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Fame Shock News

does soy sauce expire

Author

Sarah Parker

Updated on May 20, 2026

Can expired soy sauce make you sick? Condiments usually have a best-before date or best- by date instead of the expiration date, which means you can still use your soy sauce even after that date has lapsed if it is stored properly.

How can you tell if soy sauce has gone bad?

To tell if your soy sauce is spoiled, give it a sniff and take a good look at the liquid. Look for off, funny, or super strong smell, changes in color or texture, and anything on the surface, like mold (except film yeast, which you can remove).

How long can soy sauce last after best by date?

As you should know by now, soy sauce can go bad, but it’s very unlikely to happen. If stored properly, it would be safe to consume for many years, but it’s recommended to use within 2 to 3 years because its quality deteriorates over time.

How long does soy sauce last in refrigerator?

Depending on the storage condition, an opened bottle of soy sauce can stay outside for 3-6 months. If it is refrigerated, it can last for 2-3 years.

How long can you keep soy sauce once opened?

Soy sauce is another necessity. It’ll last around three years if unopened, but it should be used up within one month if refrigerated after opening.

Can soy sauce give you food poisoning?

The Risk of Consuming Expired Soy Sauce

Eating any food expired is never a good idea. You might get a little bit sick, but there don’t appear to be any reported cases of severe illness or death from adding a few drops of expired soy sauce to your dishes.

What can you do with expired soy sauce?

It might lose some flavor but it won’t spoil, with a few caveats. An unopened bottle of soy sauce can last as long as two or three years (basically forever), and you can safely leave an opened bottle out of the refrigerator for up to one year.

Is soy sauce supposed to be refrigerated?

Soy Sauce

Just like fish sauce, soy sauce is fermented and does not need to be refrigerated unless you are keeping it for more than one year.

Why does my soy sauce smell like alcohol?

During the fermentation process, the wheat starches are broken down to sugars and part of the sugar is changed into alcohol. The alcohol adds to the aroma and overall flavour of our Soy Sauce.

Is there mold in soy sauce?

Technically, yes. Soy sauce has a mold called aspergillus which gives it the classic umami flavor we all ove. Through the fermentation process, the mold develops. It helps to break down the soya beans and creates soya sauce.