| Dear Yahoo!: |
| What is the shelf life of those fast-food condiment packets I've been throwing into a bowl in my refrigerator? |
| Jeff Tucson, Arizona |
| Dear Jeff: |
| For an overall survey of condiment shelf-lives, we refer you to the incomparable Table of Condiments That Periodically Go Bad. This incredible scientific document offers actuarial estimates for just about every condiment known to humanity: b�arnaise, hummus, pimento, vinaigrette, Miracle Whip, etc. It also inspired some serious fridge purging on the part of the Ask Yahoo! team.
The TOCTPGB gives ketchup five months and mustard six to eight months, but these figures are presumably intended for bottles and squirters. So we consulted the Condiment Packet Museum, which currently features more than 700 species of plastic-wrapped flavors. While hard statistics remained elusive, we discovered this horrifying testament to the perils of prolonged condiment storage. A food safety article from food-service supplier Sysco notes that condiment packages don't need to be refrigerated and are protected from contamination. Long Life Foods, a manufacturer of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) for the military, assures us that their food remains tasty for five years. Bottom line -- we came up short on a hard figure, but we wouldn't keep those packets around for longer than a year. They're fairly easy too come by, and you might find yourself in some real gastronomic trouble if a packet is old and punctured. |
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