Does Apple Cider Vinegar Expire? - Healthline
Maybe your like
- Health Conditions
Health Conditions
All- Breast Cancer
- Cancer Care
- Caregiving for Alzheimer's Disease
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
- Digestive Health
- Eye Health
- Heart Health
- Menopause
- Mental Health
- Migraine
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Psoriasis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)
- Sleep Health
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Weight Management
Condition Spotlight
All
Controlling Ulcerative Colitis
Navigating Life with Bipolar Disorder
Mastering Geographic Atrophy
Managing Type 2 Diabetes
- Wellness
Wellness Topics
All- CBD
- Fitness
- Healthy Aging
- Hearing
- Mental Well-Being
- Nutrition
- Parenthood
- Recipes
- Sexual Health
- Skin Care
- Sleep Health
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Women's Wellness
Product Reviews
All- At-Home Testing
- Men's Health
- Mental Health
- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Vitamins and Supplements
- Women's Health
Featured Programs
All
Your Guide to Glucose Health
Inflammation and Aging
Cold & Flu Season Survival Guide
She’s Good for Real
- Tools
Featured
- Video Series
- Pill Identifier
- FindCare
- Drugs A-Z
- Medicare Plans by State
Lessons
All- Crohn’s and Ulcerative Colitis Essentials
- Diabetes Nutrition
- High Cholesterol
- Taming Inflammation in Psoriasis
- Taming Inflammation in Psoriatic Arthritis
Newsletters
All- Anxiety and Depression
- Digestive Health
- Heart Health
- Migraine
- Nutrition Edition
- Type 2 Diabetes
- Wellness Wire
Lifestyle Quizzes
- Find a Diet
- Find Healthy Snacks
- Weight Management
- How Well Do You Sleep?
- Are You a Workaholic?
- Featured
Health News
All- Medicare 2026 Changes
- Can 6-6-6 Walking Workout Help You Lose Weight?
- This Couple Lost 118 Pounds Together Without Medication
- 5 Science-Backed Ways to Live a Longer Life
- Morning Coffee May Help You Live Longer
This Just In
- 5 Tips for a Healthy Lifestyle
- How to Disinfect Your House After the Flu
- Best Vegan and Plant-Based Meal Delivery for 2025
- Does Medicare Cover Pneumonia Shots?
- Chromosomes, Genetics, and Your Health
Top Reads
- Best Multivitamins for Women
- Best Multivitamins for Men
- Best Online Therapy Services
- Online Therapy That Takes Insurance
- Buy Ozempic Online
- Mounjaro Overview
Video Series
- Youth in Focus
- Healthy Harvest
- Through an Artist's Eye
- Future of Health
- Connect
Find Your Bezzy Community
Bezzy communities provide meaningful connections with others living with chronic conditions. Join Bezzy on the web or mobile app.
All
Breast Cancer
Multiple Sclerosis
Depression
Migraine
Type 2 Diabetes
Psoriasis
Follow us on social media
Can't get enough? Connect with us for all things health.
Nutrition
- Meal Kits
- Special Diets
- Healthy Eating
- Food Freedom
- Conditions
- Feel Good Food
- Products
- Vitamins & Supplements
- Sustainability
- Weight Management
Nutrition
Evidence BasedDoes Apple Cider Vinegar Go Bad?
Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D. — Written by Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD on May 15, 2020- Shelf life & storage
- Changes
- Bottom line
Apple cider vinegar is often used in cooking and baking, or to make marinades, dressings, and even beverages.
To make it, chopped apples are covered with water and left to ferment to form ethanol. Natural bacteria convert the ethanol into acetic acid, which is the main component of vinegar (1).
It’s not often that an entire bottle of apple cider vinegar is used in one sitting, which may leave you wondering whether it ever expires.
This article reviews whether apple cider vinegar goes bad, plus storage tips to improve its quality and shelf life.
Share on PinterestShelf life and proper storage tips
The acidic nature of vinegar makes it a self-preserving pantry staple, which means it generally never sours or expires.
The pH scale, which ranges from 0–14 indicates how acidic a substance is. A pH lower than 7 is acidic, and a pH greater than 7 is basic. Acetic acid, the main constituent of apple cider vinegar, has a highly acidic pH between 2 and 3 (2).
Vinegar has natural antimicrobial properties, which likely contribute to its long shelf life. In fact, vinegar can prevent the growth of illness-causing germs like E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans (3, 4).
In one study, vinegar had the most antibacterial characteristics when compared with coffee, soda, tea, juice, and olive oil (5).
The best way to store apple cider vinegar is in an airtight container in a cool, dark place away from sunlight, such as in a kitchen pantry or basement. Refrigerating apple cider vinegar is unnecessary and does not improve its shelf life (6).
