How Long Does Hummus Last – (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 6 Days

What is Hummus?

There is no question that hummus is an interesting dish. It originally got its name from the Arabic term, “hummus bi-tahini”, which means “chickpeas in tahini.” Thus, hummus is a dish that is made from mashed or cooked chickpeas or other beans and mixed with garlic, salt, tahini, lemon juice, and olive oil.

Hummus has had a long and interesting history. Scholars disagree on just exactly which region of the Middle East this unique dish came from. However, the earliest evidence of hummus being popular as a dish comes from a 13th-century cookbook from Cairo.

How Long Does it Take Hummus to Go Bad?

Hummus Type	Time
Opened Hummus (Left at Room Temperature)	4-8 hours
Opened Store-Bought Hummus (Refrigerated)	6 days
Unopened Hummus	3-10 past the “best by” date
Homemade Hummus (Refrigerated)	4 days

The type of hummus makes a huge difference

Is your hummus the packaged king you would purchase at the supermarket, or is it a homemade family recipe? If it is the packaged kind, you can expect your unopened hummus to last as long as 3-10 days past the printed date. The homemade kind will last at most probably four days.

However, if your packaged hummus has been opened, it will go bad after about 3-5 days. You can keep both pre-packaged and homemade hummus in your freezer and they will last for 6-8 months.

What you do with the hummus will make a huge difference as well

Ask anyone who enjoys hummus, and they will tell you that it doesn’t have a long shelf life if it’s left out at room temperature. Presently, the FDA guidelines for hummus strongly suggest that you shouldn’t leave the dish on your counter for more than 4 hours.

A good rule of thumb would be to immediately place it back in the refrigerator as soon as you are finished enjoying it.

Moreover, you should be aware that your hummus will last just over six days in your refrigerator, so it would a good idea to place your hummus in a highly visible place in order to avoid forgetting about it completely and having to throw it out in a week.

Why Does it Take So Long For Hummus to Get Spoiled?

What factors can cause hummus to spoil so quickly?

In keeping the spoil date of your hummus in mind, there are several factors you should consider. First of all, your hummus will have lots of protein in it, which is one of the main reasons why you will see a “best-by” date instead of a “use-by” at your local supermarket.

Also, you should be aware that leaving your hummus out can be a death knell for its ability to remain fresh. After four hours, it’s getting a bit risky. After 8 hours, spoilage might start to set in. After 24 hours, you might have ruined your hummus if you have left it out at room temperature.

Hummus will also last longer if it’s packaged well.

Of course, storing your hummus in the refrigerator is a no-brainer, but there are other steps you should take. Keeping your refrigerator temperature below 40 F is a good way to not only keep it nice and cold but to also help it remain fresh longer.

What if I want to stock up on hummus? This is probably the elephant in the room that many hummus enthusiasts might have. The answer is that the best way to stock up on this food would be to freeze it. Hummus will last as long as four months in your freezer. Bon Appetit!

References

https://academic.oup.com/jn/article-abstract/150/8/2214/5850414