Like a lot of other condiments, it usually has a best before date and not a use by date or expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use fish sauce for your flavoring needs after the best before date has lapsed up until the eat by date listed above. If there is no best before date on your bottle, it will last 2-3 years from purchase.

How to tell if Fish Sauce is bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Good fish sauce has a clear, reddish brown color without sediment. Fish sauce may experience changes in color and flavor as it ages, but it will not be harmful to consume unless an odor or a mold develops, then it must be discarded.

If your fish sauce has gone bad, check our fish sauce substitute page for alternatives.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Fish Sauce to extend its shelf life?

The best way to store fish sauce is in its original air tight container in a cool dark place like the pantry. A constant temperature is also best, away from the stove or dishwasher. Fish sauce should not be kept in the fridge as the salt will crystallize.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How long is Fish Sauce good for when prepared in a dish?

How long does fish sauce last? That depends. How long does rice last? In general, this sauce will be one of the longest lasting ingredients in any dish, soaking into the other ingredients. Even so, it can only last as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the dish.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Fish Sauce lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Fish Sauce.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Fish Sauce shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!