Baked Goods

How long does cooking spray last?

2 years
Pantry, from purchase — USDA FoodKeeper guidance for vegetable oil sprays

An unopened can of cooking spray runs 2 years and 1 year once you’ve started using it — the propellant usually gives out before the oil does.

How long does it keep?

Pantry, from purchase 2 years
Pantry, opened 1 year

Can it sit out?

Cooking spray is shelf-stable, so sitting out at room temperature isn’t the safety question — storage time is.

The 2-hour rule, in full →

How to tell if cooking spray has gone bad

  • A paint-like or crayon smell on the spray
  • Gummy brown varnish built up around the nozzle
  • Spray that spits and dribbles instead of atomizing

When in doubt, throw it out.

Store it away from the stovetop — the heat rising off the burners ages the oil inside faster than anything on a cool shelf.

Quick answers

How long does cooking spray last?

An unopened can of cooking spray runs 2 years and 1 year once you’ve started using it — the propellant usually gives out before the oil does.

How long can cooking spray sit out?

Sitting out at room temperature isn’t the safety question for cooking spray — storage time is.