“Does hummus go bad?”
“How long does hummus keep?”
“How long does hummus last after opening?”
“Does hummus expire?”
“How long can hummus stay out?”
Seeing these questions in our inbox at HOPE, we sensed a trend. So many people have a tub of delicious humus in their fridge, and it’s not surprising they would likely have questions about their hummus shelf life.
There are different facets to this question, since many factors affect hummus expiration. How long you leave it unrefrigerated will affect microbial growth. Homemade dips will differ from its store-bought cousin; yet even among store-bought brands, there can be a wide variance between hummus expiration dates. Beyond that, the lifespan of unopened store-bought brands will shorten once it is opened. And last but not least, there is a difference between how long is hummus good for once opened and in the fridge vs. the freezer.
Let’s jump right in, shall we?
1. How long can hummus be left out?
The FDA standard on how long it can be left out is 4 hours at room temperature. Once the dip is left open and unrefrigerated, it is exposed to various bacteria and microbes that may accelerate its spoilage, and it does go bad if left out for too long.. If you plan to store some for later, it is best to minimize the amount of time it spends unrefrigerated, and try to keep it free of contamination.
2. How long is hummus good once opened?
For starters, homemade humus will almost always spoil faster because store-bought, which is prepared in sterile and contamination-controlled environments. Homemade varieties will generally last anywhere from 3-4 days, whereas store-bought brands generally lasts 6-7 days after opening. These estimates assume that it maintains a refrigerated temperature; as we mentioned already, the shelf life of hummus is diminished greatly if it does not remain chilled.
3. In respect to brand, how long is hummus good for?
It is important to check your dips’ expiration date… no one wants to be eating expired hummus! For most brands, hummus shelf life at refrigerated temperature tends to be about 1 month from purchase, give or take a week. In stores with larger food brand names, this is a fairly stable estimate. HOPE, which takes advantage of unique in-package High-Pressure Processing, has almost double that, with a 2-month expiration date that we achieve without using heat-treating our product or using unnatural preservatives.
4. How long does hummus last in the freezer?
If you want to drastically lengthen the shelf life of hummus, you can put it in the freezer and expect it to last for up to 4 months… but only if you do it right! It is easy to just throw it in the freezer, but you may wind up with a dryer, more tasteless dip if you do it without proper technique! If you are interested in freezing it like a pro, check out our blog on 6 Simple Steps to Freeze Hummus for the best ways to ensure your stays tasty and smooth.
How Long is Hummus Good? Does Hummus Spoil?
As you can see, there are many variables that influence how long is hummus good for once opened , but the two biggest factors are opening the package, which exposes it to more microbes; and refrigeration, the lack of which can accelerate microbial growth. Obviously you are going to want to open your dip up the moment you get it home (!!!), which will place a 6-7 day limit on how long humus keeps if you follow the simple guidelines of not letting it stay warm and keeping it free of undue contamination. And if you want it to stay good longer, prep it and pop it in the freezer for extended life.
