Mayonnaise is a sauce whose classic recipe contains egg yolk, vinegar, vegetable oil, salt and pepper. There are many types and varieties of this product. The differences lie not only in the composition and additives of different spices. This product is distinguished by the number of flavors, preservatives and emulsifiers that some manufacturers generously endow their products with. It is very easy to get poisoned by this sauce if you do not know how and under what conditions to store mayonnaise. And after improper storage, allow the consumption of expired products.
We increase the shelf life
If you want to unload the last few days before the holidays, you can try preparing it in advance. Now we will look at how long homemade mayonnaise can be stored, taking into account various factors. To prevent it from deteriorating, the following conditions must be met:
- temperature from -4 to +7 °C;
- humidity not more than 75%;
- the packaging is closed and clean.
As mentioned above, the standard period is 4 days. If mustard powder or mustard is added to the composition, it can be increased by a couple of days. It should be taken into account that after the next opening of the sealed container it inevitably decreases.
Storing sauce in an airtight container
When the factory sealed packaging is already opened (damaged), the shelf life of mayonnaise will be reduced several times.
- At temperatures of 0°C -+7°C, the sauce, which is in unsealed packaging, will remain usable for 2 weeks.
- At room temperature, storage of mayonnaise in an open package will be very short: only a few hours.
Choosing the right container
How long homemade mayonnaise can be stored will depend on how this product is stored. The container must meet a number of requirements. It must be clean, dry and hermetically sealed. And the last criterion - it must be glass or porcelain. Of course, store-bought mayonnaise is packaged in plastic jars, but it contains preservatives, unlike yours.
Such criteria are set because open sauce quickly enters into a chemical reaction with air. As a result, oxidation of the oil base and loss of quality occurs. We already know how long homemade mayonnaise lasts in the refrigerator. Let's look further at what natural preservatives can be used.
Homemade sauce
This homemade sauce recipe includes fresh eggs. In store-bought products, egg powder is mainly used.
Due to the fact that homemade sauces contain only natural products, their shelf life is much shorter than that of factory-made ones.
- in the refrigerator – 3 days (in a tightly closed container);
- without refrigeration – 1, maximum 2 days (in a closed container);
- in the refrigerator – 36 – 48 hours (opened);
- without a refrigerator in an open form - no more than 3 - 4 hours.
The shelf life of homemade mayonnaise will depend on the conditions in which it will be kept.
The optimal storage conditions for homemade sauces are:
- storage temperature +4°С -+7°С;
- air humidity - 75%;
- clean , hermetically sealed container.
If you add mustard to homemade sauce, its shelf life can be extended by 1 - 2 days.
The container in which it is located has a great influence on the shelf life of homemade mayonnaise. The correct way to store it is in a tightly closed, clean, glass jar in a cool, dark place.
What determines the shelf life
Let's pay close attention to the composition:
- And first on the list are egg yolks. The more there are, the shorter the shelf life. But the fresher the egg, the better.
- Sunflower oil. Here the shelf life is practically unlimited.
- Substances that act as preservatives. These are sugar and salt, vinegar and mustard. That’s why it’s so difficult to answer how long homemade mayonnaise can be stored in the refrigerator. With any change in composition, the final figure also changes.
Store-bought sauce
If the shelf life of mayonnaise in the refrigerator is very long, such a product contains many different additives and preservatives. It is most often used for preparing food in fast food chains. But for homemade salads it is better not to buy such a product.
The maximum time specified by the manufacturer for which mayonnaise can be stored is 3 months. But depending on storage conditions, the shelf life of mayonnaise may vary:
- 7 days – at +14°С -+18°С;
- up to 3 weeks – at +10°С -+14°С;
- up to 1 month – at 0°С -+10°С.
The above data refers to products in hermetically sealed factory packaging. In this case, there is no need to place the sauce in an additional container.
When the temperature where the sauce is stored is around +18°C (no higher), you can keep the product without a refrigerator for a short time.
Alternative Recipes
Since the issue of preserving the sauce worries most housewives, a recipe without adding egg yolks was tested. The result is a tasty, homemade emulsion, and the shelf life increases to 10 days. Very good result.
You can go another way. Preservatives can be citric acid or vinegar. How long can homemade mayonnaise be stored when adding lemon juice? No more than five days, after which you need to throw it away. If you replace it with acetic acid, the sauce will not lose its properties even after 10 days.
Storage periods and conditions according to GOST
Modern GOST 31761-2012 regulates only the storage conditions for mayonnaise and mayonnaise sauces. According to accepted standards, the product is kept in well-cooled warehouse or retail areas, refrigeration chambers with constant air movement. The permissible storage temperature range is from 0 to 18 °C.
The shelf life of mayonnaise is not determined by GOST. It is installed by the manufacturer independently. The shelf life of a specific item is indicated in the technical documentation.
Note to the hostess
The product should not be exposed to direct sunlight.
How to make mayonnaise without eggs
It’s hard to even imagine, because the yolk is the traditional base. But the light lemon taste will definitely please you. It is suitable for preparing salads, sandwiches and casseroles. And it takes no more than five minutes to prepare. To do this, you need to mix 150 ml of milk in a bowl, add 300 ml of vegetable oil and start blending with a blender. Gradually add a tablespoon of mustard and salt. As soon as the mixture begins to thicken, add three tablespoons of lemon juice.
