According to historical records, hummus was first invented in the 1200s in Egypt. It was a popular dish used to spread on flatbreads and other simple foods. Although other regions of the world claim this food as their own, we can all agree that it is delicious food for all occasions!
Hummus should never be left out overnight at room temperature. After four hours at room temperature, hummus can become contaminated with several kinds of bacteria. If consumed, you can become sick or suffer digestive discomfort.
What’s the best way to store your hummus? Is it okay to freeze your hummus if you’re afraid of it spoiling? Keep reading to learn all you need to know!
How Can You Tell If Hummus Has Gone Bad?
The best way to tell if your hummus has gone bad is to check the age and sniff it. Hummus gets very bitter, rancid, and fermented as it ages, which creates a very intense smell. If you notice your hummus smells off, be careful eating it.
Hummus comes in almost every flavor imaginable. Some of these flavors include:
- Chocolate
- Everything bagel
- Garlic
- Sour cream and onion
- Lemon zest
- Poppyseed
Basically, whatever flavor you can get a bagel in, you can also get in hummus. This can make the smell test a little bit more difficult since all those scents and flavors mixed together can mask the natural scent of hummus.
Garlic and lemon are particularly difficult, but there are still ways to tell if they have gone bad! These include:
- Rancid scent
- Moldy smell
- Visible mold
- Runny or wet appearance
- Slimy feeling
If you notice mold growing anywhere within the hummus container, then you should throw it away. Mold can be very dangerous to consume and can cause severe allergic or gastric issues.
Mold also grows through spores. Simply scrapping it off the top won’t totally eliminate the presence of dangerous growth.
Unlike hard cheese, hummus is a soft substance, and thus the spores spread rapidly. You can rely on scraping it off the top as you would with many kinds of cheese and other hard substances.
A runny or wet appearance may signify your hummus was not stored at optimal temperature. This could indicate a heavy presence of bacteria.
Last, you can rely on the “use by” date when determining whether the hummus is still good or not. Although it is not 100% accurate, and you might be able to eat expired hummus, it should be considered.
The use by date is based on the date the hummus was made and how long the shelf life is expected to last. If you make your own hummus, write the date you made it on the container, and if a week has passed, be cautious before eating.
Does It Matter What You Dip in Your Hummus?
You can dip pretty much whatever you like into hummus, there are some things you should avoid. Meat and dairy products should be kept away from hummus that you plan on putting back into the fridge. Some foods have more bacteria and can potentially spread throughout the hummus.
When you plan to use your hummus over a week, you should avoid dipping certain foods. Specifically, avoid dipping hot dogs, hamburger meat, and fish. Although these are strange foods to dip in your hummus, some people do select these foods.
You should also avoid dipping unwashed fruits and vegetables in your hummus. Unwashed fruits and vegetables hold a lot of bacteria and can easily be spread into foods such as hummus. Not to mention, it’s unsafe to consume unwashed vegetables and fruits.
These foods can cause your hummus to spoil faster than it usually will. If you dipped these foods into your hummus, it’s probably safer to throw the remaining hummus away rather than keep it.
Alternatively, if you wish to dip meats in hummus, you should scoop out a small amount into a dish and use this rather than contaminate the whole container.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Hummus?
Eating bad hummus can cause you to get food poisoning and other foodborne illnesses. Bad hummus can have high amounts of bacteria, fungal spores, and other dangerous substances. This usually causes vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pains.
Most of the time, food poisoning is not severe or permanently harmful. Typically, it simply causes symptoms such as:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Dehydration
- Cramping
- Dizziness
- Confusion
- Body aches
- Fever
These symptoms are not usually severe or chronic. They are caused by consuming contaminated foods or drinks and having those bacteria or fungal spores in your gut. The most common bacteria and funguses which grow on hummus include:
- Salmonella
- E. Coli
- Norovirus
- Clostridium perfringens
- Staphylococcus aureus (Staph)
- Candida
- Aspergillus
- Mucromycetes
Most people who suffer an infection only have temporary symptoms. If your symptoms do not clear within a week, you should visit the doctor. It’s possible that the bacteria or fungi were very intense or your immune system is compromised.
If you have a pre-existing condition, you should be especially careful. On rare occasions, food poisoning can cause permanent damage to your organs or even cause death.
How Should Hummus Be Stored?
Hummus should be stored in the refrigerator at all times at or below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius).
If you purchased your hummus from the grocery store, you should keep it within the original container. If you make your own or need to replace the old container, place your hummus in a sealed container.
Hummus should always be stored in a properly sealed, air-tight container. Foods in the refrigerator can be subjected to cross-contamination from other foods or liquids in the fridge. This can be milk, soup broth, or even particles of solid foods falling into your hummus.
A properly sealed container will also prevent the other scents from the fridge from impacting your hummus. Foods such as onions, garlic, and other potently strong foods can impact how your hummus tastes and affect its taste.
Shelf stable hummus can be stored at room temperature up until the use-by date. Make sure it’s kept away from heat sources and out of direct sunlight, and ensure it doesn’t get wet. This can impact the hummus taste and cause it to spoil faster.
How Long Does Hummus Last?
Hummus can last up to ten days if properly stored in the fridge and kept at a consistent temperature. If you leave your hummus out at room temperature for prolonged periods or expose it to contamination, it will not last as long.
The types of ingredients and preservatives you use in your hummus can impact how long it lasts.
Plain or original hummus has one of the longest shelf lives. This is because original hummus contains only chickpeas, tahini, and lemon zest. However, most store-bought hummuses contain garlic, onion, and other ingredients.
Some brands use more preservatives such as potassium sorbate, benzoate, and acids. These preservatives allow hummus to last over a week in the refrigerator. However, if you make your own hummus or buy a natural hummus, it may only last 4-5 days.
Some flavors, such as artichoke and fruit-flavored hummuses, expire faster than lemon or original. You should only keep these types of hummuses in the fridge for up to 4-5 days, even with preservatives.
How Long Can Unopened Hummus Be Stored at Room Temperature?
An opened container of hummus should only be kept for one hour at room temperature. Ideally, you shouldn’t leave your hummus exposed to the air for prolonged periods. This has more to do with the threat of cross-contamination than the temperature.
Hummus can last up to four hours at 45-70 degrees Fahrenheit (7-21 degrees Celsius). Although it should ideally be kept in the fridge after two hours, as long as it’s not super hot outside, it should be okay to consume.
However, if it is 75-100 degrees Fahrenheit (24-38 degrees Celsius) you should not keep it out of the fridge for more than an hour. At such high temperatures, bacteria multiply exponentially.
According to the FDA, anywhere between 40-140 degrees Fahrenheit is the perfect temperature for bacteria to grow (4-60 degrees Celsius).
Shelf-stable hummus can be kept safely at room temperature. Just make sure to keep it somewhere cool or dark for optimal storage.
Can you Freeze Hummus?
You can freeze hummus for up to one year in the freezer. However, the freezing process may cause the texture and flavors to break down and become unpleasant. For the best results, you should store it in a freezer-safe container or bag.
The easiest way to freeze hummus is to first dish out the hummus into single serving portions. Once you thaw hummus, you should not refreeze it since it has the potential to grow more bacteria.
Place single servings of hummus in freezer-safe bags or containers. Alternatively, you can also use an ice cube tray. But we recommend you use a covered ice cube tray rather than the kinds with an opened top.