Refrigerating is a quick way to preserve cheese sauce. However, it will not last long in the fridge.
How long does cheese sauce last in the fridge?
The answer to this question depends on the type of cheese sauce being stored in the fridge. Homemade cheese sauce, for instance, can only last for about 2-4 days depending on how it is stored. Store-bought nacho cheese sauce can last up to 4 weeks.
Whatever cheese sauce you refrigerate, the way it is stored determines its shelf life.
If stored improperly, cheese sauce will not last long in the fridge.
How to store cheese sauce in the fridge correctly?
Refrigerating cheese sauce is simple. But if you do not do it properly, it won’t last long.
In this post, I will share with you some simple steps to refrigerate cheese sauce correctly.
Without further ado, let’s dive into the tips.
1. Let the cheese sauce cool down
After cooking, let the sauce cool down. But do not leave it on the counter for too long.
The sauce should be refrigerated within two hours. The main reason for this is safety.
Any food left at room temperature for more than two hours will not be safe to refrigerate and eat.
Bacteria can rapidly grow in a warm environment. If cheese sauce stayed on the counter for more than two hours, do not refrigerate it. Do not eat it either.
Although this 2-hour rule seems exaggerated, it is better to follow it than regret it later.
2. Refrigerate cheese sauce in a covered container
As the sauce cools down, put it in a covered container then refrigerate. If done properly, the cheese sauce can last for up to 2-4 days in the fridge.
When you are ready to use it, just reheat it. Do not forget to stir while heating it to regain the consistency of the sauce.
Serve and enjoy!
How to store cheese sauce in the fridge longer?
As mentioned, the cheese sauce can only last in the fridge for 2-4 days. This is a normal duration that the sauce can stay in the refrigerator.
However, you can lengthen the shelf life of cheese sauce. You read it right.
If you do the following tips, cheese sauce should last for up to a week or so.
The best thing you can do is to place sauce in an air-tight container.
The air in the container can cause oxidation and flavor deterioration. It also allows some bacteria to thrive and multiply.
Therefore, make sure that the sauce is put in an air-tight container. One of the best options here is zip lock.
You can easily remove the air out of the zip lock. Do whatever you want to get as much air out of the zip lock.
If done correctly, the cheese sauce can last for a week or more.
How long the vacuum-sealed cheese sauce last in the fridge?
If you want to save cheese sauce in the fridge, use a vacuum sealer. If the container of the sauce is vacuum sealed, it can last for about 4 weeks.
It may sound like an extra expense on your side but is worth it. You can also use the vacuum sealer when freezing meat and other perishables.
There are many vacuum sealers you can buy (click here to check my recommended vacuum sealer on Amazon).
Just pick one that you like the most.
Can you refrigerate hot cheese sauce?
You cannot refrigerate hot cheese sauce. Many times I found that hot foods directly stored in the fridge go bad fast.
Remember that if you place hot food in a container and store it in the fridge, droplets form inside the container.
The droplets will in turn cause issues to the sauce. Bottom line, if you store hot cheese sauce in the fridge, it won’t last long.
The best thing to do is to let the sauce cool down first before refrigerating.
Why does my cheese sauce go grey?
One of the causes why a cheese sauce goes grey is the pan being used in making the sauce.
I commonly see this in aluminum pans. Although they are very good at heat conduction, they are reactive.
It can affect the overall quality of the cheese sauce.
You may use a more reliable pan when you cook cheese sauce. Discoloration can affect the appearance of the sauce.
How long can you leave cheese sauce out?
Cheese sauce can only be left out within two hours. Again, the 2-hour rule applies in this case.
Longer than that, the sauce will not be safe to refrigerate or freeze.
The bacteria grow rapidly at room temperature and can contaminate the sauce after two hours.
The bad news is that refrigerating or freezing will not kill the bacteria. It only restrains them from multiplying or breeding rapidly.
Therefore, once the sauce is contaminated, it will not be safe to eat. I rather discard it than refrigerate or freeze it.
Can I make cheese sauce ahead of time?
It can be tempting sometimes to make cheese sauce ahead of time. This is to save time during family occasions.
However, I do not recommend making cheese sauce ahead of time. There are so many things that can go wrong with the sauce.
However, if you are going to use it the following day, it may be fine. Just make sure that the sauce is properly stored.
Follow the tips I mentioned above to store the sauce correctly. As mentioned, the cheese sauce can last for about 2-4 days in the fridge.
Final Thoughts
Cheese sauce only has a short life span even in the fridge. How long does cheese sauce last in the fridge?
If properly stored, the cheese sauce can last up to 2-4 days. It can last even longer if the container is vacuum-sealed.
The absence of air in the container can preserve the sauce from going bad easily.
I hope this helps. Learn more about refrigerating here.