Opened food shelf-life

How long does opened food actually last?

Check a food, compare UK and US guidance, and save the day you opened it so you can stop guessing at the fridge door.

Stop guessing at the fridge door. Search a food, compare safety guidance, and save the opening date to your digital fridge.

12+ foods FSA Guidelines Local fridge tracker

Popular searches

1. Search

Type the food you actually have.

Sauces, leftovers, dips, cheeses, and staples are all fair game.

2. Compare

See the shelf-life window and spoilage signs.

The page explains what to look for, smell for, and feel for before eating.

3. Track

Save the opening date to your fridge list.

You get a simple countdown without accounts, forms, or app installs.

Retention Loop

Get helpful reminders for the food you open.

Get a weekly digest of what needs to be eaten in your fridge before it goes bad. No spam, just less food waste.

Get a weekly digest of what needs to be eaten in your fridge before it goes bad. No spam, just less food waste.

Dips

Hummus

UK guidance

Hummus shows a major geo-routing difference: 2 days in UK mode versus 7 days in US mode, always refrigerated after opening.

Best quick answer

2 days

If opened today

Aim to use by 17 Apr 2026

What that means

Short window. Treat it as a quick-use item.

Use this as a planning window, then check the real-world spoilage signs below before eating.

Storage note

This is a strong regional split: many UK chilled packs say use within 2 days once opened, while US tubs commonly allow up to 7 days if kept refrigerated. Follow the pack if it is shorter.

Check before eating

Look

Mould, darkening, or liquid pooling with spots.

Smell

Sour or yeasty smell.

Texture

Slimy texture or puffed, gassy appearance.

Freezing

Yes. Freeze in airtight containers for up to 1 month and stir after thawing.

UK vs US

UK mode uses 2 days after opening. US mode uses 7 days after opening.

US mode is 5 days longer than UK mode on this item.

FSA Guidelines is selected right now.

Source: UK FSA Guidelines & Manufacturer Expectations

Keep browsing

category-guide

Dips: opened shelf-life guide

Also in Dips

Salsa

3 days after opening (UK)

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Did you know?

Hummus is the #2 most searched item on TossOrKeep this month.

Source: UK food safety research & TossOrKeep user data

Cut waste further

People checking Hummus usually need better storage, clearer labels, or a more visible fridge setup.

Freezer-safe containers

Useful when the countdown is short and freezing is a good save option.

Date labels

Make the opened date visible so the fridge tracker matches the real container.

Fridge organiser bins

Keep short-life items visible so they get used before they disappear into the back.

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