Shelf Life Tips
- How long do cooked tomatoes last in the fridge or freezer? The exact answer to that question depends to a large extent on storage conditions - refrigerate tomatoes within two hours of cooking.
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To maximize the shelf life of cooked tomatoes for safety and quality, refrigerate the tomatoes in shallow airtight containers or resealable plastic bags.
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Properly stored, cooked tomatoes will last for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator.
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How long can cooked tomatoes be left at room temperature? Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F; cooked tomatoes should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
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To further extend the shelf life of cooked tomatoes, freeze them; freeze in covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long do cooked tomatoes last in the freezer? Properly stored, they will maintain best quality for 10 to 12 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - cooked tomatoes that have been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long do cooked tomatoes last after being frozen and thawed? Cooked tomatoes that have been thawed in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before cooking; tomatoes that were thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be eaten immediately.
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How to tell if cooked tomatoes are bad? The best way is to smell and look at the tomatoes: discard any that have an off smell or appearance, do not taste first.
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Sources: For details about data sources used for food storage information, please click here
