Does Dijon Mustard Go Bad?

Looks like your pantry could be overflowing with a bunch of sauces and condiments. Just like mine, you probably have the usual ones like ketchup and mayo.

But one thing I haven’t been able to find in my local grocery store is dijon mustard.

There are many delicious recipes about mustard you must try like mustard chicken, chicken with honey mustard,…

That’s because it doesn’t come in a jar or bottle.

Instead, it comes in a fancy little canister that looks something like this:

You would think that a condiment like dijon must have an expiration date on the label, right?

Well, there isn’t any.

You might also assume that dijon mustard is just as good after a few years (or decades) as it was when it was first made.

But you’d be wrong.

Does dijon mustard go bad?

When you buy dijon mustard from the supermarket, what you’re actually buying is a paste.

This means that dijon mustard is made by mixing vinegar, salt, sugar, and mustard seed into a thick, brownish-yellow liquid.

The paste is then poured into a mold which creates a flat cylinder shape.

Once the paste hardens, it’s removed from the mold and cut into squares.

Then, it’s ground up into the condiment that we know and love today.

So how long will dijon mustard last once it’s opened?

It depends on the specific brand of mustard you buy, but most of them have an expiration date printed on the back of their labels — usually somewhere between six months and two years.

If you don’t see anything written down on the package, you can always check the manufacturer’s website for details.

How long does dijon mustard last?

In general, you can expect that dijon mustard lasts about 12 months if it’s kept at room temperature.

So if you bought a new jar of dijon mustard in August 2021, you could use it until January 2022.

It’s important to note, however, that dijon mustard loses its potency much faster when refrigerated or frozen.

As far as keeping dijon mustard out of the refrigerator goes, you really only need to keep it away from heat and light.

A dark cupboard or closet is fine.

And since dijon mustard is pretty bland on its own, you won’t get much of a flavor boost from storing it in other foods either.

That said, if you do want to make sure your dijon mustard lasts longer, you should try to avoid opening more than one jar every couple of months.

If you open a new jar every month, you risk losing all of its flavor before you even finish the whole thing.

What are the signs that dijon mustard has gone bad?

Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell whether dijon mustard has gone bad without tasting it.

The best way to test it out is to simply take a tiny bit and put it in your mouth.

If it tastes sour, bitter, or metallic, it’s probably gone bad.

If it’s still okay, you can keep using it.

Is it safe to eat dijon mustard that has gone bad?

Of course!

Just be careful to avoid any sharp edges that might puncture your tongue or cause you to choke.

How should dijon mustard be stored?

As I mentioned above, dijon mustard loses its flavor very quickly when exposed to heat or light.

So you should always keep it in a cool, dark place where it’s protected from dust, moisture, and air.

You can also wrap it up tightly in plastic wrap to prevent it from drying out.

If you can’t use it right away, you can keep it in the fridge for up to three weeks.

After that, you’ll want to transfer it to the freezer so that it stays fresh for up to six months.

What happens if you eat dijon mustard that has gone bad?

As I mentioned earlier, dijon mustard loses its flavor extremely fast if it’s exposed to heat or light.

So if you accidentally eat a can of old mustard, it’s unlikely that you’ll taste a difference.

However, if you were planning to eat a bunch of mustard, you might notice some slight discoloration around the edges of the container.

And while dijon mustard doesn’t necessarily contain harmful bacteria, it can harbor mildew and mold.

So if you want to be absolutely certain that your mustard is safe to eat, you should discard it immediately.

Can dijon mustard be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze dijon mustard.

Just remember that freezing makes it harder to spread on sandwiches and other foods, so you might want to consider making small batches instead of trying to freeze the entire contents of a single jar.

You can also store dijon mustard in the freezer for up to six months.

Just be sure to leave it in the original packaging so that you don’t contaminate your food with germs and bacteria.

What is the shelf life of dijon mustard?

Most brands of dijon mustard have an expiration date printed on the back of the label.

Those dates range from six months to two years, depending on the manufacturer.

If you can’t read the date on your mustard, you can always call the company directly to find out when it expires.

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