Hummus is a wonderful Mediterranean dish that can be a perfect addition to pretzels, vegetables, and even chips. This dish is made of proteins such as chickpeas or garbanzo beans, and sometimes topped with spices and vegetables such as red peppers. It is a very good addition to a healthy falafel and can be stored for a decent amount of time if stored properly.
Hummus does need to be refrigerated as it is a perishable item. Try to keep it under 40 degrees Fahrenheit and away from cross contaminants.
Why Does Hummus Need to Be Refrigerated?
Because hummus is a vegetable spread, it will spoil very quickly if not kept under a certain temperature. Most vegetable-based dressings would spoil extremely quickly, just like a vegetable would if under the same circumstances. This will require constant refrigeration, opened or not.
You can expect hummus to last about a week in your fridge once its opened, because hummus doesn’t have a lot of preservatives or additives to keep it fresh for much longer. Unopened, it can last for a couple of months in the refrigerator, and about 4 months if it is frozen and left unopened.
It will be extremely easy to keep the hummus from going bad, even if you plan to set it out during a party. But without proper refrigeration, it is very hard to keep hummus fresh.
You will be able to tell that hummus has gone bad due to the prevalence of mold that it grows whenever it starts to go bad.
There are very few exceptions for this. If you find some hummus at the grocery store that is not left in the refrigerator, make sure there are similar items nearby that are in a similar category. If it is in the right category, you may have found one that doesn’t require constant refrigeration, although it still may be better in the long run.
What Can I Do to Keep Hummus Fresh?
The easiest way to keep hummus fresh for a long time unopened is to freeze it before opening. The freezer will extend the shelf life of the hummus long after it would go bad in the refrigerator.
There are two key ways that you can keep hummus fresh after opening and setting it out:
- If you’re going to leave it out for communal use, make sure that people aren’t dipping food directly into it. Putting it on separate plates will prevent it from getting moldy due to the presence of exterior food in the hummus, which will accelerate the process of going bad.
- If you’re going to leave it out, put it in a bed of ice so that the refrigeration stays constant. While it may not be under 40 degrees, it will prevent the growth of key bacteria in the molding process of the hummus.
Related Questions
How can I tell My Hummus Is Going Bad?
You can tell your hummus is going bad by three key factors: the presence of mold, discoloration, and a stale smell. The hummus will not start to smell extremely bad until months after expiration, so it is imperative that the stale smell is familiar to you before eating it.
Can you Add Preservatives to Your Hummus To Keep It Longer?
The answer is an absolute no, because it would severely affect the taste of the hummus, and it probably would only add about 1-2 days to the lifespan of the hummus. Hummus takes on the taste of things very easily, which is why a minimal amount of spices can completely change the taste.
