How long do tomatoes last?
In the pantry, tomatoes keep until ripe.
Until ripe
No guideline
No guideline
Do tomatoes go bad?
Tomatoes are shelf stable, so the pantry time is about quality rather than safety: past it, flavour and texture fade before anything becomes unsafe. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell tomatoes have gone bad
General signs for produce: fresh vegetables, the group USDA lists tomatoes under.
- Slimy, wet leaves on greens that were crisp before
- Soft or mushy spots on vegetables that were firm
- Sprouting or wrinkled skin on potatoes and onions
- Mould, often white or fuzzy, near the stem or cut end
- Sour or off smell replacing a vegetable's usual earthy scent
More on produce: fresh vegetables. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other produce: fresh vegetables last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.