Once opened, sauerkraut lasts 5–7 days in the refrigerator. Unopened, it stays good 12–18 months on a pantry shelf.
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USDA FoodKeeper lists sauerkraut under “Canned goods (high acid such as juices, fruit, pickles, sauerkraut, tomato soup, and foods in vinegar-based sauce)”, so this page uses that entry's storage times.
Storage times side by side
Each bar marks the longest recommended storage time for that spot, on a scale that spans 1 hour up to 2 years.
- 1Eat within a few days
- 2Lasts a week or two
- 3Lasts for months
- 4Lasts a very long time
Rated on whichever is longer: its fridge or pantry time.
Roughly 2–4 days left in the fridge.
Roughly 1–3 days left in the fridge.
Still within the safe window, but only just. Eat it today or move it to the freezer now.
Beyond the recommended fridge time. Throw it away, however normal it looks or smells.
Beyond the recommended fridge time. Throw it away, however normal it looks or smells.
Days count from when it was bought, opened or cooked, assuming a fridge set to 4 °C (40 °F) or below.
Day-by-day fridge timer for sauerkraut
- Opened0
- Day1
- Day2
- Day3
- Day4
- Day5
- Day6
- Day7
- Day8
- Day9
Uses the USDA FoodKeeper refrigerator range and assumes a fridge at 4°C (40°F) or below.
Test the timing on your sauerkraut
Comfortably within the 12–18 months pantry time for sauerkraut, provided it has been stored somewhere cool and dry with the lid sealed.
Comfortably within the 12–18 months pantry time for sauerkraut, provided it has been stored somewhere cool and dry with the lid sealed.
Nearing the limit of its 12–18 months pantry time. Look it over and give it a sniff before use; the quality is beginning to slip.
Beyond the 12–18 months pantry time. Shelf-stable foods tend to lose quality rather than turn unsafe; discard it if you notice mold, pests, damp clumps or a bad smell.
Beyond the 12–18 months pantry time. Shelf-stable foods tend to lose quality rather than turn unsafe; discard it if you notice mold, pests, damp clumps or a bad smell.
We assume a dark, dry, cool cupboard and a package that's sealed tight.
How long sauerkraut keeps with each storage method
| Storage | How long | Temp | Packaging | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Counter / pantry (opened) | Not recommended | 68–72°F | Airtight | kept cool and dry |
| Refrigerator (opened) | 5–7 days | ≤ 40°F / 4°C | Airtight | 40°F (4°C) or colder |
| Counter / pantry (unopened) | 12–18 months | 68–72°F | Airtight | kept cool and dry |
Getting to know sauerkraut
Sauerkraut sits in the pantry staples section of our food guide. USDA FoodKeeper lists sauerkraut under “Canned goods (high acid such as juices, fruit, pickles, sauerkraut, tomato soup, and foods in vinegar-based sauce)”, so this page uses that entry's storage times. Going by USDA FoodKeeper, it lasts 5–7 days in the fridge. It falls into the lower-risk group, so storing it well is mostly about keeping quality rather than about safety. Best storage spot: the door runs warmer than the rest of the fridge, which suits condiments and drinks that hold up well against spoiling.
Condiments, sauces and canned foods are built to keep: sealed packaging plus plenty of acid, sugar or salt holds microbes at bay. Unopened, most last for months or even years in the pantry. After opening, crumbs off utensils, moisture and air find their way in, and most then need refrigeration and have a much shorter shelf life.
The best place for sauerkraut
The door runs warmer than the rest of the fridge, which suits condiments and drinks that hold up well against spoiling.
Your sauerkraut storage questions
How long does sauerkraut last in the fridge?
5–7 days when held at 4°C (40°F) or below (opened). Seal it well so it stays free of moisture and fridge odors.
How long does sauerkraut last in the freezer?
Not listed. FoodKeeper does not list a freezer time for sauerkraut.
How long does sauerkraut last at room temperature?
Not recommended somewhere cool and dry.
How long does sauerkraut last after opening?
5–7 days refrigerated, or Not recommended in the pantry after opening. As soon as the seal is broken, the date on the package no longer counts.
How long does unopened sauerkraut last?
12–18 months on a pantry shelf, provided the seal is unbroken and it is stored the way the label directs.
How long is sauerkraut good after the expiration date?
Counting from the purchase date, FoodKeeper allows unopened sauerkraut 12–18 months on the pantry shelf. Labels such as "best-by" and "sell-by" are about peak quality and how stores rotate stock, not about safety — infant formula is the one product whose use-by date federal law requires.
