A bottle of 93-year-old vinegar might make one pucker up at the thought of tasting it. But apparently vinegar has a virtually indefinite shelf life, says the Vinegar Institute, an association that represents most of the world’s largest vinegar manufacturers.  

The Vinegar Institute conducted studies to find out and confirmed that vinegar’s shelf life is almost indefinite. Because of its acidic nature, vinegar is self-preserving and does not need refrigeration.

White distilled vinegar will stay unchanged indefinitely. And, while some changes can be observed in other types of vinegars, such as color changes or the development of a haze or sediment, this is only an aesthetic change. The product still can be used and enjoyed with confidence.

So, will Mansfield be enjoying raspberry vinaigrette any time soon? There are no plans to uncork the bottle just yet.