Are you wondering how long cranberry sauce lasts in the fridge and if it matters if it's homemade or from a can? The answer to your second query is a resounding "Yes" and, to the first, "That depends."
It's probably been a while since you've been in the cranberry game, so consider this a sauce-focused Thanksgiving food safety refresher. We cover everything you need to know about the storage and longevity of cranberry sauce: homemade and canned, refrigerating and freezing, and when you have to throw it out.
When to Toss Cranberry Sauce
Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.
We hear you: After a long day of cooking, hosting, and celebrating, something's bound to get overlooked. If you've inadvertently left cranberry sauce on the kitchen counter overnight—whether it's homemade or store-bought—throw it away, no matter how painful.
You can safely leave a container of cranberry sauce on the kitchen counter at room temperature for up to 2 hours. After that, your cranberry sauce—and most other perishable foods, especially those containing eggs and dairy—enters the Danger Zone, the USDA's term for the temperature range between 40 and 140 degrees F, in which bacteria quickly multiply.
Perhaps you're unsure how long your cranberry sauce has been sitting out, or you don't remember how long it's been hiding at the back of the fridge. When in question, summon your senses to determine if your cranberry sauce is bad or spoiled, and this goes for homemade and canned: If it has an "off" smell, flavor, or appearance—or if mold appears—toss it.
How to Store Homemade Cranberry Sauce
When it comes to storing your homemade cranberry sauce, you have options: the refrigerator or the freezer:
- To refrigerate, transfer to a covered glass or plastic container, and it'll keep for 10 to 14 days.
- To freeze, transfer to a covered, airtight container or freezer-safe bag, and it'll stay fresh-tasting in your freezer for about 1 month. Beyond that, it's still safe to eat (though less fresh-tasting) for up to a year.
How to Store Canned Cranberry Sauce
It may not matter to your guests if you serve homemade or canned cranberry sauce, but when it comes to food storage, it does make a difference. Of course, it also matters if the can has been opened or not.
Unopened Cranberry Sauce
As long as an unopened can of cranberry sauce is stored in a consistently cool pantry, it'll keep and taste good for at least a year beyond the date stamped on the can. (That date is the manufacturer’s estimate of how long the cranberry sauce will remain at peak quality and is not a safety-related expiration date.) After a few years, if the can is intact, the cranberry sauce’s texture, color, or flavor may change, but it likely won’t be dangerous.
Regardless of a can's date, toss out any cranberry sauce cans that are leaky, rusted, bulging, or severely dented. If the top of the can is rounded instead of flat, the cranberry sauce has most likely gone bad. If you open the can and anything is brown or black, toss the can and its contents ASAP!
Opened Cranberry Sauce
If you need to store cranberry sauce from a can that's been opened, you really just have one option: the refrigerator. Start by transferring your cranberry sauce from the can to an airtight container, and then you can safely leave it in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freezing canned cranberry sauce isn’t a good idea because it turns watery. While not recommended, it's not unsafe to freeze it, and it'll stay good in the freezer for a month.
To avoid having to throw that cranberry sauce away, there are plenty of ways to use leftover cranberry sauce outside of your holiday feast. Smear it as a condiment on a leftover turkey sandwich, mix some into your morning bowl of oatmeal, or warm it up to use as a decadent tangy topping for vanilla ice cream.
FAQs
When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.
How to read the expiration date on ocean spray cranberry sauce? ›
Where is the expiry date on Ocean Spray cranberry sauce? Ocean Spray best-by dates are in the format 11Mar13. The first 2 digits are the day, next 3 letters the month and the last 2 are the year.
How long does homemade cranberry relish last? ›
To make-ahead: Cranberry relish can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. To freeze: Store cranberry relish in a freezer safe container for 2-3 months. To use, remove it from the freezer and thaw it in the refrigerator.
Does homemade cranberry sauce need to be refrigerated? ›
Canned cranberry sauce can be kept in the pantry until after it's opened—but feel free to store it in the fridge if you like a chilled sauce and magically have extra fridge space. Freshly made sauce should be refrigerated. Let cool to room temperature before transferring to a resealable container.
How long can you freeze homemade cranberry sauce? ›
Always remember to label and date your cranberry sauce for freezing so you know when it's good to use-by. Homemade cranberry sauce will freeze beautifully for about 3-4 months. Due to its water content, we don't recommend freezing it for more than a couple of months.