How do you know if sauerkraut is bad?
Sour, yeasty or fermented notes that go beyond its normal tang. A slimy layer, or separation that won't stir back together. Darkening or a color shift near the top of the jar.
How to spot spoiled sauerkraut
Odor
Sour, yeasty or fermented notes that go beyond its normal tang.
Texture
A slimy layer, or separation that won't stir back together.
Color
Darkening or a color shift near the top of the jar.
Mold
Fuzz on the surface or under the lid means the whole jar goes.
No boxes ticked? That's encouraging. Even so, confirm how long it has been stored, because the germs behind food poisoning can't be seen with the naked eye.
Even one of these means it has spoiled. Toss it, and never taste it to find out.
What makes sauerkraut spoil
Yeasts and molds are the usual problem in opened jars, showing up as surface fuzz, bubbling or a boozy, fermented smell. Damaged cans of low-acid food pose an uncommon but dangerous botulism risk from Clostridium botulinum, so any can that bulges, leaks or is badly dented should be discarded without being opened.
Mistakes people make storing sauerkraut
- Double-dipping or spreading with a used knife, which carries in crumbs and bacteria.
- Leaving an opened jar on the pantry shelf even though its label calls for refrigeration once opened.
- Storing leftovers in their opened can in the fridge; transfer them to a covered container instead.
- Using cans that are rusty, bulging or badly dented.
Can you freeze sauerkraut?
- 1Step 1
Freezing usually isn't necessary; most condiments hold up well in the fridge.
- 2Step 2
If you do freeze it, use small containers or an ice-cube tray, and label them.
- 3Step 3
Defrost it in the fridge and stir thoroughly; emulsified sauces can split.
Sauerkraut left out overnight
Whole, uncut sauerkraut can stay out on the counter not recommended. After cutting or cooking, the 2-hour rule kicks in.
Keeping sauerkraut in good shape
- Canned items will be safe to eat well past the ‘use-by’ or ‘best by’ date as long as the can shows no dents, rust, or swelling.
- Unless the label says something different, put it in the fridge once opened.
- Dip in with a clean utensil every time; crumbs and double-dipping cut its life short.
- Wipe the rim clean and screw the lid on tight.
What the dates on sauerkraut packaging mean
Before opening
Counting from the purchase date, FoodKeeper allows unopened sauerkraut 12–18 months on the pantry shelf. Labels such as "best-by" and "sell-by" are about peak quality and how stores rotate stock, not about safety — infant formula is the one product whose use-by date federal law requires.
After opening
The printed date stops counting the moment the seal is broken. Allow 5–7 days in the refrigerator or not recommended on the pantry shelf, starting on the day you open it.
Choosing good sauerkraut at the store
- Inspect cans for swelling, rust and deep dents along the seams.
- Lids on jars should be tight, with a seal that pops the first time you twist it open.
- Choose condiment sizes you can use up within the opened window.
Sauerkraut: ways to finish it in time
- Mark the date you opened it on the lid.
- Scrape the last bit of a jar into a dressing, sauce or marinade.
- Freeze leftover sauce in ice-cube trays.
Sauerkraut compared with similar foods
- Sauerkraut 5–7 days
- Canned food (high acid) 5–7 days
- Canned beans 3–4 days
- Canned carrots 3–4 days
- Canned chili 3–4 days
- Canned corn 3–4 days
- Canned food (low acid) 3–4 days
Drawn on the timeline's scale, which runs from 1 hour to 2 years.
Pip can look it up in seconds: find out when leftovers expire and whether something that sat out is still safe to eat.
Sauerkraut myths: fact or fiction?
- You got it!Not this time.
Partly true. Because sauerkraut is low-risk, going slightly beyond 5–7 days usually costs quality rather than safety. Look for mold and sniff for off odors first.
- You got it!Not this time.
False. The freezer puts bacteria on hold rather than killing them. They start up again as the food warms, so let it thaw in the fridge, then cook or reheat it all the way through.
- You got it!Not this time.
Partly. FoodKeeper does not list a freezer time for sauerkraut.
- You got it!Not this time.
True. The door runs warmer than anywhere else in the fridge, yet this food holds up well enough to be stored there.
- You got it!Not this time.
False. Sauerkraut is shelf-stable and keeps not recommended somewhere cool and dry. For some foods the fridge can stretch out quality, but safety does not depend on it.
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