Salsa is a hot sauce that takes its origin from sunny Mexica, however, it became very popular among Western people, too.
If you are one of those spicy foods fans, and you often buy or make salsa yourself, you probably faced the issue of having quite many of it left.
What to do in this case? Throw it away? No, no, and no!
We can suggest you several easy and extremely quick ways of how to make use of spare salsa.
How Long Salsa Lasts
Salsa can be handmade at home or purchased in the nearest store. Hanging upon whether you decide to make it yourself or simply buy it, the lifespan of the foodstuff will vary.
Of course, as you could already guess, store-purchased sauce lasts somewhat longer.
The optimal way to keep this hot thing appetizing longer is to toss the jar into the fridge where it will easily spend several days past the use-by date.
But what if it is made at home and contains no artificial preservatives? Well, such a sauce won’t be much long-living. You can expect it to remain fresh for several days, but don’t expect too much.
And remember that the lifespan of unopened and opened jars is different! The second you unscrew the tank, the oxidation begins, and the content is under the higher risk of contamination.
| Unopened | Pantry | Fridge |
|---|---|---|
| Past printed date | Past printed date | |
| Salsa jar | 1-2 months | 1-2 months |
| Opened | Pantry | Fridge |
| Store-bought salsa | - | 1-2 weeks |
| Homemade salsa | - | 5-7 days |
What to Do With Leftover Sauce
So what is the plan if you see that you have too much salsa left, and nobody will be able to finish it before the expiry date?
For this situation, we prepared several handy options.
Add it to burgers
Why not? Mix it with the burger filling or use as a dressing for the cutlet, salsa will anyway taste awesome.
Use with meaty foods
Ribs, beef, or any other kind of meat – salsa will pair with any of them. Just add a dollop on top of the dish when serving, and no one will resist it!
Mix it into veggie casseroles
Vegetarian food may sometimes need a good spice kick! Adding some salsa to a casserole will make it taste a bit Mexican.
Salsa stuffed peppers
A perfect option for combining meat and veggies. Sweet peppers stuffed with minced meat will get mildly spicy due to salsa.
Tacos, of course!
A dollop of this hot sauce will pair the corn flatbreads perfectly.
Spicy turkey soup
A great way of using the Thanksgiving leftovers, too, but any other poultry will do.
Use it as a spaghetti sauce
Need to eat fast and delicious? Then boil some pasta, fry minced meat with salsa – and a quick meal is ready!
Nacho salsa dip
A great and super-easy way of using leftover sauce without any additional effort!
Sweet&spicy beans
Take a blend of different cooked beans, add salsa, and sprinkle with any seasoning if you like. Use as a side dish or as a hot snack.
Salsa and rice dishes
Yes, salsa fits perfectly for any rice dish, and even with the plain rice! If you add some beans or veggies, you will easily get a fully nutritious meal in less than half an hour.
Frequently Asked Questions
⭐ Can I freeze salsa?
Yes, salsa can be frozen, but its taste and aroma won’t be the same after thawing.
⭐ How do you store homemade salsa?
The homemade sauce has to be kept refrigerated. Like that, you’ll extend its lifespan.
⭐ Do you eat salsa hot or cold?
It depends on your taste but usually, it’s served at room temperature.
⭐ Is eating salsa good for you?
Yes, this sauce is healthy since it contains vitamin C that prevents heart diseases and slows aging. Eat salsa cool since this vitamin is easily destroyed bu the heat.
⭐ What can I do with too much salsa?
Add it to almost any dish except for salads. Salsa fits perfectly any food from burgers to casseroles and soups.
⭐ What can you use salsa for besides chips?
Sandwiches, dips, soups, rice dishes, pasta, beans foods - this sauce is truly multipurpose!
