Crisco is the most well-known brand of vegetable shortening manufactured by B&G foods (it was previously owned by Procter & Gamble and then J.M. Smucker Company). It’s been around since 1911!
Crisco will last 6 months after opening (for sticks) and a year after opening for the can.
How long can you expect Crisco to last when it’s sealed? Should you refrigerate Crisco? We have the answers to those questions next!
What is Crisco?
Crisco is a popular brand of vegetable shortening used primarily for baking. (The term shortening is quite broad and refers to any fat that remains solid at room temperature, and it’s typically used to give pie crusts a flaky texture.)
Crisco is primarily made of soybean oil and palm oil which have been hydrogenated. Hydrogenation is a process that makes fats that are usually liquid at room temperature solid at room temperature.
There are similar products like Crisco sold under generic brand names, but they will have similar ingredients, storage guidelines, and shelf lives.
What is the shelf life of Crisco?
According to Crisco, its shortening will last two years from the manufacture date when unopened. Once opened, a can of Crisco will last about one year, while the stick version will last around 6 months.
Crisco might come with a best-by date printed on the can or the side of the container of shortening sticks. This date reflects when it’s guaranteed to be fresh, but isn’t a hard-and-fast expiration date, meaning you can generally use it well after this date without any issues.
Summary of Crisco’s shelf life
The manufacturer of Crisco recommends storing the shortening in the pantry at room temperature. You don’t need to keep Crisco in the refrigerator unless you live in a very hot climate.
If you refrigerate Crisco, it’ll become hard and might get a bit cloudy, which won’t impact its flavor or quality at all – you’ll just need to let it soften a bit before you can easily use it.
Crisco lasts a long time at room temperature, so there isn’t a need to freeze it, but you can if you’d like to. It’s not clear how much you’ll extend Crisco’s shelf life by freezing it, but it’ll likely last longer compared to being stored at room temperature, especially when it’s sealed.
| Room temperature | Fridge | Freezer | |
| Crisco (can – sealed) | 2 years from date of manufacture | 2 years from date of manufacture | 2+ years from date of manufacture |
| Crisco (can – opened) | ~1 year | ~1 year | ~1 year |
| Crisco (sticks – sealed) | 2 years from date of manufacture | 2 years from date of manufacture | 2+ years from date of manufacture |
| Crisco (sticks – opened) | ~6 months | ~6 months | ~6 months |
How do you know if Crisco has gone bad?
Crisco is slow to go bad and has a long shelf life. It can go bad if enough time has passed, though. Here are some signs to indicate that Crisco has gone bad.
- Taste: Crisco comes in original and butter flavors, so it will taste neutral or buttery. If the flavor is bitter, sour, or just tastes plain bad, it’s probably gone bad.
- Appearance: if Crisco darkens from its usual off-white color, it’s probably time to toss it. (If you store Crisco in the fridge it can get cloudy, which is normal and not necessarily a sign that it’s gone bad.)
- Texture: Crisco should be soft and scoopable at room temperature. If it’s super hard and it hasn’t been in the fridge, it’s probably past its prime and needs to be replaced.
- Odor: a chemical-like smell or otherwise unpleasant smell can indicate that Crisco has gone bad. (Fresh Crisco should have a pretty neutral odor!)
What happens when you eat Crisco that has been open for a long time?
The process of hydrogenating the oils to make Crisco makes it resistant to spoiling. If you use Crisco that’s been open for a long time, chances are nothing bad will happen.
Worst case scenario, you might get a bit of an upset stomach if you eat a large amount of super rancid Crisco – but you’d likely notice it tasted off before you got to that point.
Potential risks of eating Crisco that has been open for a long time
Eating Crisco that’s been open for a long time doesn’t come with serious risks, but it might make you mildly sick if you eat a lot of Crisco that has gone bad.
Some signs of food poisoning (when you eat food that is rancid or has bacterial growth) include:
- Upset stomach
- Nausea with or without vomiting
- Diarrhea
If you suspect that you’ve become sick from eating rancid Crisco, always reach out to your healthcare provider if you show signs of dehydration or other alarming symptoms!
Bottom line – how long does Crisco last after you open it?
Once you open Crisco, it’ll last 6-12 months for sticks and the can, respectively.
Storing Crisco in the fridge and freezer doesn’t increase its shelf life significantly, but it might be a good option if you live in a hot climate.
FAQs:
If shortening is past its prime, it can develop an unpleasant flavor and odor. Its color will likely darken and it will become hard instead of soft at room temperature.
If you don’t have Crisco, you can use off-brand vegetable shortening, butter, coconut oil, lard, or bacon fat, to name a few alternatives. Keep in mind the flavor will vary depending on which substitute you use – so don’t use bacon fat for chocolate chip cookies!
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