DecodedGuides

How to store sun dried tomatoes

Best place: the pantry until opened, then the fridge. Unopened, sun dried tomatoes keep for 1 year in the pantry. Once opened, the fridge gives 3 to 6 months.

Pantry

1 year

from the package date

Fridge

3 to 6 months

after opening

Freezer

No guideline

How to tell sun dried tomatoes have gone bad

General signs for shelf stable foods, the group USDA lists sun dried tomatoes 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.