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How long does vinegar last?

Reviewed by the MyListResort team · Data from the USDA FoodKeeper ·

The estimated quality window for vinegar is about 2 years in the pantry.

Pantry2 years

Storage tips

  • Keep vinegar sealed in a cool, dry cupboard to hit the window above.
  • This one is the exception that stays in the cupboard after opening. Its acidity or sugar is doing the preserving, so cold buys nothing; just keep the cap clean and closed.
  • Keep lids clean and closed so nothing dries or molds around the thread.

How can you tell if vinegar has gone bad?

  • Mold on the surface or around the rim and cap.
  • Separation that does not stir back together, a fizzing or fermented smell, or an off color.

More on condiments & canned shelf life and storage.

Common questions

How long does vinegar last in the pantry?

The estimated quality window for vinegar is about 2 years in the pantry. The USDA FoodKeeper lists no separate after-opening window for it, so treat this as the storage life and follow the label and official guidance.

Does vinegar need to be refrigerated?

No. The USDA FoodKeeper gives vinegar a pantry life of about 2 years, so a cool, dry cupboard is enough.

Track it in your list

The average American family of four throws away about $1,500 of food a year, per the EPA, and most of it is opened items nobody remembered.

Add vinegar to a MyListResort grocery list and set your own reminder for the window above, free. Or scan its barcode to add it without typing.

Track this for free← All foods

See how freshness tracking works, read the guide to tracking once-opened food, or see what a shared grocery list does for a household.

Shelf-life windows come from the USDA FoodKeeper, published by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (public domain); we vendor the FSIS FoodKeeper dataset and refresh it in place. These are quality estimates, not food-safety determinations or guarantees: actual condition depends on storage and handling, and harmful bacteria may not have obvious signs. Follow package and official guidance; when in doubt, throw it out. See our food safety notice and terms.