Tyler McFarland on May 22, 2020
Updated on November 8, 2023 Reviewed and fact-checked Found a mistake? Let us know!
Do you know your nutritional yeast could go bad even if the packaging isn’t opened? Wondering how long nutritional yeast lasts before it spoils? You’re in the right place.
Nutritional yeast should last for about two years. It is recommended to store your nutritional yeast in an air-tight container in a cool, dry place. Storing your nutritional yeast in the refrigerator or freezer is optional and may extend its shelf life.
For some reason, it’s hard to find good answers about nutritional yeast going bad online. I hope this resource helps some of you who are trying to determine if your nooch is still good!
Nutritional Yeast Shelf Life
Nutritional yeast should last for two years after the packaging date. That’s the best-case scenario. But if you don’t store it correctly, nutritional yeast can spoil before its expiry date.
Can Unopened Nutritional Yeast Go Bad?
It’s unlikely for unopened nutritional yeast to go bad unless you expose it to high heat or moisture.
That said, the shelf life of nutritional yeast is only about 24 months, so it would still be unadvised to eat it beyond that point, even if it was unopened.
How Long Is Nutritional Yeast Good After the Expiration Date?
If you buy your nutritional yeast in bulk, you might not even have any expiration date to go off of, since there’s no package. But if you buy your nooch pre-packaged, there should be an expiration date you can find.
Nutritional yeast can generally be used for a while after its expiration date. If you’re storing it in the fridge, you’ll have 2 or 4 extra months of good yeast.
That said, if you’re storing it in your kitchen pantry, it may be exposed to heat in the summer. In that case, it’s better to stick to the expiration date.
Side Note: This is the best free video introduction I’ve found on adopting a plant-based diet—the right way. You’ll learn how to lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and obesity—all with plants. Watch the free Masterclass here.
How to Tell If Your Nutritional Yeast Is Bad
Nutritional yeast slowly changes in appearance as it goes bad. The normally light yellow color will turn darker, potentially more brown.
Additionally, instead of being smooth flowing when you pour it, it will start clumping together.
It may also develop a bitter taste as it goes bad. You should be able to notice these changes clearly. Unfortunately for people who are new to nutritional yeast, the taste itself can be foreign at first, making it harder to tell if it’s gone bad.
Should I Keep Nutritional Yeast in the Fridge?
Storing your nutritional yeast in the fridge or freezer will extend its shelf life, but it is not necessary. The general rule is that you should store nutritional yeast in a cool, dry, dark place.
Many people keep their unopened nutritional yeast in a pantry, and then they move it to the refrigerator after opening it. Personally, I just keep mine on a shelf in my kitchen in a jar like this one (Amazon link)—but maybe it would last longer if I stored it in a dark place.
When kept in a dry, cool place that’s not subject to light, nutritional yeast should be good for up to two years from the packaging day.
How Should I Store Nutritional Yeast?
Nutritional yeast should be stored in an air-tight container. You can use a lid-sealed plastic container, a freezer bag, a zipped plastic bag, or even a glass jar like I use (those are Amazon links). These are all air-tight and suitable for nutritional yeast storage.
Once you have your nooch in an air-tight container, ideally you store the container inside a cupboard, pantry, or in the fridge. Everyone says the ideal places to put it are dry, cool, and dark. I’ve had no problem storing it on an open shelf in my kitchen, either, though.
Bonus nutritional yeast storage tip: if you have a cat, put your nooch in a place where it can’t be reached. Cats tend to be attracted to nutritional yeast and will rip right through a plastic bag with no remorse!
Nutritional Yeast Food Ideas
Did you know you can add nutritional yeast to your pet’s food? Most pets love it, and it supplies extra nutrients, too. (I covered this in my post, “Which Mock Meats and Other Vegan Foods Can Dogs Eat?“
There are many uses for nutritional yeast. You can sprinkle it over the pasta you’ll have for lunch, or over your popcorn while watching a movie. (You may need to add extra oil to get it to stick to popcorn.)
Nutritional yeast also works well in soup. You can stir it into your soup for flavor, and you can use it as a thickener.
You can also use nooch in all kinds of vegan sauces for a cheesy flavor. Nutritional yeast together with plant milk is the beginning of a great cheese sauce.
Two More Recommendations for Your Plant-Based Journey
1. This is the best free video training I’ve found on plant-based nutrition. You’ll learn how to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and obesity—all with plant-based food. Watch the free “Food for Health Masterclass” here.
2. This is the best vegan multivitamin I’ve found in my 14 years of being vegan. It has vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3—and nothing else. Translation: It only has the nutrients vegans are actually low in. Read my full review of Future Kind’s multivitamin here (with 10% discount).
I’m Tyler McFarland, the editor and main author here. When I first went vegan 13 years ago, convenience products like veggie burgers and soy milk were a lot harder to find. Now they’re everywhere!