How long will salsa keep unrefrigerated?

Answer 1

Depends on: is it opened so air can get in, what is the temperature, was it fresh or canned, organic or has preservatives, etc. chilled? Assuming you opened it, ate some, and it has been sitting out: possibly as few as 60 minutes, at most 4 hours. If you really want to consume more, you can try to cook it first, say be adding it to boiling/simmering rice/beans: that MIGHT kill any spoilage. It's risky for possible food poisoning if it was overnight, or even in a lunch box. Keep it cold or hot, the medium room temperatures grow mold and bacteria faster. If you get the runs, it was bad. If it wasn't opened: check the expiration date or call the company and give the production number. Does the container say MUST be "keep refrigerated"? Does it smell funny? If you really are budget conscious, you can return/exchange it. I bought a too spicy one, and tossed it out. Consider giving the leftovers away if you don't have access to a fridge. I give my extra Pizza slices/doggy bags to the many homeless in South Beach. One very cold evening, I left some food snacks in my car (celery). They felt chilly and still cool in the morning, but not as cold as a fridge. I didn't eat them. They took days to see a breakdown. Also I leave water bottles in the backseat, and in the summer, it is warm for tea. When in doubt, toss it out.