradation therefore, it is advised to store it in an airtight jar with proper sealing. Tabasco sauce should be stored away from light, in a dark and dry area to avoid photolytic degradation.
Storing it in the refrigerator is an ideal storage condition when optimal results are desired.
Summary
After all that we have discussed, it is safe to say that tabasco sauce can go bad. I mean, any food item will go bad if you are not storing it properly. In the case of tabasco sauce, the chances are highly unlikely because there is no special method involved. Store open tobacco sauce bottle at refrigerated temperature. Refrigeration will help to preserve the flavour of sauces.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the question, “does tabasco sauce go bad” as well as other related questions pertaining to the subject at hand like how much time does tabasco sauce take to go bad or what are some of the storage practices needed to prolong the shelf life of tabasco sauce.
