Quick answer
Refrigerate tomato paste after opening, and check its package form. FoodKeeper gives a general five-day refrigerated quality guide. Cento gives its specific 4.56 oz double-concentrated resealable tube 30–45 days refrigerated after opening. The tube advice is not an allowance for an opened can or every other brand. FoodKeeper and Cento
Which package is open?
| State | Guidance |
|---|---|
| Unopened commercial can or tube | Follow that package's date and storage instructions. |
| Opened paste without a different verified package instruction | FoodKeeper: five refrigerated days after opening, as a quality guide. |
| Cento Double Concentrated Tomato Paste Tube, 4.56 oz | Maker: 30–45 refrigerated days after opening; follow the actual package. |
| Properly handled frozen paste | FoodKeeper: 2–3 months for frozen quality, not a safety expiry. |
The FoodKeeper entry does not establish a new full five-day period after every thaw. Keep its source clock intact rather than adding refrigerator and freezer periods into a guaranteed total. FoodKeeper data
Why a tube can differ from a can
Both contain concentrated tomato, but that alone does not settle how a partly used package should be stored. Packaging and product-specific directions matter. Do not average five days and 45 days into an enormous generic range: the longer example belongs to one named resealable tube.
Likewise, tomato sauce, purée, ketchup and homemade paste do not inherit this table. A stew made with paste is a finished leftover, not a resealable condiment.
Keep the next spoonful easy to manage
After opening a can, cover and refrigerate the remainder at 40°F (4°C) or below. Mark a storage container with the first opening date. For a tube, close the cap and retain its directions. Take the amount needed for a recipe and put the rest away promptly. Moving paste into another container does not make it newly opened. FDA storage guidance
If you will not use the remainder within the applicable guidance, freeze usable portions while the paste is still properly handled. Small sealed portions avoid thawing a whole supply for one spoonful. Keep opening and freezing dates together; freezing does not erase earlier storage history.
FAQs
Can I add oil to make opened paste last longer?
No extension is established here for adding oil. It is not a validated preservation step and does not replace the original product instructions.
What if the paste has a dark surface or mold?
Color alone cannot identify what happened or certify safety. Discard moldy or otherwise suspicious paste without tasting it. A leaking, swollen or seriously damaged package is also a reason to reject it; a normal smell does not prove safe handling.
Does every tube last 30–45 days?
No. That is Cento's direction for its named 4.56 oz double-concentrated tube. Another brand, formulation or size needs its own package instructions, including any shorter opened period or date ceiling.
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.