How Long Does Homemade Salsa Last?
The first time I ate salsa was accidental. I ordered my go-to burrito at this Mexican restaurant, and they managed to mess up my order, and I had one with the salsa. And, thank god they switched up the orders by mistake. I would have otherwise never known how fantastic salsa tastes.
So, the moment I came back home, I knew I had to make my batch. Trust me when I say this, homemade salsa is not just cheap but tastes a lot better and fresh. But, given how I am, I made a lot more than I needed, and I was skeptical about the process of storing it to make it last.
Here, I will share every last detail you need to know about how long homemade salsa lasts and how you can enhance the shelf life of the sauce.
What is Salsa?
Salsa is a popular Mexican condiment made with tomatoes, onions, and coriander used as a topping for tacos and burritos.
It can either be cooked or raw as well, depending on the type of salsa you are making. For the most part, it is the raw variant with chopped vegetables that are mostly used.
Contrary to popular belief, salsa is perfect for your health. The wide range of vegetables contains Vitamin C, which helps improve your immunity and promotes healthy aging.
How Long Does Homemade Salsa Last?
Homemade salsa is always made fresh and doesn’t contain any preservatives that the other packaged ones have.
Depending on the ingredients, the homemade salsa typically lasts for about a week and not more than that. In case your salsa contains eggs in them, it will last lesser.
Additionally, using crisp, fresh, and organic ingredients in the salsa further helps increase the sauce’s shelf life.
Is it Necessary to Refrigerate Homemade Salsa?
While an unopened can of salsa from the market will last easily for two months when refrigerated, the same can’t be said for the homemade version.
If you make a lot of salsa as I do, I would suggest storing the rest in an airtight container inside the fridge. But, then again, it should not be consumed past the one week mark.
The reason why homemade salsa doesn’t last more a week is because of the bacterial growth in it.
How to Detect If the Salsa Is Going Bad?
If you have never made homemade salsa before, you will have a hard time detecting whether it is good to eat or not.
Aside from the stench of the rotten tomatoes, check the color and texture of the salsa. If the color has turned brown from the tomatoes’ bright red, it is not safe for consumption anymore.
Another common sign of a bad salsa is the foul smell that comes from it. If your salsa has an odd smell, you should throw it out.
Additionally, the growth of molds is also a sign of a lousy salsa. Even if the molds are creeping up from one side, you should throw out the entire batch of salsa.
How to Keep The Homemade Salsa Fresh?
Now that you know the basics about the expiration of your homemade salsa, the next thing to focus on is the few ways you can enhance the salsa’s shelf life.
Here are a few tips you can follow:
- Store the salsa in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- In case you want to preserve the homemade salsa for longer, store them in a freezer bag and keep it inside the freezer for longer.
- Making lacto-fermented salsa also helps to prolong the shelf-life. For this, you need to use a bit of whey protein or strained yogurt for the salsa.
- Storing the salsa in smaller portions helps preserve it for longer.
Even though the homemade salsa can be frozen for over 1 week, I’d suggest you not do that. It affects the texture of the salsa along with the flavor too. Instead, make a fresh batch every time you want to enjoy some with your tacos or tortillas.
How to Make Homemade Salsa?
Making homemade salsa is not rocket science. If you have the ingredients handy, it takes less than 10 minutes to make it.
Ingredients
- Onion – 1 whole chopped
- Tomato – 2 whole chopped
- Coriander – handful chopped
- Lemon – 2
- Salt and pepper
How to Make?
- Start by taking a large sterilized bowl.
- To that, add the chopped onions and tomatoes and mix everything well.
- Add the salt and pepper according to your taste and mix again.
- Finish the dish with the lemon juice and the coriander leaves to add that freshness and zing.
The recipe I shared is the one I enjoy more. It is the raw version and tastes a lot fresher and adds a whole lot of texture to the dish. In case you enjoy the cooked can of salsa, you can make that as well.
Conclusion
Homemade salsas are easy to make but can be challenging to store, especially if you make larger batches. For this, I’d suggest you stick to portion control and make as much as you need. In case you have some leftovers, follow the steps I have mentioned and try to finish it up before the week ends. I hope this gives you a good idea about how long homemade salsa lasts.