How long does tomato sauce last?
Tomato sauce keeps for 3 to 5 days in the fridge once opened, until the date on the package in the pantry. USDA lists 2 kinds of tomato sauce; the first is shown here and all are in the table below.
spaghetti, pizza
Use by the package date
Refrigerating unopened jars will NOT lengthen shelf life.
3 to 5 days
after opening
No guideline
All kinds of tomato sauce, side by side
| Kind | Pantry | Fridge | After opening | Freezer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| spaghetti, pizza | Use by the package date | no guideline | 3 to 5 days | no guideline |
| homemade, canned | 9 to 12 months | no guideline | no guideline | no guideline |
No guideline: USDA gives no time for that place, usually because the food is not stored that way.
- spaghetti, pizza: Refrigerating unopened jars will NOT lengthen shelf life.
How to tell tomato sauce has gone bad
General signs for condiments, sauces & canned goods, the group USDA lists tomato sauce under.
- Dented, bulging or rusted cans, especially at the seams
- Hissing sound or spray when a can or jar is opened
- Mould on the surface of a sauce or condiment
- Separation, discoloration or a sharp off smell from the jar
- Metallic taste or cloudy liquid in canned food
More on condiments, sauces & canned goods. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
Storage habits that make the difference
Refrigerate opened condiments and sauces with their lids on tightly, and use a clean spoon each time to avoid contamination. Store unopened cans in a cool, dry cupboard, and once opened, transfer leftover canned food to a covered container in the fridge rather than storing it in the can.
More in condiments, sauces & canned goods
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). Times assume a fridge at 40 F (4 C) and a freezer at 0 F (-18 C). How we decode the data.