Shelf Life Tips
- How long does a can of tomato sauce last once opened? The precise answer depends to a large extent on storage conditions - keep opened tomato sauce refrigerated and tightly covered.
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To maximize the shelf life of canned or packaged tomato sauce after opening, refrigerate in covered glass or plastic container.
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How long does opened canned tomato sauce last in the refrigerator? Tomato sauce that has been continuously refrigerated will keep for about 5 to 7 days.
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Is canned tomato sauce 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 sauce 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 sauce will remain at peak quality.
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To further extend the shelf life of opened canned tomato sauce, freeze it: to freeze tomato sauce, place inside covered airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags.
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How long does canned tomato sauce last in the freezer? Properly stored, it will maintain best quality for about 3 months, but will remain safe beyond that time.
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The freezer time shown is for best quality only - tomato sauce that has been kept constantly frozen at 0°F will keep safe indefinitely.
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How long does tomato sauce last after being frozen and thawed? Tomato sauce that has been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator before using; tomato sauce that was thawed in the microwave or in cold water should be used immediately.
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How can you tell if opened canned tomato sauce is bad or spoiled? The best way is to smell and look at the tomato sauce: if the tomato sauce develops an off odor, flavor or appearance, or if mold appears, it should be discarded.
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Discard all tomato sauce from cans or packages 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
