Can Food Coloring Go Bad: Artificial food coloring comes in the form of liquids, gels, powders, pastes, etc., and generally has a sufficiently long shelf life. Generally, they don’t go bad until and unless they are exposed to air or direct Sunlight.
Well, sometimes food colors can dry out and show a change in color if we go bad due to improper storage. In this article we are going to discuss can food coloring goes off and how to store them properly so that they can last for the longest time possible.
We will also share with you how long different types of food coloring last and why they have expiration dates embossed on their bottles.
- Will Food Coloring Go Bad with Time?
- Types of Food Coloring
- Can Gel Food Coloring Go Bad?
- Does Liquid Food Coloring Go Bad?
- Does Paste Food Coloring Go Bad?
- Can Out-Of-Date Food Coloring Make You Ill?
- Why Does Food Coloring Have an Expiration Date?
- How Long Can Food Coloring Last?
- How To Know If Your Food Coloring Has Gone Bad?
- How can you tell if food coloring has gone bad?
- Is it OK to use out-of-date Food Colouring?
- How long does food coloring stay good for?
- Can food Colouring make you sick?
Will Food Coloring Go Bad with Time?
No, food colors don’t significantly go bad with time. Food Coloring for sure plays a significant role in the appeal of certain dishes and food items. Food colors do not readily go bad with time due to a lack of perishable raw materials but some particular food colors may taste a strange manner when mixed with certain recipes if they are too old. Storing food colors properly is the key to their lasting longevity.
Types of Food Coloring
There are basically 4 types of food colors and the common differences and similarities between each one of them are explained below
- Gel-Based Food Colors – Gel food colors are generally made up of synthetic coloring substances bonding solvents, sugar, corn syrup, water, glycerine, etc., and are much more concentrated than liquid-consistency food colors.
- Liquid-Based Food Colors – Liquid food coloring is simply a synthetic color that has a water base to it and is mainly used for preparing dough and icing for cake recipes, egg recipes, etc.
- Paste Food Colors – These colors are in the form of dough which gets diluted as soon as they mix with food.
- Powder-Based Food Colors – These are similar to Gulal, they just need to sprinkle on top of food to mix up and liquidify.
Can Gel Food Coloring Go Bad?
No, Gel-based food colors do not have any real expiration date because they are not created with materials that rot or spoil over time. Gel food colors may also harden due to improper storage.
Unlike liquid food coloring, if your gel food color has started to dry out it is not recommended to use it by mixing it with water, just throw it out and replace it with something fresh. Another important thing that you will have to give special attention to is your container which needs to be clean enough to not cause any contamination and mold.
Does Liquid Food Coloring Go Bad?
No, Liquid food colors do not contain any such ingredients that can go rancid over time and thus can last almost infinitely in a dark and cool cupboard. It may thicken or dry out if not properly sealed so always make sure you keep them in air-tight containers with properly screwed caps. If you notice that your liquid food coloring has started to get hard then you can add a few drops of hot water and give it a little shake with your finger or spoon to allow it to regain its original texture back.
Does Paste Food Coloring Go Bad?
Not really, paste-based food colors also do not have any significant expiry dates related to them. These colors are a combination of both liquidy as well as powdery synthetic colors which tend to get dry or start building mold due to dust or bacterial contamination over time if kept in loose bottles. Make sure you do not make them in large quantities and if you do so keep them in sufficiently tight glass containers in shaded places.
Can Out-Of-Date Food Coloring Make You Ill?
Artificial food dyes might not be the cup of tea for everybody out there. Using out-of-date food coloring has a history of causing problems for certain people. The American FDA and the European Food Safety Association have approved only six synthetic dyes to be used even after expiry dates in any recipe. Some reports have also shown hyperactivity and other behavioral problems in children.
Controversies have been rising around the corner that talk about cancer due to consuming dishes where expired food colors are used. Food colors can also cause genuine and dangerous allergic reactions in many people. The best recommendation for you is to natural food colors that are created from colors made from plant-based fibers or bugs and to dispose of and refill them every 2 weeks of creation.
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Why Does Food Coloring Have an Expiration Date?
Food coloring manufacturers by law as per the American FDA, are required to mention expiry dates on the products even if they don’t really go bad if used beyond the date. Boot colors do not contain a war material and hence technically do not expire or not.
But When it comes to consuming foods, these expiry dates are extremely important to follow because they can turn bad and cause food poisoning and other digestion issues upon mixing with our body juices. Past expiration dates may notice that your food colors are not as strong as they were in the beginning and may also show signs of mold and a peculiar smell due to bacterial invasion.
How Long Can Food Coloring Last?
Synthetic food colors that are available over the counter do come with expiry dates but can actually last much longer beyond that. Since these colors are artificially made with synthetic substances and fiber they do not readily interact with bacteria and rot as per the rules of our environment.
But instead, if you are fond of making food coloring in your home with natural ingredients like turmeric, beetroot, strawberry, blueberries, spinach, etc. then they may not last as long as synthetic food colors. The maximum time till which these food colors can last is two weeks from the date they have been made and stored. After that, they are going to follow the natural process of biodegradation and rot due to the invasion of bacteria
How To Know If Your Food Coloring Has Gone Bad?
If your food colors have been improperly stored then they might go off and start to decay. The texture of your food color may start getting slimy with contaminated spores visible on the topmost surface. The best way to understand whether your food color has started to go bad is to clearly examine its texture, change in color, unpleasant odor, and consistency.
If your food color has just started to go slightly bad you can revert it back to its previous form by adding a drop of water or glycerine to revive its natural texture back, but if it has been past a significant number of days then the best suggestion is to throw them out and replace them with a new one. For powder-based food colors, if you see them forming lumps on your dish rather than mixing evenly, it is a clear indication that it has turned bad.
You might be interested in our other articles on Can Fermented Food Go Bad as well.
FAQs on Can Food Coloring Go Bad
1. How can you tell if food coloring has gone bad?
If your food color has started to turn bad then you can easily make it out from its texture, strength, and smell. Upon going bad, food colors generally harden or turn porous in texture along with bad odor and insignificant color.
2. Is it OK to use out-of-date Food Colouring?
Even though food color bottles have expiry dates mentioned on them most of them are safe to be used beyond the expiration date if you store them properly and do not expose them to air or direct sunlight.
3. How long does food coloring stay good for?
Homemade food colors can stay for a maximum of 2 weeks but synthetic food colors generally stay good for a significant long time due to a lack of raw materials that are biodegradable and rot over time. Make sure you keep them in tightly sealed bottles at room temperature.
4. Can food Colouring make you sick?
Food colors don’t generally go bad but if they happen to do so it is best recommended to throw them away and replace them with fresh ones. If your food color has just started to go bad and has dried out try mixing some hot water or glycerine and give it a shake to reuse it.
Conclusion
Commercially sold food colors do not contain any such ingredients which can spoil or grow rancid. Hence they can last for an indefinitely long time if properly stored in tightly sealed containers in cool and dark storage spaces. For homemade food coloring, it has the capacity to last for about two weeks in the fridge and not beyond that.
Make sure you properly follow all the steps given above to store your food colors of any texture for a significant long time, but if they happen to go bad and dry make you don’t consume them and keep yourself healthy. Stay in touch with us to get the latest updates on Can Canned Food Go Bad and many others in no time.