Key takeaways
- Red wine vinegar is self-preserving due to its high acidity, so it may last indefinitely when stored in a tightly sealed glass bottle without risk of spoilage or foodborne illness.
- Over time, especially if opened frequently, red wine vinegar may darken and develop cloudiness or sediment due to oxidation. These changes affect quality but not safety, and you can strain the sediment if needed.
- Before using older red wine vinegar, taste and smell it. If it seems off, it might affect your recipe’s flavor, color, or aroma, but you can still use it for non-culinary purposes like killing weeds.
Red wine vinegar is a versatile cooking condiment often used to brighten flavors, balance saltiness, and cut through fat in a recipe.
It’s made by fermenting red wine with a starter culture and acidic bacteria until it sours. During fermentation, the alcohol in red wine is converted into acetic acid — the main component of vinegar.
When splashed right out of the bottle or whisked into a dressing with some olive oil, salt, pepper, and herbs, red wine vinegar adds a tangy kick of flavor to greens or vegetables. When used in more generous amounts, you can pickle and preserve any type of fruit, vegetable, meat, or even eggs.
You may use it often, but if you discover an old bottle in the back of your pantry, you might wonder whether it’s still safe to use.
Here’s what you need to know about the shelf life of red wine vinegar.
Red wine vinegar stored in a tightly sealed glass bottle should last indefinitely without risk of spoilage or foodborne illness. You can store it in a cool, dark place to preserve its quality if you like, but refrigeration is unnecessary.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires vinegar to have an acidity of
Due to its high acid content and low pH, red wine vinegar is self-preserving, according to the Vinegar Institute. It doesn’t have special storage requirements, as pathogenic bacteria can’t survive or thrive in vinegar.
Physical changes often occur in an older bottle of red wine vinegar, such as darkening, the formation of solids, or changes in smell or mouthfeel. This occurs when it’s exposed to oxygen.
Every time you open your bottle of red wine vinegar, oxygen gets in, which could slightly affect its quality.
The container the vinegar is stored in may also affect it over time. For instance, vinegar stored in a plastic container for long periods may eventually contain microplastics due to its high acidity, which can break down the plastic.
Oxygen can also pass through the plastic, affecting its quality — even if you don’t open the bottle.
While oxidation doesn’t cause safety concerns, it does affect the quality.
The biggest oxidation-related changes you might notice in an older bottle of red wine vinegar are a darkened color and the appearance of some solids or cloudy sediment.
You might likewise notice a change in its aroma and a loss of body or weight on your palate over time.
Most vinegar bottles don’t have an expiration date. Technically, you can keep your red wine vinegar forever, or at least until it’s used up.
But your recipes might not achieve the desired flavor, color, or aroma if you use oxidized red wine vinegar.
Before using red wine vinegar, taste and smell it. If it seems off, it might ruin your salad or sauce. If it tastes and smells fine, it’s fine to strain off any solids or cloudy sediment and use it.
It’s also a good idea to stock an extra bottle of plain white vinegar as a backup. White vinegar is the least likely to degrade over time.
If you don’t want to throw a bottle of vinegar away, there are many ways to use it around the house and garden due to its antimicrobial properties.
Here are a few ideas:
- Freshen the disposal: Freeze it in an ice cube tray and throw the cubes down the disposal.
- Kill your weeds: Pour it into a spray bottle and spray weeds.
- Color Easter eggs: Mix 1 teaspoon of the vinegar with 1/2 cup (118 mL) of hot water and a few drops of food coloring.
Yes, in many cases, it’s safe to use expired red wine vinegar, as it usually doesn’t harbor harmful bacteria. That said, it’s best to smell it before use, as it may go “off” due to oxidation.
Yes, you can use 10-year-old vinegar stored properly in a tightly sealed glass bottle. Vinegar is self-preserving due to its high acidity.
Yes, sediment in red wine vinegar may be grape skin. If the vinegar is cloudy or foamy, you may wish to strain it before using it.
Red wine vinegar is usually safe to use, even if it’s old. Because it’s highly acidic, it can’t harbor harmful bacteria.
However, over time, especially if it’s opened frequently, it can become darker, and solids or cloudiness can form in the bottle. You can strain those off if you like.
Additionally, over time, your red wine vinegar might start to smell or taste a little off. If that happens, replace it and use the old bottle for a non-culinary purpose.