How Long Does Ketchup Last?

Ketchup's 6-12 month opened fridge window is really a quality guideline rather than a firm safety cutoff, since its combination of high acidity and sugar content keeps bacteria from getting a foothold well past the point the color has started to darken or the flavor has flattened out.

A jar or bottle that's genuinely gone bad shows it clearly — visible mold on the surface (rare, but possible on a jar that's sat open for a very long time), a fermented smell distinctly different from ketchup's normal tang, or a texture that's separated into a watery layer on top that doesn't stir back in evenly.

Many households never refrigerate ketchup at all and it holds up fine at room temperature for normal turnover, though a refrigerated bottle keeps its bright color and fresh flavor longer than one left on a counter or table — a preference for taste more than a genuine safety requirement, unlike most other condiments on this page. An unopened bottle stored in a pantry that occasionally gets warm, near a stove or a sunny window, holds up fine for the full year given ketchup's inherent acidity and sugar content, though consistently cooler storage helps preserve its bright red color and fresh flavor a bit longer than a warmer spot would. A packet or bottle that's clearly separated into a darker, watery layer with a noticeably duller color than usual is past its best, even if no mold or sour smell is present yet, and is worth replacing rather than using on principle.

See Ketchup's full storage & shelf-life guide (with spoilage signs) →