Condiments, Sauces & Canned Goods
How long does canned cranberry sauce last after opening?
Opened canned cranberry sauce keeps 1–2 weeks in the fridge, and 2 years unopened in the pantry — get the leftovers out of the can and into a covered dish.
How long does it keep?
| Pantry, from purchase | 2 years |
|---|---|
| Fridge, opened | 1–2 weeks |
Can it sit out?
Unopened, canned cranberry sauce is shelf-stable. Once opened, treat it as perishable — the FSIS 2-hour rule applies.
Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).
How to tell if canned cranberry sauce has gone bad
- Mold spots anywhere on the surface of the jelly
- A winey, fermented smell
- Liquid weeping out and pooling around the sauce
- A can dented on the seam, rusted, or bulging
When in doubt, throw it out.
Melt leftover jellied sauce into a glaze for roast pork, or spread it cold on a turkey sandwich — it doesn’t have to be served as-is.
Quick answers
How long does canned cranberry sauce last after opening?
Opened canned cranberry sauce keeps 1–2 weeks in the fridge, and 2 years unopened in the pantry — get the leftovers out of the can and into a covered dish.
How long can canned cranberry sauce sit out?
Sitting out isn’t the safety question for unopened canned cranberry sauce — once opened, the FSIS 2-hour rule applies. Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).