Does soy sauce go bad?

An unopened bottle of soy sauce keeps about 3 years in the pantry. Once opened, the USDA's guidance is to keep it in the fridge and use it within about 1 month for the best flavor. Soy sauce's salt keeps it from spoiling, but it slowly darkens and loses aroma. Teriyaki sauce follows the same times.

Food	Fridge	Pantry
Soy sauce or teriyaki sauce	—Opened: 1 month	3 yearsfrom purchase

Fridge at 4 °C (40 °F) or colder, freezer at −18 °C (0 °F). Freezer times are for best quality: food kept frozen stays safe, but slowly loses taste and texture. These times are USDA guidance, not a guarantee. When in doubt, throw it out.

How to tell if soy sauce has gone bad

Mold or a film on the surface or around the cap, rare in plain soy sauce but more likely in sweet teriyaki sauce.
A sour, off smell different from its usual salty, savory one.
A much darker color and stronger, harsher taste mean it has oxidized: safe, but less pleasant.

How to store soy sauce

Keep unopened bottles in a cool, dark cupboard.
Once opened, the fridge keeps the flavor longest; a cool, dark cupboard is fine for a bottle you'll use quickly.
Close the cap tightly after each use.
Keep sweet sauces like teriyaki and hoisin in the fridge once opened.

Can you freeze soy sauce?

There's no need: the salt keeps it from freezing solid and from spoiling. Store it in the pantry or fridge instead.

Questions

Does soy sauce need to be refrigerated after opening?

It won't spoil at room temperature thanks to its salt, but many brands and the USDA recommend refrigerating it to keep the flavor and color longer.

Can you use soy sauce after the best-by date?

Usually yes, if there's no mold or off smell. It may be darker and saltier-tasting.

How long do soy sauce packets last?

Single-serve packets keep their quality for many months at room temperature; throw out any that are swollen or leaking.

Add sauces to ShelfLife with the date you opened them.

▶ Coming soon toGoogle Play Coming soon on theApp Store