Balsamic vinegar

Laurel - I keep unopened bottles of balsamic vinegar in my pantry- which is rather cool- I don't think I'd hesitate to use it if it was a couple years old. Once I open (its still in the pantry- I like that as its dark and away from sunlight) it is usually gone in 6 months (I use it a lot - salads, for deglazing pans, in sauces, etc.) but I do have some raspberry vinegar that is open and still good - for just over 2 years. I don't use that often -- but I needed some the other day and it was good as new. I've never put vinegar in the fridge.

I think that I'd only toss if I opened it to use and it didn't smell like what it is -- or if it had something floating on it! This has never happened to me.