How to store re-hydrated textured soy protein
Best place: the pantry. Re-hydrated textured soy protein keeps for 3 to 4 months in the pantry and 3 to 4 days in the fridge, so the fridge adds no time.
3 to 4 months
from the package date
3 to 4 days
from purchase
Refrigeration time applies to prepared product.
No guideline
USDA notes for re-hydrated textured soy protein
- Refrigeration time applies to prepared product.
How to tell re-hydrated textured soy protein has gone bad
General signs for vegetarian proteins, the group USDA lists re-hydrated textured soy protein under.
- Sour or off smell instead of a neutral, mild scent
- Slimy film developing on the surface of tofu
- Discoloration, especially yellowing or dark spots
- Mould, often black or white, on tempeh
- Packaging that has swollen or lost its seal
More on vegetarian proteins. 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 tofu submerged in fresh water in a covered container, changing the water daily, and use within about a week. Keep tempeh and meat substitutes in their sealed packaging until use, then reseal tightly. Freeze extra tofu or tempeh in an airtight container for longer storage; the texture will change slightly.
How to store other vegetarian proteins
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.