If you are a big fan of sauces and dips, then you will be familiar with the dilemma of the amount of dip never being quite right.
You either end up with not enough dip, totally messing up your chip-to-dip ratio, or you end up with way too much dip and it all goes to waste. This is simply the way that it works with dips.
When it comes to hummus, more often than not you will end up with more hummus than you actually need.
Hummus tends to come in large tubs, and unless you’re sharing your hummus with a group of people, it is often difficult to eat it all. But leaving that hummus to go to waste can be incredibly frustrating.
Generally, hummus will last for around 3–7 days depending on whether it is store-bought or homemade. In this guide, we’re taking a look at everything you need to know about how long Hummus lasts.
Read on to find out more!
How Should You Store Hummus?
The key to extending the shelf life of your hummus is to store it correctly, so firstly let’s take a look at how you should store hummus.
When it comes to hummus that you buy in the store, there are generally two different kinds – refrigerated and unrefrigerated hummus. The way in which your hummus is stored in the fridge is a reflection of how it should be stored when you get home.
As the rule often goes when it comes to shopping, anything that is stored in the refrigerator in the store should be kept in the refrigerator when you get home.
Likewise, any food that is stored in an ordinary, unrefrigerated aisle should be stored in a cupboard (ideally a dark and cool cupboard) when you get home.
For as long as unrefrigerated hummus is unopened, it should be stored in a cupboard. But, as soon as it is opened, it should be stored in the refrigerator to preserve the hummus.
If you store opened hummus in a cupboard then it will quickly go bad and become inedible.
As you would probably expect, hummus that is bought refrigerated should be stored in the refrigerator at all times. As soon as you finish eating the hummus, pop it back into the fridge as soon as possible to ensure that it remains safe to eat and enjoy.
What About Homemade Hummus?
So we’ve taken a look at how to store both refrigerated and unrefrigerated hummus that is bought at the store, but what about homemade hummus? Well, that’s a very good question!
As is often the case with homemade foods, homemade hummus will have a shorter shelf life than store-bought hummus.
Store-bought hummus contains preservatives to extend the shelf life of the product, but these preservatives will not be used in homemade hummus.
This generally makes homemade hummus taste better but also reduces its shelf life. That is why storing your homemade hummus correctly is essential.
In order to store your homemade hummus correctly, you should pop it in a large container and keep it in the refrigerator.
When you want to eat your hummus, simply use a spoon to transfer some hummus onto your plate. This will extend the shelf life of your hummus, and allow maximum enjoyment of your delicious homemade hummus.
Can Hummus Be Frozen?
If you want to extend the shelf life of your hummus further, then you can freeze your hummus. Simply transfer your hummus into an airtight container or freezer bag, seal it, and label it with the date of freezing before popping it in the freezer.
Freezing your hummus is a great way to extend the shelf life of your hummus, however, it will change the consistency slightly.
The act of freezing and thawing your hummus will impact the consistency. However, if you give your hummus a good, thorough stir, you will usually be able to return it to its original consistency.
For the best results when thawing your hummus, we would recommend thawing it overnight in the refrigerator. Simply take the container out of the freezer and leave it in the refrigerator to thaw slowly for the best results.
How Long Will Hummus Last?
Now that we’ve taken a look at how to store your hummus, let’s take a look at how long your hummus will typically last. This will depend on the type of hummus in question, so let’s go through them one by one.
If you manage to get your hands on unrefrigerated hummus, then this will generally come with a “best before” label.
This hummus will last as long as the date suggests, and generally a month beyond this. So you will have plenty of time to enjoy your hummus.
Refrigerated hummus will generally have a shorter shelf life. These types of hummus will come with a “use by” date that you must stick to in order to ensure you remain healthy.
This date will usually be no longer than a month, and once opened you will have around 7 days to enjoy the hummus before it becomes inedible.
As we mentioned earlier, homemade hummus has the shortest shelf life. At most this hummus will usually last for around 5 days once made due to the lack of preservatives in its recipe. So, if you make homemade hummus you will have to act quickly to enjoy all your hummus.
Signs Your Hummus Has Gone Bad
Finally, let’s wrap this up by taking a look at some of the key signs that your hummus has gone bad. It is generally very easy to tell if your hummus has gone bad simply by looking at it as it will noticeably have changed in appearance.
Some of the signs your hummus has gone bad include mold, a funny smell, separation, changes in texture, and growths on the surface. If you notice that your hummus smells and looks bad, then it is probably best not to eat it.
Some of the signs are more obvious than others, so if you know you are close to the use-by date, take a good look at your hummus before eating it.
Summary
In short, homemade hummus will be safe to eat for around 3-4 days when stored correctly. Likewise, store-bought hummus will usually be safe to consume for up to 7 days when stored in the right environment.
So, even if you don’t eat all your hummus in one sitting, you should be able to eat all your hummus as long as you store it in the refrigerator between eating it. With this information, the nightmare of throwing away leftover hummus is no more.
We hope this information has been helpful – thank you for reading!
