Do you save unused condiment packets from fast-food restaurants? These packets can be handy when traveling or if you run out of something at home. Common single-serve packets include ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, soy sauce, hot sauce, parmesan cheese, salad dressing, sugar, salt, pepper, and plastic jelly cups.
How long can you keep single-serve packets? If you examine the condiment, most do not have an expiration date. Packets are shipped by the thousand in bulk, and the recommended “Expiration Date” or “Best By” date (established by the manufacturer) is often only displayed on the bulk container rather than stamped on the individual packets. These dates are not official expiration dates but quality indicators to guarantee peak flavor and product quality. You can safely consume products after these dates if appropriately stored in a cool and dry area.
What is the shelf life of condiment packets?
There are no official guidelines from the USDA or FDA for condiments or other food. Except for infant formula and some baby foods, Federal regulations do not require product dates (source: fsis.usda.gov). Sealed foil-packaged condiments provide an impermeable barrier from light, air, and moisture, allowing the product to last for years if not decades.
Guidelines:
- How you store condiment packets affects their longevity. Unopened condiment packets can last for several months to a year if kept in a cool, dry place away from sunlight.
- Before consuming the condiment, inspect the packaging. Toss the packet if it appears puffy or damaged. When you open the packet, check the sauce’s color and texture and discard it if it has an odd coloration, texture, or odor.
- Condiments containing fats (mayo, butter) go rancid more quickly.
- Paper-based packets can spoil faster, although salt and granulated sugar do NOT go bad. Ground Pepper will lose flavor after 3 – 4 years as the oils dry out.
- Vinegar is safe to consume indefinitely due to its acetic acid content, but the packaged salad vinegar will lose its peak flavor in as little as one year.
- Honey does not spoil because of its high sugar and low moisture content. Make sure the honey is actual bee honey and not corn syrup.
- The plastic tubs of jelly with the top peel may last 2 – 3 years. Plastic creamers and margarine cups expire quickly and must be refrigerated.
We referenced a handful of resources – including the manufacturer’s recommended “Best By” dates, and compiled this data for some of the most common condiments.
| Condiment | For Optimal Flavor |
| Mayonnaise | 1 year |
| Relish | 1 year |
| BBQ Sauce | 1 year |
| Tartar Sauce | 1 year |
| Horseradish Sauce | 1 year |
| Maple Syrup | 1 year |
| Nut Butters – Almond, Peanut, Cashew | 1 year |
| Salad Dressing | 1 year |
| Ketchup | 1 year |
| Olive Oil | 1 – 2 years |
| Parmesan Cheese | 1 – 2 years |
| Taco sauce | 1 – 2 years |
| Mustard | 1 – 2 years |
| Soy Sauce | 1 – 2 years |
| Tabasco sauce | 3 – 4 years |
| Pepper | 3 – 4 years |
| Vinegar | 3 – 4 years |
| Honey | Indefinite |
| Salt | Indefinite |
| Sugar | Indefinite |
| Artificial Sweeteners | Eat at your own risk! |
Find something missing? The website StillTasty offers an accurate look-up tool for bottled condiments.
Finally, don’t forget to enjoy some real food packed with substance and plant-based spices. You may find you don’t want (or need) all those condiment packets covering up the taste!
38 thoughts on “Expiration Date of Condiment Packets”
I would like to see more detailed information on other products and I also noticed that the picture that you have posted on this website or blog (packets of hot fire sauce from Taco Bell) is not on the chart or table you’ve provided. Aside from this, I do appreciate the effort that has been made in providing more facts for the general public. Thank you.
The hot sauce is on the chart as ‘taco sauce’ & lasts 1-2 years.
Thank you so much for posting the information!!
I like cheese.
Is there any benefit to freezing these packets? My plan has been to freeze any extra packets we got,
I don’t recommend freezing the packets. Some of the condiments will separate and turn watery or grainy when frozen. It is best to leave them at room temperature or a cool location.
What do you suppose the “best before” life of sweet and sour sauce in clear plastic packets is?
Thank you for this informative post but I hope you could list more products 🙂 anyway, thank you again, your blog is very helpful!
2 years
Thanks for posting this information. I typically snack on packets of mayo and such and appreciate the guidelines you’ve posted in such a clear and easy to understand format.
This is good info. I guess I need to mark the year on mayo and other packets before I put them in storage.
I often wondered about how long to keep all the unused condiment packets my family accumulates. This information was very helpful. Thank you for your research.
