Does Apple Cider Vinegar Go Bad? What Experts Say About The Household Hero

There's a lot you can do with a bottle of apple cider vinegar, from recipes to DIY beauty hacks; many would consider ACV a household hero. But if you have a giant jug of the solution, you might be noticing some, uh, changes happening to the liquid over time, which raises the question: Does apple cider vinegar go bad? And if so, when? Here's what the experts say. 

However, even though ACV doesn't necessarily expire, it still ages. Not a bad thing! It just might go through some aesthetic changes that can alter the taste, texture, and appearance of the liquid. 

Even though the efficacy doesn't change, there's one caveat here: Melissa Mitri, M.S., RDN, registered dietitian and founder of Melissa Mitri Nutrition LLC, explains that those little shifts in acidic preservatives can make your ACV taste a little more acidic. "There is no risk to consuming it, but it may alter the taste of your recipes," she says. Ever made an ACV salad dressing that tasted a little too vinegary, even though you mastered the ratio months before? It's probably because of those slight changes in quality. That doesn't mean it's necessarily "bad," per se, but if you find you don't like the slight change in taste, feel free to toss the bottle. 

Rather, both Knudsen and Mitri recommend storing the bottle in a cool, dry, dark area—like, say, in the pantry or kitchen cabinet. To delay the aging process, just remember to screw on the top tightly after each use, as any air that sneaks in can alter the appearance over time. 

Because ACV is "self-preserving," it technically doesn't expire. There might be some aesthetic changes, but the solution itself is safe to consume or apply, well, forever—just remember to always dilute the vinegar before using. If you simply don't like how your apple cider vinegar ages (it's natural, but we understand if it raises some eyebrows), you can always just snag a new bottle after the FDA-recommended expiration date. No harm in adding another to your ACV supply.