How to store roasted red peppers
Best place: the fridge. USDA gives roasted red peppers a fridge time (4 to 6 months, from purchase) and no pantry time, so they belong in the fridge as soon as you get home.
No guideline
4 to 6 months
from purchase
No guideline
How to tell roasted red peppers have gone bad
General signs for shelf stable foods, the group USDA lists roasted red peppers under.
- Crackers or cereal that have gone soft or stale, not crisp
- Rancid, paint-like smell from nuts, oils or nut butters
- Small insects or webbing inside a box or bag
- Spices that have lost their smell and colour
- Fermented or boozy smell from honey that has picked up moisture
More on shelf stable foods. 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
Store dry pantry staples in a cool, dry cupboard away from the stove and direct sunlight, ideally in airtight containers once opened. Reseal cracker and cereal bags tightly with a clip or transfer them to a container to keep them crisp. Label opened jars with the date so older ones get used first.
How to store other shelf stable foods
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.