# Using old bottle of balsamic vinegar **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 1, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-old-bottle-of-balsamic-vinegar/662323 "2013-07-01T06:23:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-old-bottle-of-balsamic-vinegar/662323/1 "2013-07-01T06:23:20Z")
I have an opened bottle of balsamic vinegar that’s at least 8 years old. Can I use it? ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-old-bottle-of-balsamic-vinegar/662323/2 "2013-07-01T07:14:26Z")
My googling suggests yes. Are you using it for a recipe? Do you have strawberries? Here’s one thing that amazed me when I started “cooking”. You may already know this, but if not… Take a strawberry - taste it. Now take a tiny bit of balsamic vinegar - taste it. Put a strawberry in a little bit of balsamic vinegar - now taste it. Couldn’t believe the difference it made. Anyway - I’d do the strawberry test. If it improves the flavor - and you don’t die - then I’d say it’s still good. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2013, 8:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-old-bottle-of-balsamic-vinegar/662323/3 "2013-07-01T08:06:55Z")
Sure, it’s safe. It doesn’t spoil. I doubt that it would even deteriorate, unless the bottle was left open for any length of time.