How Long Can You Refrigerate Nacho Cheese Sauce?

By: Kelly McCoy

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Among the half-empty containers of sour cream and leftovers from bygone times, nacho cheese sauce is one of those things that seem to find its way to the back of the refrigerator where it is long forgotten. Luckily, store-bought sauce is made from pasteurized cheese, which means it may last a lot longer than you'd think -- but homemade sauce is another story. In either case, freezing it may be your best option if you don't plan to reuse it soon.

Shelf Life of Nacho Cheese Sauce

Store-bought nacho cheese sauce will last up to four weeks in the refrigerator, while homemade cheese sauce will last only about four days. Store it in an airtight container to keep out moisture and contaminants. To keep it for longer, you can freeze nacho cheese sauce before it expires -- but be aware that freezing it may negatively impact the texture. Plan to use frozen store-bought nacho cheese sauce within three months or frozen homemade sauce within six months.