How long does homemade mayonnaise made according to this recipe last? This depends on milk, since it is the most perishable product here. If you take ultra-pasteurized one from a tetra bag, you can expect that the sauce will live on the refrigerator shelf for a couple of weeks. But if you take soy milk, you can prepare the sauce for a month in advance.
How long does a salad dressed with mayonnaise last?
According to SanPiN rules, the salad should be seasoned with this sauce only before serving . Otherwise, the dish may be unsuitable for consumption if the salad is already seasoned.
The shelf life also depends on what products were used in preparation. Dairy products will shorten the period to one day, eggs – to several hours .
Covered, the salad can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two days.
Store closed and after opening the package
The standard shelf life for store-bought mayonnaise in sealed packaging is 90 days .
After purchase, when the packaging has not yet been opened, storage outside the refrigerator is allowed, provided that the room temperature does not exceed +18 degrees.
When storing in the refrigerator, consider the following numbers:
- from 0 to +10 degrees – 20-30 days of storage;
- from +10 to +14 degrees – less than 20 days of storage;
- from +14 to +18 degrees – about a week of storage.
As mentioned earlier, once the package is opened, the shelf life of mayonnaise is greatly reduced. Here it will no longer be possible to store the product outside the refrigerator, but exclusively in the refrigerator compartment, the temperature in which should vary from 0 to +7 degrees .
At the same time, the sauce will be stored for a maximum of two weeks (14 days), after which it will no longer be suitable for food.
Antibacterial substances
You can definitely answer how long mayonnaise prepared at home can be stored only by studying its components. To increase shelf life, substances with antibacterial properties are used. In addition to mustard, which has already been mentioned, it also includes horseradish and garlic. They will give the sauce a special piquancy and allow it to be stored for a week longer.
How to choose
- When purchasing this product, first of all pay attention to its composition. It is important that the sauce is made from natural ingredients, without various additives, to increase its shelf life.
- In the store, the sauce should be in display cases - refrigerators. If mayonnaise is stored on an ordinary shelf, it is better not to buy such a product.
- The packaging must contain the date of release of the product and its expiration date. If the period is short, the product is natural, and if it is long, the sauce contains preservatives.
- A high-quality product must have absolutely sealed packaging, since its components are quite sensitive to the environment. Based on this, it would be better to purchase a classic sauce made from natural ingredients in reliable modern packaging.
- Classic Provencal sauce should be stored under the conditions specified by the manufacturer. And use it within the stated expiration date of the product. The shelf life of mayonnaise, as a rule, will depend not only on the ingredients included in its composition, but also on the presence (quantity) of preservatives.
Favorite recipe
It is quick and easy to prepare and can be used within two weeks. Will the housewife really not find somewhere to use it during this time? For preparation you will need:
- egg;
- 250 ml refined sunflower oil;
- sugar - teaspoon;
- salt - half a teaspoon;
- lemon juice - tablespoon;
- spices - a teaspoon of mustard, garlic and horseradish to taste.
Now let's look at the cooking process. Once you try it, this sauce will become your favorite. Pour oil into the prepared container. It is best to take odorless, highly purified. Add salt and sugar immediately. Now squeeze the lemon juice, add the egg yolk and press it to the bottom with an immersion blender. Now beat the yolk mass and gradually begin to lift the device so that it mixes with the oil.
This amount yields 350 g of a thick, white emulsion. Worth a try, the recipe is very good. Housewives are often afraid to make mayonnaise at home, because they believe that they won’t succeed. It's really only worth trying once.
Signs of a spoiled product
The following signs indicate that homemade mayonnaise in the refrigerator has lost its freshness and has spoiled:
- a yellow layer has formed on top;
- light content appeared from below;
- the composition became heterogeneous and stratified;
- an unpleasant smell of rancid oil or rotten eggs appeared.
This happens when none of the household members remember how long open mayonnaise has been stored in the refrigerator.
Sometimes housewives try to use the “overdue” time to prepare dishes. There are recipes invented by amateurs who claim that it can be added to various baked goods. This should not be done, since the product was created as a sauce and when heated it turns into a set of difficult-to-digest components that can cause indigestion.
Each housewife decides for herself whether to use a ready-made product or please her family with homemade, fresh sauce. And it’s better not to check the shelf life of homemade mayonnaise in the refrigerator, but to use it immediately by preparing a delicious salad.
Comparison of taste qualities
How similar is homemade mayonnaise to store-bought mayonnaise? Reviews from housewives indicate that, first of all, it depends on the oil used. The sauce made with olive oil tastes best. But it is also the most expensive. It is obtained similar to the original one when using refined sunflower oil. But it is better not to use unrefined, with the smell of seeds. In general, the sauce turns out no worse than store-bought. It whips up quickly, so you can prepare it immediately before assembling the salad.
Storing mayonnaise outside the refrigerator
Sometimes a sudden power outage or refrigerator breakdown makes you wonder how long mayonnaise can be stored at room temperature? And also how much the shelf life of homemade mayonnaise differs from store-bought mayonnaise.
In the cold season, containers with sauce are sent to the balcony, and in the summer, when the temperature is above +18°C, you can use food foil. It is pre-cooled in water, after which the jar of sauce is wrapped in several layers so that there are no open areas left.
In a jar wrapped in foil, the shelf life of mayonnaise without refrigeration will be 3–4 days. It is important to continually cool the foil as it heats up.