SUMMARYApple cider vinegar is highly acidic and has antimicrobial properties that make it a self-preserving pantry staple. While it technically never expires, storing it in a cool, dark place helps preserve its quality.
How apple cider vinegar changes over time
As vinegar ages, it may undergo aesthetic changes, such as becoming hazy or separating. You may also notice cloudy sediments or fibers at the bottom of the bottle.
This is largely due to exposure to oxygen, which happens every time you open the lid (7).
Over time, oxygenation also causes the release of citric acid and sulfur dioxide, two preservatives in vinegar (6).
This could affect how it tastes or contributes to a recipe, but these changes don’t significantly affect the nutritional value or shelf life of apple cider vinegar.
Before using apple cider vinegar that you’ve had for a while, you can smell and even taste it to make sure it’ll still work well in your recipe.
Keep in mind that even though apple cider vinegar products may have an expiration date on them, many manufacturers note that its safe to use well beyond this date.
SUMMARYApple cider vinegar may undergo subtle aesthetic changes over time when exposed to oxygen, but this doesn’t significantly change its nutritional quality or shelf life.
The bottom line
Apple cider vinegar is acidic and has antimicrobial properties that make it self-preserving. This means that it’s safe to consume and use in recipes even if it’s old.
However, apple cider vinegar can undergo aesthetic changes over time that may slightly change its taste, texture, or appearance. This is primarily due to chemical changes that happen when it’s exposed to oxygen.
Still, these types of changes do not affect the shelf life of apple cider vinegar, and it’s not dangerous to consume it when it gets old.
Benefits of Apple Cider Vinegar
How we reviewed this article:
HistoryShare this article
Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.D., L.D. — Written by Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD on May 15, 2020Read this next
- Apple Cider Vinegar Dosage: How Much Should You Drink per Day?Written by Erica Julson, MS, RDN, CLT
From blood sugar control to weight loss, apple cider vinegar is associated with many health benefits, but you may wonder how much to take. This…
READ MORE - Uses for Apple Cider VinegarMedically reviewed by the Healthline Medical Network
Apple cider vinegar has many uses for beauty, household, and cooking. Learn 10 ways to use it.
READ MORE - Can You Cure Your Acne with Apple Cider Vinegar?Medically reviewed by Amy Richter, MS, RD
Apple cider vinegar has a variety of uses and many claimed health benefits. This article takes a closer look at whether it can also fight acne.
READ MORE - Can Apple Cider Vinegar Cure Erectile Dysfunction?Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
Apple cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy for many common health conditions. What about ED? Here's what we know.
READ MORE - Can You Use Apple Cider Vinegar to Treat Acid Reflux?
Are you searching for a natural way to treat your acid reflux? Some people claim that apple cider vinegar helps their symptoms, but scientific…
READ MORE - Should You Drink Apple Cider Vinegar Before Bed?Written by Lauren Panoff, MPH, RD
A recent trend is to drink apple cider vinegar before bed to reap its benefits. This article reviews the benefits and downsides of apple cider vinegar…
READ MORE - Can Apple Cider Vinegar Cure Erectile Dysfunction?Medically reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, Ph.D., MSN, R.N., IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT
Apple cider vinegar has been used as a home remedy for many common health conditions. What about ED? Here's what we know.
READ MORE - Most People Aren't Getting Enough Omega-3: What Are the Health Impacts?
New research shows that people are generally not consuming enough omega-3 fatty acids. Experts weigh in and explain how to get more.
READ MORE - Over 1 Million Bags of Shredded Cheese Recalled Over Metal Particles, Listeria
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a recall for over 1 million bags of shredded cheese due to the possible presence of metal particles or…
READ MORE
Tag » How Long Does Vinegar Last
-
Vinegar Shelf Life And Safety - ISU Extension And Outreach Blogs
-
Does Vinegar Go Bad? Vinegar's Shelf Life, Storage, And More
-
Does Vinegar Go Bad? A Nutritionist Talks Expiration Dates
-
How Long Does Vinegar Last? Shelf Life, Storage, Expiration
-
Does Vinegar Ever Really Go Bad? Here's How To Tell. - The Kitchn
-
Does Vinegar Ever Go Bad Or Expire?
-
Does Vinegar Go Bad? Because That Bottle Has Been ... - PureWow
-
Does Vinegar Go Bad?
-
How Long Does Distilled White Vinegar Last? - StillTasty
-
Does Vinegar Go Bad? How Long Does It Last? | KitchenSanity
-
Does Vinegar Go Bad? And Other Vinegar Questions
-
Apple Cider Vinegar: What Is Its Shelf Life? - WebMD
-
Does Vinegar Go Bad After Expiration Date? How To Tell And Store
-
How Long Does White Vinegar Last? Does White Vinegar Go Bad?