Introduction
If you are craving for a BBQ party, you need to make sure that the must-have ingredient- the barbecue sauce is on your hand. In fact, BBQ sauce is like an indispensable thing in many kitchens as this sauce is so yummy, goes with any kinds of meat and will elaborate your BBQ party into a whole new level.
Although you barely cannot resist a bottle of BBQ sauce, you should know that this sugary store-bought sauce is not really good for your health. This sauce is rich in calories and sodium while lacking of essential vitamins and minerals so it’s not recommended to consume the BBQ sauce every day, especially for those who are struggling with weight loss or have kidney and dental disease.
Instead, you can turn the BBQ sauce into a healthier sauce by making it at home with fresh ingredients and no preservation additives.
Whatever you have on hand, purchased BBQ sauce or homemade BBQ sauce, there are still so many questions come up to your mind about its shelf life, the proper way to store and how to identify when the sauce turns bad and even spoiled. Don’t worry, just read the article below and you will have your own answers.
How long does barbecue sauce last?
Overall, there are three different conditions of BBQ sauce: unopened BBQ sauce, opened BBQ sauce or homemade BBQ sauce and each one has its own shelf life.
Remember that the expiration date on the label of the BBQ sauce bottle that you buy from the supermarket is just the time that the sauce will reach its peak quality, not the safety time. Therefore, if you properly store the sauce, you can even consume it even when the best-by date passed by.
As normal, homemade-food or drink always has the shorter life span due to the lack of preservation additives. And for further information about how long your barbecue sauce will last, just check the table below:
Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
Unopened BBQ sauce | Best-by date + 6 months | ||
Opened BBQ sauce | 4-6 months | 10-12 months | |
Homemade BBQ sauce | 7-10 days | 12 months |
How to tell if barbecue sauce goes bad?
You can easily realize when your BBQ sauce goes bad by the signs of bacteria growth that is usually mold on the surface of the sauce. Also, when you open the lid of the bottle and the sauce develops an off odor, it’s time to discard the sauce too.
If it’s hard for you to identify the BBQ sauce by your nose or eyes, you better give it a taste to check if the sauce can be used or needs to be thrown away.
How to store barbecue sauce?
Like other sauces, if your bottle of BBQ sauce is unopened, you just need to keep it in a dark, dry and cool place such as your pantry or kitchen cabinet. Once it’s opened, better store it in a fridge or freezer to extend the shelf life of this sauce. Homemade BBQ sauce should be treated in the same manner as the opened sauce.
One more thing to remember, never put dirty utensils inside the bottle of BBQ sauce to prevent the contamination so your sauce can last longer. Maybe you cannot see the sauce is spoiled immediately but if you keep maintaining this habit, the sauce will absolutely go bad over time.
Can you freeze barbecue sauce?
Yes, you can freeze your BBQ sauce so that you can have it on hand for use in recipes all year round.
How to freeze barbecue sauce?
Now you are going to learn how to freeze BBQ sauce properly in just some simple steps and some notable tips.
Tips to freeze barbecue sauce
- If you make your own BBQ sauce, let it completely cool before freezing
- Lay the sauce flat if a freezer bag is the one you choose to contain the sauce. This will let your sauce freeze more evenly
- When you place the jar of BBQ sauce in the freezer, ensure to place it upright
- Everything that contains BBQ sauce needs to be sealed tightly before placing in the freezer
- It’s recommended to divide the sauce into portions sizes that you frequently use for recipes before freezing. It helps you to conveniently thaw an enough amount of BBQ sauce for each meal
Things you’ll need to freeze barbecue sauce
- A freezer-safe container, jar or bag
How to freeze barbecue sauce in just 2 steps
- Place the BBQ sauce (homemade one or the leftover opened one) into an airtight container or a freezer jar and make sure to leave at least 1 inch head space of the container/ jar to allow the sauce to expand during the freezing time
- Label the container and stick in the freezer
How to defrost/ thaw barbecue sauce?
Next, you are learning how to thaw BBQ sauce:
Tips to defrost barbecue sauce
- Thawing frozen BBQ sauce in warm water is preferred if you keep your sauce in a freezer bag or plastic freezer container rather than in a glass jar
- It’s not good to refreeze the portion of sauce that you didn’t use after thawing, so you better discard it
Things you’ll need to defrost barbecue sauce
- A refrigerator
- A bowl of warm water
How to defrost barbecue sauce
In a fridge
- Simply transfer the freezer container from the freezer to the fridge and leave it overnight
In warm water
- Remove the freezer bag from the freezer and submerge it in a bowl of warm water to let the sauce naturally thaw
How to reheat barbecue sauce?
Normally, BBQ sauce is used to marinate meat so in this case, you don’t need to warm up your sauce and just directly add to the meat after thawing. If you use the sauce as a topping or an separate sauce, you can reheat it for a while to make it warmer and customize the consistency if needed.
Tips to reheat barbecue sauce
- Using a microwave to reheat the sauce is the last resort since the microwave tends to heat unevenly, therefore, when applying this method, you need to stir the barbecue frequently
- If you feel your sauce is too thick or watery, just adjust by adding a bit liquid or flour
Things you’ll need to reheat barbecue sauce
- An oven/ microwave/ skillet or saucepan
- A bowl
- Water
- A spoon
How to defrost barbecue sauce
In an oven
- Preheat the oven to 300 F or 325 F
- Place the sauce in a bowl and put in the oven
- Heat for a few minutes until the sauce reaches your desired temperature
In a skillet or saucepan
- After thawing the sauce, pout it in a skillet or saucepan
- Heat the sauce over low flame and stir frequently
- Remove the sauce from the heat and serve
In a microwave
- Place the sauce in a microwave-safe bowl
- Put the bowl in the microwave
- Set medium power and microwave for about 15-20 seconds