How Long Does Tomato Paste Last? Opened Cans and Tubes
Refrigerate tomato paste after opening. FoodKeeper lists five days after opening as its general refrigerator quality guide. A specific resealable tube may have different instructions: Cento states 30–45 refrigerated days after opening for its 4.56 oz double-concentrated tube. Do not apply the tube period to an opened can or different brand.
Quick answer
Follow date and storage instructions on the actual package. A shelf-stable can or tube is not the same as a product sold refrigerated.
Keep the original date: purchase or repacking does not override the instructions of the manufacturer.
FoodKeeper lists five refrigerated days after opening. Keep the food covered at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Count from the first opening, not from moving the paste to another container.
Cento states that this specifically named resealable tube has 30–45 days in the refrigerator after opening.
Follow the actual instructions on purchased packaging: the timer begins when that particular tube is first opened.
FoodKeeper lists 2–3 months as a guideline for tomato paste in the freezer. Keep properly handled paste frozen at 0°F (−18°C) or below.
This is time in frozen storage; no separate post-thaw period is established by the selected row.
Discard immediately if
- Discard food with mold or suspicious odor or appearance; do not taste-test it.
- Do not use a leaking, swollen or seriously damaged commercial package.
Why guidance varies
This guide applies to commercially packaged tomato paste. Canned paste and resealable tubes are distinct states within one guide. Tomato sauce, purée, ketchup, homemade paste or a dish containing paste cannot inherit these periods.
The package distinction matters
Tomato paste is a concentrated tomato product but the degree of concentration does not indicate how long a partially used package can remain in the refrigerator. An opened can exposes its content differently from a resealable tube, and a manufacturer may give specific instructions for a particular product. The guide keeps the generally applicable FoodKeeper entry and the named example of a tube distinct, not averaging them into a misleading five-to-forty-five day range.
Make the next spoonful easy to manage
After opening a can, keep the remainder covered and refrigerated. Label a clean container with the original opening date so that it is not confused with a new batch. For a tube, close the cap and keep the label instructions accessible. Taking the amount needed for a recipe and putting the remainder away promptly reduces unnecessary warm handling. These are storage practices, not reasons to extend a printed instruction.
Freeze before it becomes a rescue job
Freezing is useful when the remaining paste will not be used within the applicable refrigerator guidance. A small sealed portion prevents the need to repeatedly thaw a large quantity for single use. FDA guidance on freezing assumes that food was properly handled before freezing: prior time in the refrigerator still applies to its history. The cited sources do not establish a new five-day allowance after every thaw, therefore no such extension is offered.
Check damage and history, not just color
Discard a leaking, swollen or otherwise seriously damaged package. Discard moldy paste or paste with suspicious appearance or odor, without tasting it. A darker surface is not enough information to certify safety or diagnose the reason for the change. If the opening date or refrigeration history cannot be established, this guide cannot infer it from appearance. Manage a cooked sauce or stew made with paste as the finished dish; it does not inherit a tube’s storage period.
Match the product state, storage conditions and source clock above. This guide does not provide an automatic expiry timer.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my tube say longer than five days?
Packaging and product instructions can vary. The Cento example is a specific double-concentrated resealable tube. Use the actual instruction from your product rather than assuming that all tubes have the same allowance.
Can I freeze the rest of an opened can?
Yes, the FoodKeeper tomato paste row includes applicable freezer guidance. Package a usable portion securely and keep its opening and freezing dates. Freezing cannot rescue paste that was already mishandled.
Can I put a layer of oil on top to make it last longer?
No extension of shelf life is established here for adding oil. Follow the original product instructions: adding an ingredient is not a validated preservation step.
Is mold on the edge harmless?
Discard moldy paste. Wiping the rim or removing a visible patch is not sufficient to establish that the remainder is safe.
Sources for this answer
- A USDA FSIS / FoodSafety.gov FoodKeeper data — Selected food-specific storage fields; raw rows retained in evidence.
- A FoodSafety.gov: FoodKeeper App — The database helps maximize freshness and quality; estimates do not establish the safety of a particular food.
- A FDA: Are You Storing Food Safely? — Cold-storage temperatures, package directions, signs of damaged containers, and limits of appearance or smell as safety checks.
- B Cento: Double Concentrated Tomato Paste Tube — Exact 4.56 oz resealable product: 30–45 refrigerated days after opening.