Food expiry database
How Long Does Tomato Paste Last After Opening
FoodKeeper lists tomato paste at about 27 months after the package date and about 5 days refrigerated after opening. It also lists about 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
This page is built around the moment the package is opened, because that is usually when the most useful household reminder actually starts.
Quick storage guide
| Situation | How long it usually lasts | Storage | Safety or quality? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unopened | 27 months after the package date | pantry | Quality |
| Opened | 5 days | refrigerated after opening | Quality |
| Refrigerated | 5 days after opening | Refrigerator | Quality |
| Frozen | 2 to 3 months | Freezer | Quality |
What the source actually supports
- Tomato paste: 27 months after the package date in pantry — FSIS FoodKeeper data.
- Tomato paste after opening: 5 days in refrigerated after opening — FSIS FoodKeeper data.
What the official after-opening guidance means for tomato paste
FoodKeeper lists tomato paste at about 27 months after the package date and about 5 days refrigerated after opening. It also lists about 2 to 3 months in the freezer.
For tomato paste, the official window only makes sense when you pair it with how the item was actually stored, handled, and served at home. Warm exposure, repeated opening, contamination, and missing open dates can matter just as much as the printed date.
How to store tomato paste
Tomato paste is exactly the kind of ingredient people use a spoonful at a time and forget for weeks. Track the open date the first time you use the can or tube, then keep the remaining product stored the way the package recommends.
If you freeze extra paste in portions, treat those portions as a second tracked item instead of assuming you will remember when they went in.
Signs tomato paste should be discarded or replaced
- Discard tomato paste if it smells off, shows mold, or the container is damaged.
- Replace it if you cannot tell when the opened container started living in the fridge.
- If you portion and freeze it, label those portions clearly so the date stays attached.
Track the opened item, not just the unopened package
ShelfDate is most useful when fridge and pantry items get an open date, a printed date, and a reminder before they quietly turn into guesswork.
Download Shelf Date if you want the next action view instead of another passive list.
When to set a reminder in ShelfDate
- Set an open-date reminder when you first use the can or tube.
- Add a second reminder before the refrigerated opened-life window ends.
- If you freeze extra portions, set a separate freezer reminder.
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Common questions about tomato paste
For tomato paste, the open date and the way the item was handled after opening usually matter as much as the printed package date.
Sources
- FSIS FoodKeeper data — USDA item-level storage data used for Tomato paste.
- Food Safety During Power Outage — FoodSafety.gov keep-or-discard backup guidance after unusual warm exposure.