What about jam packets
In n out has spread in sealed packets that are unopenable! I am very strong but cannot open the package at all!
I opened my packet of soy sauces and about 3 of them were a clear liquid tasted just like super water down soy sauce. I poured 1/2 package on my rice before noticing and my brother said it would be fine so I ate it. Now I’m worried though because after googling I found nothing. No one had posted any such thing and the only thing I found is that when it spoils it gets darker. Does anyone know what this is?!
Honey, salt, sugar: Indefinite
Tabasco sauce, pepper, vinegar: 3-4 years
Jelly in plastic tubs: 2-3 years
Olive oil, parmesan cheese, taco sauce, mustard, soy sauce: 1-2 years
Mayonnaise, relish, barbecue sauce, tartar sauce, horseradish sauce, maple syrup, nut butters, salad dressing, ketchup: 1 year
Is it okay to refrigerate the packets. Will.they last longer? Are their some which should not be stored this way?
Is it okay to refrigerate the packets. Will.they last longer? Are there some which should not be stored this way? Your information was very helpful. Thank you.
Refrigeration is a proven way to extend shelf life.
People stealing (yes, not consuming with purchased food) packets only make business remove packets from public access. It costs businesses a fortune.
Dear CommonSense, I agree, but a lot of people collect these packets through fast food drive thru’s and find that they have a few unused packets left over after eating. I don’t think you should necessarily assume the readers here are going into places stealing these packets.
I agree fred!!! Commonsense, i actually get more crap going thru drive thru then i would ever grab if i went in!! So maybe you should point to employees also instead of assuming everyone is “stealing” them!! I work at a gas station and yes ppl do take handfuls of stuff but thats not where this conversation was even going for you to “assume” how they got them! Why even talk if you wasnt going to join the actual conversation?! Anyway i appreciate the info cause i have a few also, thanks everybody else 🙂
Hi
We are a food manufacturing company in India and planning to launch mustard sauce in plastic sachets. Will it be okay as no other company has till now launched this product in single serving packets.
Thank You, just the information I was looking for
Thanks for great info very use full,hope you could list more
Wow! What a revelation. At the first of the month I usually throw out all unused packets of condiments from the month b4. And Amy is right. I ask at the drive through for ‘couple extra packs’ and the guy/gal drops in a double handful. I keep the extras in the fridge in an open Tupperware. Who knew?
Are you ok?
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Thank you. I’m using a ketchup packet in my desk after reading this. You saved my lunch now and in future!
Does anybody know how to find date code on Kraft Golden Italian dressing packets? Nobody will sell it in stores (it seems there’s a craze now for the putrid-tasting Ranch)and I have to order it in boxes of 60 packets. There are no letters on pouches, just UPC code number.???
I have bought 4 years ago a box of Heinz Ketchup packets and Miracle Whip individual cups/packets. They have been kept in refrigerator drawer since day one.
They seems to be holding very good.
Ketchup seems to show a bit of flavor change.
Miracle whip seems to be to the par.
Both no change in texture.
For the amount I use , Next time I buy a box , I will deal half with a local restaurant so my stock last less long a bit. I’m about at half of both products.
What about the “Avacado Lime Ranch” and the “Creamy Salsa” packages of salad dressing from Chick-fil-a??? They keep them refrigerated at the restaurant and I keep them in my fridge at home as well. How long do you think they are good for, as there is no expiration date on the individual packets themselves. Thanks in advance. By the way… CHICK-FIL-A HAS THE BEST SAUCES IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY… HANDS DOWN!!! AMIRITE??? Especially their “Chick-fil-a Sauce”!!!
What about condiment packets stored in the glovebox of your vehicle? How long do they last? Does the extreme temperature fluctuation due to weather changes that your vehicle may experience have any effect upon the flavor or freshness of the condiments?
I would not recommend storing packets in your vehicle. The packets should not be consumed if exposed to extreme heat.
Why isn’t there an expiration date on individual condiments such as mayo, Ketchup, etc. for all we know, they could be using them for couple of years? There should be some kind of regulation on the label? I know it’s on the case of the condiments but once they destroy the case you don’t know?
It would be helpful to have the Best-By date printed on the condiment packet, although it would likely make the product more expensive. The FDA does not require a date on condiment packets. It is voluntary by the manufacturer.
Thanks, we have so many saved packets. Good info, now I know we need a dating system for these.