A Gentle, Practical Guide to Knowing When to Keep and When to Toss

Oh, my dear friend, I know that familiar moment. You open the refrigerator, reach for the jar of mayonnaise, and pause. “How long has this been here?” you wonder. “Is it still safe to eat?”

Mayonnaise is one of those refrigerator staples that seems to last forever. But while it can stay fresh for quite a while when properly refrigerated, it isn’t immune to spoilage. Knowing what to look for can help you avoid wasting perfectly good food while also knowing when it’s smarter to toss the jar.