Do Pickled Pork Skins Expire? How to Tell if Yours Have Gone Bad

Pickled pork skins, also known as pork rinds or chicharrones, are a beloved snack around the world. Their crunchy texture and salty, tangy flavor make them hard to resist!

But like any food, pork rinds don’t last forever. So how can you tell if your bag of pickled pork skins has gone bad and needs to be tossed? This article will go over everything you need to know about pickled pork skin expiration.

What are Pickled Pork Skins?

Pickled pork skins are made by deep frying strips of pork skin until they become puffed and crispy. They are then tossed in a vinegar-based pickling liquid that gives them their signature tang.

The pickling process helps preserve the pork rinds by lowering the pH and preventing bacterial growth. This gives pickled pork skins a decently long shelf life compared to other snacks.

Commercially packaged pickled pork rinds are heat sealed in bags or jars after pickling. This protects them from contamination and exposure to air, further extending how long they stay fresh.

How to Store Pickled Pork Skins Properly

To get the longest lifespan out of your pickled pork skins, proper storage is key. Here are some tips

• Keep bags sealed tightly or jars lidded until ready to eat. Only open what you will consume in one sitting.

• Store in a cool, dry pantry away from direct sunlight and sources of heat.

• Avoid temperature fluctuations – don’t store pork rinds in garages, cars, or anywhere else with big temperature swings.

• Once opened, transfer any leftovers to an airtight container or zip top bag. Press out excess air before sealing to prevent staleness.

• Refrigerate after opening for optimal freshness. Eat within 5-7 days.

• Check expiration or ‘best by’ dates and follow the “first in, first out” system to rotate stock.

Following these guidelines will ensure your bags of pork rinds stay crunchy and flavorful as long as possible.

How Long do Pickled Pork Skins Last Sealed?

An unopened, properly stored package of pickled pork skins will generally stay fresh for:

• Pantry: Around 9 months past the production date or ‘best by’ date on the package.

• Fridge: 1 year past the production or ‘best by’ date.

The key is keeping the original seal intact. As long as moisture, air, and contaminants can’t get in, commercially packaged pork rinds can last for months past their expiration date while still tasting good.

How to Know if Sealed Pickled Pork Skins Have Gone Bad

It’s always important to do a visual check of sealed bags or jars before opening. Signs that your pickled pork skins have spoiled while sealed include:

• Bag puffed up with air or jar lid bulging

• Signs of moisture seepage – wet spots, stickiness, dried crystallization

• Mold or dark spots visible through packaging

• Unpleasant sour or ‘off’ smell upon opening

• Very soft or hard texture (should be crispy but pliable)

• Loss of the vinegary pickled aroma and flavor

• Any change in color like unnatural darkening or dullness

If you notice any of these warning signs, it’s best to play it safe and discard the pork rinds. They may not make you sick, but the taste and texture will likely be unpleasant.

How Long Do Opened Pickled Pork Skins Last?

Once exposed to air, pickled pork skins have a much shorter shelf life. Keep the opened package well sealed in the fridge and use within:

• Fridge: 5-7 days after opening.

The vinegar and salt help prevent bacterial growth initially, but pork rinds will quickly go stale and soggy once the packaging is opened.

Make sure to press out as much air as possible before resealing opened bags. And transfer any leftovers to an airtight container for optimal freshness.

Signs Your Opened Pork Rinds Have Expired

It’s easy to tell when opened pickled pork skins have gone bad. Look for these signs it’s time to throw them away:

• Hard, stiff, or styrofoam-like texture – no longer crispy

• Limp, soggy, or mushy – they should be plump and firm

• Strange odors like sourness or ammonia

• Visible mold growth – discard immediately!

• Loss of the salty, tangy pickled flavor

• Dryness or strange film on the pork skin

• Change in color like darkening, greying, or unnatural hues

Trust your senses – if the pork rinds smell funky, taste bland, or have an ‘off’ texture, don’t risk eating them. Play it safe and throw away any iffy bags of opened pickled pork skins.

Can You Freeze Pickled Pork Skins?

Freezing is a great way to gain a few extra months out of your pickled pork rinds. Here are some freezing tips:

• Freeze unopened bags/jars up to 2 months past the ‘best by’ date. Thaw overnight in the fridge before eating.

• For opened packages, transfer any leftovers to a freezer bag or airtight container. Exclude as much air as possible.

• Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before serving.

• Check for any freezer burn or ‘off’ odors before eating defrosted pork skins.

Freezing stops the aging process in its tracks. But pork rinds will gradually dry out and lose their signature crispy-crunchy texture the longer they are frozen. For best results, try to eat within 3 months.

Can Expired Pork Rinds Make You Sick?

Consuming pork rinds that have clearly gone bad or show signs of spoilage is not recommended. They likely won’t cause serious illness in otherwise healthy adults if only eaten in small quantities.

However, allowing mold, bacteria, and other microbes to grow uncontrolled can increase the risk of food poisoning. Symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps may occur within 12-48 hours after ingestion.

In some cases, the bacteria responsible could even lead to more severe illness. It’s best not to chance it over a bag of pork rinds.

Stick to eating pickled pork skins before their expiration date and within the recommended opened shelf life of just 5-7 days. When in doubt, throw it out!

Maximizing Freshness of Pickled Pork Skins

Here are some final tips for keeping pickled pork skins fresh as long as possible:

• Check ‘best by’ dates at the store and choose packages with the furthest dates.

• Open bags as needed, roll tightly to exclude air, and use a chip clip or clothespin to reseal.

• Transfer any leftovers from opened packages to a plastic container or zip top bag.

• Write the date opened on labels to track fridge life.

• Store pickled pork rinds in the fridge after opening.

• Inspect bags and smell pork skins before eating to check for staleness.

Following proper storage methods and using opened packs within a week will ensure you can enjoy every last crunchy, tangy bite of your pickled pork skins before they go bad! Trust your senses and be on the lookout for any signs of spoilage.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do pickled pork skins last after opening?

Keep opened pickled pork skins sealed in the refrigerator and consume within 5-7 days for best freshness and flavor. The fridge life is much shorter than unopened.

What happens if you eat expired pickled pork skins?

Eating pork rinds after their use by date increases the risk of food borne illness from mold or bacteria growth. Old pork skins may not taste pleasant but aren’t guaranteed to make you sick in small amounts. Still, it’s best not to chance eating any that are clearly expired.

Why do my pork rinds go soft so fast after opening?

The crunchy texture of pork rinds quickly goes soft and soggy when exposed to moisture and air. Keeping them sealed in the fridge gives the longest shelf life after opening, but they will stale within 5-7 days. For maximum crunch factor, only open what you plan to eat!

How can you revive stale pork rinds?

Unfortunately there is no way to crispen soggy or stale pork rinds again once they lose that signature crunch. Opening the package leads to quick staling. For the best texture, it’s ideal to eat pickled pork skins within a week and avoid getting them soggy in the first place.

Can you freeze opened pickled pork skins?

Yes, freezing is a great way to preserve opened packs of pork rinds. Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container or freezer bag, exclude excess air, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before eating again. Check for any signs of freezer burn before consuming defrosted pork skins.