# When does salad dressing spoil? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 10, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597 "2007-05-10T21:20:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/1 "2007-05-10T21:20:02Z")
Really really dumb question, I know. But there is not a date on this little packet. It’s sealed, it’s been in the refrigerator, I just don’t know how long. The company’s website says it has a shelf life of five months. I have no idea when I put it here, it’s in my refrigerator at work. And things that happen at work are subject to some kind of weird time-warp-phenomena. Think I should risk it? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/2 "2007-05-10T21:53:11Z")
Did you take a whiff? ---
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/3 "2007-05-10T21:58:57Z")
It’s one of those individual foil packets but I could rip it open and take a sniff… ---
**Author:** ![A.R.Cane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ee7513/32.png) [@A.R.Cane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/A.R.Cane)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/4 "2007-05-10T22:26:36Z")
I doubt it will spoil, as in bacterial growth. Too many preservatives, but it will separate and be nasty. Open it in a small dish and see what it looks like before putting it on your salad. ---
**Author:** ![Jelymag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d2c977/32.png) [@Jelymag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jelymag)\ **Post date:** [May 10, 2007, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/5 "2007-05-10T22:43:13Z")
I poured it out into a little cup. Smells okay. Not separating more than normal salad dressing. Think I’ll try it. If this is my last post ever, everyone knows what happened! ---
**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:** [May 10, 2007, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/6 "2007-05-10T23:58:55Z")
[QUOTE=Jelymag] If this is my last post ever, everyone knows what happened! [/QUOTE] My motto is: “When in doubt, throw it out.” Especially with something so cheap. ---
**Author:** ![Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e56c9b/32.png) [@Mirror\_Image\_egamI\_rorriM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mirror_Image_egamI_rorriM)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/7 "2007-05-11T03:12:57Z")
Dharma Initiative Ranch Dressing, lasts for seven years after opening. ---
**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:** [May 11, 2007, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-does-salad-dressing-spoil/403597/8 "2007-05-11T03:54:05Z")
[QUOTE=Mirror Image egamI rorriM] Dharma Initiative Ranch Dressing, lasts for seven years after opening. [/QUOTE] Not after Hurley gets hold of it.