Shelf Life Tips
- How long do olives last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - to maximize the shelf life of opened olives keep them refrigerated and tightly covered.
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How long do opened olives last in the refrigerator? Olives that have been continuously refrigerated will generally stay at best quality for about 12 to 18 months.
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Are opened olives safe to use after the "expiration date" on the jar or can? Yes, provided they have been stored properly, the jar or can is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below) - commercially packaged olives 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 olives will remain at peak quality.
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The storage time shown for opened olives is for best quality only - after that, the olives' texture, color or flavor may change, but in most cases, they will still be safe to consume if they have been kept continuously refrigerated, the jar or can is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below).
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How can you tell if opened olives are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the olives: if the olives develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, they should be discarded.
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Discard all olives from cans or bottles that are leaking, rusting, bulging or severely dented.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
