Shelf Life Tips
- How long do unopened capers last? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of capers, store in a cool, dry area.
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How long do unopened capers last at room temperature? Properly stored, an unopened bottle of capers will generally stay at best quality for about 3 years, although it will usually remain safe to use after that.
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Are unopened capers safe to use after the "expiration" date on the bottle? Yes, provided they are properly stored and the bottle is undamaged - commercially packaged capers will typically carry a "Best By," "Best if Used By," "Best Before", or "Best When Used By" date but this is not a safety date, it is the manufacturer's estimate of how long the capers will remain at peak quality.
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Storage time shown is for best quality only - after that, the capers' texture, color or flavor may change, but in most cases, they will still be safe to consume if they have been stored properly, the bottle is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below).
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How can you tell if capers are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the capers: if the capers develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, they should be discarded.
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Discard all capers from bottles that are leaking, rusting, bulging or chipped.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
