Quick answer
Dry-packed sun-dried tomatoes and oil-packed jars do not share a universal storage rule. Follow the package. Mezzetta recommends keeping its Sun Ripened Dried Tomatoes refrigerated after opening and enjoying them within one month for best quality. That month belongs to the named product, not every dry bag or oil-packed jar. Mezzetta FAQ
Find the preparation first
| What you have | Which guidance applies? |
|---|---|
| Unopened commercial package | Follow its printed date and storage instructions. |
| Opened Mezzetta Sun Ripened Dried Tomatoes | Refrigerate; enjoy within one month of opening for best quality. |
| Dry-packed tomatoes | Follow the bag's storage and after-opening directions; no generic period is assigned here. |
| Homemade tomatoes in oil | Commercial-jar advice does not validate the preparation. |
“Sun-dried” describes part of the preparation, not the final condition of every retail product. Oil, other ingredients and packaging can change the storage directions. A product sold refrigerated should remain chilled; an oil layer is not permission to ignore refrigeration. FDA storage guidance
Keep the first opening date
Write the opening date on the lid or a storage note, and keep the product instructions available. Transferring tomatoes into a clean jar does not make them newly opened. Adding oil does not start another month or reverse contamination.
Remove only the portion needed with a clean utensil, close the remaining package and store it as directed. Do not return food from plates to the supply. Plan a few uses for an opened jar instead of leaving it undated at the back of the fridge.
Once the tomatoes go into pasta salad, a cheese filling or another recipe, manage the finished dish according to its ingredients and handling. The jar's quality recommendation is not a new keeping period for the mixed food.
Why a general chart may not settle this
FoodKeeper's general sun-dried-tomato jar entry does not identify every formulation. Its pantry and refrigerated after-opening figures do not justify overriding a specific refrigerate-after-opening label. The database supplies quality guidance; the product instructions establish how to apply it to the food you bought. FoodKeeper
FAQs
Are white bits always harmless solidified oil?
No. Mezzetta explains that cold olive oil in its products can solidify and look white. That is one possible explanation, not a diagnosis of every patch. Do not use it to dismiss mold, unusual odor or a compromised jar. Mezzetta
Does a dry bag last as long as an oil-packed jar?
This guide establishes no shared period. Read the actual bag, including any after-opening refrigeration direction. Missing a generic number is not a storage prohibition or an unlimited safety allowance.
Can I preserve home-dried tomatoes by covering them with oil?
Do not copy a commercial jar's date onto a homemade preparation. This article supplies no home-preservation recipe, acidification method or room-temperature allowance. Use a tested authoritative method for that exact preparation. Discard questionable food without tasting; normal appearance cannot establish safety.
Sources
Sources and draft evidence reviewed October 31, 2026. Manufacturer advice applies to the named product; follow stricter local guidance and your package. How we research our guides.