How long does homemade canned cranberry sauce last? ›
When to Toss Cranberry Sauce. Cranberry sauce will last for two hours at room temperature. Homemade cranberry sauce will last in the fridge for 10 to 14 days. Canned cranberry sauce that has been opened will last up to a week in the fridge.
How to read an expiration date code? ›
What is the standard expiration date format for foods? The standard format is MMDDYY, where “MM” refers to the month, “DD” refers to the date, and “YY” refers to the year. So if a product says 101525, it means that the product expires on October 15, 2025.
Is homemade cranberry sauce good for you? ›
The homemade cranberry sauce has nearly half the calories, carbohydrates, and sugars compared to the store brand. It also has more fiber as well as potassium! Thankfully, buying cranberry sauce at the store is not the only option. We have the perfect Simple Cranberry Sauce recipe to make for the upcoming holidays!
How long will fresh cranberries last? ›
How Long Fresh Cranberries Will Last. If stored correctly, fresh cranberries will last in the refrigerator for three to four weeks. If you opted to freeze them, they'll keep well for up to a year. When frozen, you can use them straight from the freezer without defrosting.
How long is cranberry juice good for after the expiration date? ›
The Google consensus is that it's SAFE to drink even AFTER 12-24 MONTHS past any printed date on the bottle. THIS APPLIES ONLY TO UNOPENED BOTTLES OF CRANBERRY JUICE. If opened, the juice should be refrigerated and used within 2 weeks.
Cranberry sauce: A 12-ounce package of fresh cranberries makes about 2 ¼ cups of sauce; a 16-ounce can has 6 servings. Gravy: Plan for ⅓ cup of gravy per person. Green beans: 1 ½ pounds of beans makes 6 to 8 servings.
Do you just eat cranberry sauce out of the can? ›
It's perfectly fine to serve up cranberry sauce — whole berry or jelled — straight out of the can. But in my experience, heating the canned sauce up takes its flavor to the next level. Plus, it becomes a little more aesthetically pleasing.
How to serve cranberry sauce out of a can? ›
The traditional way to serve canned cranberry sauce is to slice the cylinder into rounds and arrange them on a platter.
Can you freeze cranberry sauce in mason jars? ›
You can use any airtight container that is freezer-safe, but mason jars are my favorite for both freezing and serving cranberry sauce.
How long does Ocean Spray cranberry sauce last in the fridge? ›
In general, after they are opened, our juices and sauces may be kept tightly covered in the refrigerator for at least two weeks. For best quality and taste, use the product before the date stamped on it.
Can you cook cranberry sauce too long? ›
If your cranberry sauce is too thick, it's most likely overcooked. When you cook cranberries (or any berries), they burst, releasing pectin—a natural thickener. The key to a perfect consistency is to allow some but not all of the cranberries to split open—something you'll achieve with less time on the stove.
How long does Ocean Spray jellied cranberry sauce last? ›
Shelf-life stamped on the container is intended to be a guideline since actual storage conditions probably vary from the ideal after the product leaves Ocean Spray's control. In general, after they are opened, our juices and sauces may be kept tightly covered in the refrigerator for at least two weeks.
Does Ocean Spray cranberry go bad? ›
Refrigeration is key once the bottle is opened. An opened bottle of Ocean Spray cranberry juice should typically be consumed within 7 to 10 days for optimal taste. Unopened cranberry juice lasts significantly longer — usually 18 to 24 months at room temperature — but should be moved to the fridge once opened.
How do you know if cranberry juice is expired? ›
Cranberry juice has a bright red color. If you find an old bottle in your pantry and that color looks closer to brown than red, it's most likely expired and shouldn't be thrown out. But if you're storing it in the fridge and its color is still intact, then you should turn to its smell to tell you what you need to know.
Why are the labels upside down on Ocean Spray cranberry sauce? ›
Observant consumers have noticed that the Ocean Spray labels on jellied cranberry sauce cans are flipped, meaning the rounded edge that's typically on the bottom of most canned goods is on top of Ocean Spray cranberry sauce cans. According to Ocean Spray, that's intentional: It creates a seamless serving experience.
