How Long Does Ketchup Last?
Opened ketchup lasts about 6 months in the fridge or about 1 month in the pantry. An unopened bottle keeps 1 year in the pantry.
Ketchup — opened
shelf life- Unopened: 1 year in the fridge
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Ketchup is a cooked tomato concentrate preserved with vinegar, sugar and salt. That combination makes it acidic enough that harmful bacteria struggle to grow, which is why restaurants leave bottles on tables. What ketchup loses over time is quality: the bright red color darkens, the flavor dulls, and thin liquid separates out.
How to store ketchup
- Refrigerate ketchup after opening if a bottle lasts your household more than a month; cold storage keeps the red color and tomato flavor far longer.
- Wipe the cap and nozzle after use. The dark, dried crust that collects there is the first place mold can start.
- Store squeeze bottles upside down only if the cap seals well, and shake before use to remix the watery liquid that settles out.
- Keep unopened bottles away from the stove and sunny windows; heat and light are what turn ketchup brown in the bottle.
- Do not top up an old bottle with new ketchup. Finish and wash it, or replace it.
How to tell if ketchup has gone bad
- Color turning from bright red to deep maroon or brown throughout the bottle, a sign of heavy oxidation.
- A fermented, yeasty or sour smell, sometimes with a bloated bottle or a hiss of gas when the cap opens.
- Mold on the surface, inside the neck or under the cap.
- A thick, pasty texture that stays separated from the liquid even after a good shake.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Ketchup shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | 6 months | Not recommended | 1 month |
| Pantry storage after opening is safe for a short time, but color and flavor fade much faster than in the fridge. | |||
| Unopened | 1 year | Not recommended | 1 year |
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Does ketchup need to be refrigerated?
Not strictly, but it lasts much longer if it is. Ketchup's acidity makes it shelf-stable, so an opened bottle is fine in the pantry for about 1 month. In the fridge it keeps its quality for around 6 months, which is why most manufacturers print "refrigerate after opening" on the label.
Why do restaurants leave ketchup out on the table?
Restaurants go through a bottle in days, not months, so quality never has time to decline. Ketchup is acidic enough to be safe at room temperature over that short span. At home a bottle may last half a year, so the refrigerator is the better place for it.
Is ketchup still good after the expiration date?
Usually, yes. The date on ketchup is a best-by quality date. An unopened bottle stored in a cool, dark pantry is typically fine for several months past it, though it may be darker and less bright-tasting. Throw it out if you see mold, smell fermentation or the bottle is bulging.
What is the watery liquid that comes out of the ketchup bottle first?
That liquid is water and vinegar that has separated from the tomato solids, and it is harmless. It happens in every bottle that sits for a while. Shake the closed bottle before squeezing to mix it back in; separation alone does not mean the ketchup has gone bad.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mustard Opened |
1 year | Not recommended | 1–2 months |
| Mayonnaise Opened |
2 months | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| BBQ Sauce Opened |
6 months | 3 months | 1 month |
| Relish Opened |
6 months | Not recommended | Not recommended |
| Hot Dogs Opened |
1 week | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Tomato Paste Opened |
5–7 days | 2–3 months | Not safe |
More condiments: Horseradish.
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.