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How to Tell if Mayo Is Bad Download Article Co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and Aly Rusciano
Last Updated: August 20, 2025 Fact Checked
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How to Tell if Mayonnaise is Bad
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How long does mayo last?
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How to Store Mayonnaise
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This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 120,948 times.
You’re rummaging around in your fridge when you stumble across a jar of mayonnaise in the back. How long has that been there? Is it still good to eat? Before you decide to spread it on a sandwich, keep reading because we’ve got everything you need to know about how to tell if mayo is bad—and all you need are your five senses!
Things You Should Know
Avoid mayonnaise that has mold growing on it. You can also tell it has spoiled if it is yellow or brown in color.
Even if your mayo looks okay, check for any acidic, sour, or bitter tastes and smells to be sure it has not gone bad.
Unopened mayonnaise is likely to last for up to three months after its "best by" date. Open mayonnaise can last in the fridge for about two months.
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Section 1 of 3:
How to Tell if Mayonnaise is Bad
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1 The mayo has mold on it. Green, blue, or black spores should not be on or near your mayonnaise. Before using the mayo in question, check for noticeable signs of mold by examining the top layer of the spread inside the jar and along the jar’s outside.[1]X Trustworthy Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDAFood safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go to source If you find even the smallest amount of mold, toss it out.[2]X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug AdministrationU.S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source
Take the mayo label off the jar to get a better look at what’s going on inside.
2 The mayo is yellow or brown. Usually, mayonnaise is an off-white color. If you look in the jar, and the mayo appears to be more on the yellow side leaning towards brown, it’s most likely spoiled.[3]X Trustworthy Source US Department of AgricultureU.S. agency responsible for promoting good agricultural practices and protecting consumers Go to source Advertisement
3 The mayo smells acidic or putrid. Mayonnaise doesn’t have much of a smell, so if you open that jar and are hit with a strong sour odor, it’s bad. Screw back on the lid and throw it out.[4]X Trustworthy Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDAFood safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go to source
4 The mayo tastes sour or bitter. Dip the tip of your finger in the questionable mayonnaise and take a small lick. If it tastes strange or “off,” toss it out.
Advertisement Section 2 of 3:
How long does mayo last?
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1 Mayonnaise can last unopened 2 to 3 months after the “best by” date. This means that it's most likely still good if you have an unopened jar in your fridge or pantry.[5]XResearch source However, it’s always best to double-check for spoilage before you eat anything past the “best by” date.
The “best by” or “use by” date refers to when the mayo has the best flavor or quality.[6]X Trustworthy Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDAFood safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go to source
The number of preservatives in your mayo also plays a factor as the egg yolks used to make the spread are perishable.
2 Opened mayonnaise lasts about 2 months in the fridge.[7]XResearch source If you just opened the jar, chances are it’s still good! If you can’t remember when you first opened it, check for signs of spoilage before making that potato salad.
3 Opened mayonnaise can’t last more than 8 hours on the counter.[8]XResearch source Harmful bacteria can get inside the mayo when it’s been left at room temperature for too long, causing it to spoil faster. It’s always recommended to place products with perishable ingredients, such as egg yolks, back in the fridge after opening and using.[9]X Trustworthy Source Food Safety and Inspection Service of the USDAFood safety information provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Go to source
4 Homemade mayonnaise only lasts for an average of 7 days in the fridge. Making mayo can be a great and fun alternative to buying large batches of processed mayonnaise! But there is a downside: it doesn’t last nearly as long. With a lack of preservatives, the eggs and dairy in homemade mayo spoil faster.
Some cooks and homesteaders recommended using homemade mayo within 2 to 3 days of making, while others suggest it can last 7 to 10 days before spoiling.
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How to Store Mayonnaise
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1 In the fridge Once you open a jar of mayo, keep it in the refrigerator so it doesn’t spoil.[10]XResearch source Most mayonnaise contains egg yolks, and needs to be chilled to stay preserved.
2 In the freezer Mayonnaise can be frozen before its “best by” date, but it will change in appearance and consistency. Frozen mayo needs to be thawed before using, and this can result in a yellow, watery spread.
The changes that happen to mayo after freezing and thawing do not mean it’s gone bad. The acidic ingredients and oil simply separate in a freezing temperature.
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Tips
When in doubt, always toss your mayo out! It’s better to be safe rather than sorry. The last thing anyone wants is to get food poisoning (or get stuck with a yucky sandwich).[11]X Trustworthy Source Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMain public health institute for the US, run by the Dept. of Health and Human Services Go to source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
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Co-authored by: Abyssinia Campbell Executive Chef This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. This article has been viewed 120,948 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 4Updated: August 20, 2025 Views: 120,948 Categories: Jams Preserves and Condiments | Food Safety In other languages Italian Portuguese German Dutch Spanish French Indonesian Japanese
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How to Tell if Sour Cream Is Bad: How Long Does It Last? 
6 Signs Heavy Cream Has Gone Bad (& How Long It's Good For) 
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Co-authored by: Abyssinia Campbell Executive Chef This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Aly Rusciano. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. This article has been viewed 120,948 times. How helpful is this? Co-authors: 4 Updated: August 20, 2025 Views: 120,948 Categories: Jams Preserves and Condiments | Food Safety In other languages Italian Portuguese German Dutch Spanish French Indonesian Japanese 
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1 The mayo has mold on it. Green, blue, or black spores should not be on or near your mayonnaise. Before using the mayo in question, check for noticeable signs of mold by examining the top layer of the spread inside the jar and along the jar’s outside.[1] If you find even the smallest amount of mold, toss it out.[2] 
2 The mayo is yellow or brown. Usually, mayonnaise is an off-white color. If you look in the jar, and the mayo appears to be more on the yellow side leaning towards brown, it’s most likely spoiled.[3] Advertisement 
3 The mayo smells acidic or putrid. Mayonnaise doesn’t have much of a smell, so if you open that jar and are hit with a strong sour odor, it’s bad. Screw back on the lid and throw it out.[4] 
1 Mayonnaise can last unopened 2 to 3 months after the “best by” date. This means that it's most likely still good if you have an unopened jar in your fridge or pantry.[5] However, it’s always best to double-check for spoilage before you eat anything past the “best by” date. 
2 Opened mayonnaise lasts about 2 months in the fridge.[7] If you just opened the jar, chances are it’s still good! If you can’t remember when you first opened it, check for signs of spoilage before making that potato salad. 
4 Homemade mayonnaise only lasts for an average of 7 days in the fridge. Making mayo can be a great and fun alternative to buying large batches of processed mayonnaise! But there is a downside: it doesn’t last nearly as long. With a lack of preservatives, the eggs and dairy in homemade mayo spoil faster. 