Shelf Life Tips
- How long does an unopened jar or can or can of olives last? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions -to maximize the shelf life of olives store in a cool, dry area.
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How long does an unopened jar or can or can of olives last at room temperature? Properly stored, an unopened jar or can of olives will generally stay at best quality for about 2 years.
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Are unopened olives safe to use after the "expiration date" on the jar or can? Yes, provided they are properly stored and the jar or can is undamaged - 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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Storage time shown 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 stored properly, the jar or can is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below).
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How can you tell if olives are bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the olives: if olives develop an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, they should be discarded.
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Discard all olives from bottles or cans 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
