When it comes to ingredients that all avid bakers have in their kitchens, Crisco is one of them. But, of course, people love using the versatile all-purpose vegetable shortening in their food preparation, too.
In addition, people have found creative uses for it saying it is excellent as an ingredient in soap and candle making. With so many uses for Crisco, we are tempted to have a considerable supply of it at home, but we might wonder whether Crisco goes bad.
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Does Crisco Go Bad?
Since Crisco is a vegetable shortening that contains fat, it does indeed go bad. This is because the fat in Crisco comes in contact with oxygen and starts to oxidize.
Therefore, you must know how to store your Crisco, especially after it has been opened, to avoid it going bad prematurely.
As with all food products, if you are unsure whether your Crisco has gone bad, don’t use it anymore, especially since you will run the risk of making your baked goods taste unusual or unpleasant.
How Long Does Crisco Last?
Crisco can last for years if stored correctly. You can keep your unopened Crisco in your pantry for up to two years without it going bad. Once you have opened it, it can still last for six months in your pantry without spoiling.
If you have opened your Crisco, you can also keep it in the fridge to extend its shelf life. It will last up to a year if stored in your fridge.
It is recommended that you keep your Crisco in the refrigerator if you live in humid and hot climates since the fridge’s cool temperature will increase its shelf life while maintaining its quality.
You might be tempted to keep your Crisco in your freezer. Although freezing your Crisco doesn’t extend its shelf life any more than the fridge, it will keep it from being exposed to bacteria.
Keeping your opened Crisco in the freezer will give you the same shelf life as the fridge, about a year after opening the container for the first time.
How Long Does Crisco Last? |
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In the pantry | In the fridge | In the freezer | |
Unopened can | 2 years | 2 years | 2 years |
Opened can | 6 months | 1 year | 1 year |
Crisco Stick | 6 months | 6 months | 6 months |
3 Tips to Tell if Crisco Has Gone Bad
Crisco can enhance your baking and cooking with its outstanding versatility and quality. People love using Crisco in their bakes and food preparation.
However, using Crisco that has gone bad in your cooking or baking may result in it tasting bad, so it is beneficial to know how to tell if your Crisco has gone bad. Here are three ways that you can tell if your Crisco has gone bad:
Your Crisco looks different.
If your Crisco suddenly appears to be a lot darker than when you purchased it, it is a sign that it has gone bad. If your Crisco has a greenish tint, it is best to throw it away immediately since it might have been contaminated by bacteria.
Similarly, if it shows signs of splitting, it is best to avoid adding it to your baking or cooking with oil lying on top. Lastly, if you notice any organic growth or signs of mold in your Crisco, it isn’t suitable for consumption anymore.
Using Crisco that has been contaminated with mold or bacteria can be harmful to our health, so you must keep an eye on your Crisco’s color and texture.
If you suspect that your Crisco has been contaminated, it is best to avoid using it. Trust your gut, and remember health safety should always come first with cooking and baking.
Your Crisco smells different.
Crisco that has gone past its best can either have no smell or smell quite bad. If your Crisco has lost its smell completely, it is a sign that it is no longer fresh.
It is best not to use it after it has lost its scent completely since it won’t be enhancing your bakes or meals in any way. Likewise, if your Crisco has a rancid or unpleasant scent, it has gone past its best and shouldn’t be used anymore.
Your Crisco tastes different.
If you are unsure whether your Crisco is still good for use, and you can’t tell by looking and smelling it, you can try a little taste test. It is crucial that you only taste a little bit of your Crisco since it might have gone bad.
Don’t do a taste test if your Crisco is showing any signs of mold or bacteria contamination. Instead, throw it out and buy fresh Crisco.
However, if your Crisco has gone past its best by date and still seems fine, taste a little bit of it to see if it has maintained its quality. If it tastes rancid or unpleasant, don’t use it any longer.
Cooking or baking with Crisco that has gone bad isn’t ideal since your final products can taste bad, too.
3 Tips to Store Crisco
Knowing how to store your Crisco properly will make it last longer and stay fresh. Crisco can last a surprisingly long time if stored correctly.
You will be able to use opened Crisco for any time between six months and one year. A stick of Crisco has a shorter shelf life, but can be stored using the same methods as canned Crisco.
Keeping your Crisco in the pantry
You can keep your unopened Crisco in your pantry. Once you have opened it, you can still keep it in your pantry if you don’t live in a place that has very humid or hot weather.
Keep your Crisco away from direct sunlight. Likewise, keep it far away from any heat elements that will decrease its quality. Your Crisco will last for years if unopened and for half a year once opened if stored in an airtight container in a cool and dry pantry.
Storing your Crisco in the fridge
If you live in a hot and humid area, it is best if you keep your opened Crisco in the fridge. It can easily last for up to a year in the refrigerator while maintaining its quality.
Be sure to store it in an airtight container. If you remove your Crisco from the fridge for use, remember to put it back once you have finished using it so that it stays at a constant temperature.
Keeping your Crisco in the freezer
Although it isn’t necessary, you can easily keep your Crisco in the freezer. It won’t make it last longer than it would in the fridge, but it minimizes the chances of bacterial contamination.
The Risk of Consuming Expired Crisco
The most significant risk for using expired Crisco in your baking and cooking is that it can affect the taste of your bakes and meals. You might not think it, but if you used Crisco that has gone rancid in your cooking, your cooking might taste slightly sour or foul even.
In addition, people who have sensitive stomachs might feel their digestive systems are upset after consuming Crisco that has gone bad. If you feel bad after eating meals or bakes prepared with suspicious Crisco, discontinue use of it.
There is always a risk of your Crisco being contaminated by mold or bacteria, in which case you really should avoid eating it since it can lead to food poisoning.
Consuming Crisco that contains either of these might result in diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, a headache, and a low-grade fever. As with all cases of food poisoning, if your symptoms haven’t passed within 48 hours, you must visit a doctor. Always stay hydrated while experiencing food poisoning.
Can you Freeze Crisco?
Yes, it is possible to freeze Crisco, although it doesn’t really extend its shelf life. Freezing Crisco comes with pros and cons, however. On the plus side, your Crisco won’t be contaminated with bacteria because of the cold temperatures.
Additionally, the consistent temperature will help keep your Crisco from splitting. The downsides of freezing Crisco are that it can be hard to use frozen Crisco and lose some of its color and quality once frozen.
In addition, freezing a tub or stick of Crisco can make it challenging to use it quickly, so it is recommended that you cut it into blocks before freezing so that you can simply remove a block or two.
A good idea is to use an ice tray as a Crisco freezing tray. Then, if you are using it in your cooking, you can simply remove the frozen Crisco and throw it directly into the pan. However, if you plan on baking with your Crisco, you will need to allow it to thaw completely before using it.
Summary
Crisco is a convenient and versatile ingredient to have in your pantry or fridge. You will always be able to add that much-needed fatty ingredient to your baking and cooking.
In addition, if you store your Crisco correctly, you will be able to enjoy great-tasting Crisco bakes and meals for a long time. Keep an eye on your Crisco so that you can tell if your Crisco has gone bad.
Resources
- Does Crisco Shortening Go Bad? Storage, Shelf Life, Spoilage
- Does Crisco Go Bad? – Food Guide 2023
- Does Crisco Go Bad? Shelf Life, Spoilage & Storage
- How Long Does Crisco Last?
- Does Crisco Shortening Go Bad? How Long Does Crisco Shortening Last?