Shelf Life Tips
- How long does a can of tomato paste last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep opened tomato paste refrigerated and tightly covered.
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To maximize the shelf life of canned or packaged tomato paste after opening, refrigerate in covered glass or plastic container.
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How long does opened canned tomato paste last in the refrigerator? Tomato paste that has been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 5 to 7 days.
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Is canned tomato paste safe to use after the "expiration" date on the package? Yes, provided it has been stored properly, the package is undamaged, and there are no signs of spoilage (see below) - commercially packaged tomato paste 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 tomato paste will remain at peak quality.
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To further extend the shelf life of opened canned tomato paste, freeze it: to freeze tomato paste, place inside covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long does canned tomato paste last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 4 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - tomato paste that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How can you tell if opened canned tomato paste is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the tomato paste: if the tomato paste develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
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Discard all tomato paste from 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
