DecodedGuides

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.

Pantry

No guideline

Fridge

4 to 6 months

from purchase

Freezer

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.