Salsa verde is a delicious green salsa that’s used to top tasty dishes like enchiladas or tacos. It’s pretty easy and fun to make salsa verde on your own, but typically you have to make it in big batches. So, how long will leftover salsa verde last, and how should you store it?
Homemade salsa verde can last 3-5 days in the fridge when stored properly in an air-tight container. Add some lemon juice and olive oil to help it stay fresh. You can also store salsa in the freezer for up to 4 months. Always check your salsa verde for signs of spoilage before consuming it.
As long as you take the proper steps, you’ll be enjoying your delicious salsa verde for a while. Let’s look at the tips and tricks for storing salsa verde as well as how to know when it’s time to throw yours away.
What’s the Best Way to Store Homemade Salsa Verde?
Salsa verde is tasty and versatile, so when you take the time to make it by hand, you’ll definitely want to store it and continue to enjoy it for long as possible.
The best way to store homemade salsa verde is in an air-tight container. While any Tupperware should do the job, it’s recommended to use glass storage containers — like these ones (on Amazon) — as they won’t absorb any of the spices in the salsa.
Place your container of salsa in a fridge that’s set to 37 °F or below. If you want to enjoy some of your salsa verde but don’t plan to use the entire container, it’s best to use a spoon to transfer it to your dish.
Avoid eating directly from the salsa verde container as this can introduce contaminants that will reduce the salsa’s shelf life.
Additionally, consider adding a little lemon juice and olive oil to the salsa surface. Olive oil and lemon juice act as preservatives, and they will help to keep your salsa fresh for longer.
How Long Does Homemade Salsa Verde Last in the Fridge?
Homemade salsa verde can last anywhere from 3-5 days in the fridge as long as it is stored correctly. Beyond putting the salsa in an airtight container, it’s also a good idea to place the container near the back of your fridge.
Also make sure that there’s a little bit of space in the container between the salsa and the lid. This will allow the salsa to breathe a bit and leave you space for adding lemon juice and olive oil.
How to Tell if Your Salsa Verde Has Spoiled
Unfortunately, there are times when your salsa verde may go bad before you get a chance to eat it. Below are the signs to check for to know if your salsa verde has gone bad.
Color
Salsa verde should be a bright green color. If the salsa begins to turn brown or white begins to cloud the top of the salsa, then your salsa has gone bad and needs to be thrown out.
Signs of Mold
Tilt your salsa dish slightly from side to side, looking for signs of mold. Mold can be white and fuzzy, dark green, and sometimes even blue or brown. If you see any signs of mold on any part of the salsa, it should be discarded.
Smell
Lean in and take a whiff of your salsa verde. If the salsa smells off or like it might be rotting, then you should definitely throw it away.
Tips for Making Salsa Last Longer
Salsa verde is so tasty that you’ll want yours to last as long as possible. Below are some tips to help your salsa verde to last longer.
1. Add Lemon Juice
Lemon juice is a natural preservative, and when added in a small amount to your homemade salsa verde, it can help it to last longer. Be careful not to add too much, though, as you don’t want to change the flavor of your salsa. Just a tablespoon should do.
2. Freeze Your Salsa Verde
Packing your salsa verde in a freezer-safe container and placing it in the freezer is a great way to get it to last even longer (up to 4 months). Freeze it in small batches so that you can defrost one container at a time when you need it.
3. Check Your Fridge/Freezer Settings
Some people don’t realize it, but there’s a chance that your fridge is set to too warm of a temperature, and this will cause food to go bad faster. Check that your fridge is at 37 °F and that your freezer is set to 0 °F.
Final Thoughts
After going through the trouble of make salsa verde homemade, it can be disheartening to throw out uneaten leftovers that have gone bad. Preserve your salsa for as long as possible by placing it in an airtight container and putting it in the fridge or freezer. As long as you store the salsa properly, you’ll be able to enjoy it again and again.