Pesto is a must-have when it comes to cooking and improving your culinary journey. Often you’ll have too much pesto and you’ll forget about it, just until a few months later. Should it still be okay? Does pesto go bad?
Pesto will remain, like other foods and drinks, good for some period and go bad eventually.
In this article, we will cover all you need to know about pesto: shelf-life, storage and spoilage.
Enjoy the read!
How Long Can Pesto Last
We will start with a table so you can easily see in what situation you are with your pesto.
Pesto | Pantry | Refrigerator |
---|---|---|
Unrefrigerated and Unopened | Best-by date + up to 3 months | |
Unrefrigerated and Opened | Up to 10 days | |
Refrigerated and Unopened | Date + up to 7 days (1 week) | |
Refrigerated and Opened | Up to 7 days (1 week) | |
Homemade | Up to 5 days |
Depending if you’ve made the pesto yourself or bought it at the store, answers will vary.
Pesto bought at the store
You can buy pesto at the store if you don’t have any time to make it yourself. There, you can buy shelf-stable pesto (unrefrigerated) and refrigerated pesto. This plays a vital role in storing your pesto, which we will cover further in the article.
Normally, pesto will have a best-by date printed on it, so you can track and plan everything.
Unopened pesto can be good for a few weeks up to a few months if you’re lucky. That is if it’s unopened.
From the moment you open the pesto pack or bottle, it will last for about 1 week (7 days).
If you buy pesto in the refrigerated section. It will come with a use-by date and last up to 1 week past this date.
From the moment you open it, try to finish it within the week (7 days).
Of course, opening the refrigerated pesto at the last of 7 days past the use-by date won’t lengthen its lifespan, so be cautious.
Why is it that refrigerated pesto won’t last as long as shelf-stable pesto? That’s because of the additives added to shelf-stable pesto so it’s better protected against bacteria and other external threats.
Pesto made at home
There are others who love to make pesto at home, so everything is fresh. If made correctly, nothing beats fresh pesto like fresh basil pesto. Not everyone has the time to do so, however.
Making it with fresh ingredients also means there aren’t additives added so they’ll last longer.
Some ingredients are basil leaves, olive oil, parmesan cheese, pine nuts and so on…
Fresh homemade pesto should be stored, sealed, in the refrigerator, and finished within 4 days if possible. If it’s over these 4 days, I should toss it.
How To Store Pesto
As we’ve said before, you’ll have 2 types of pesto, even 3 if you count homemade pesto with it.
When it comes to buying pesto in the store, it will be 2 types: refrigerated and unrefrigerated (shelf-stable). The unrefrigerated version will have some additives added to it to prolong its life.
Always think about where you’ve bought it, you can store it in the same way at home on one condition: if it stays unopened.
Unrefrigerated Pesto
Unrefrigerated pesto will be sold in tin cans or jars or packs. You can store them at home in a dry and dark place. Try to avoid direct contact with air, sunlight, and heat sources as most foods and drinks do. The pantry will do fine.
From the moment you open the pesto, things will change drastically. It will be more vulnerable to external threats as it is unsealed. From the moment you open it, you’ll have to store it in the fridge.
The best thing you can do is to put everything in an airtight container or a jar. You simply need to be able to reseal it thoroughly.
Refrigerated Pesto
Use what you need and reseal it and put it back in your refrigerator. Try to put it as soon as you can in your fridge.
The same goes here of course, if you can’t reseal your pesto, just put everything in resealable airtight container for your convenience!
Homemade pesto
Homemade pesto should always be stored in the fridge and in a resealable container. Try to consume everything within the first days of making it.
Can You Freeze Pesto
Yes of course!
Freezing can be a great alternative and solution for your pesto leftovers. Just know that when it comes to freezing, there are some risks involved as freezing means thawing and this can change the texture of your pesto. Try to freeze it into small portions.
Use freezing your pesto as a last resort because the more you have in your freezer, the more follow-up you’ll have to do. Don’t let it in the freezer for longer than 6 months.
Pesto can really be used in a lot of other dishes like pizza, spaghetti, dip sauces, bread slices in the oven, and so on. With a little creativity, you’ll get far.
How Can You Tell If Pesto Has Gone Bad
When you need to check if your pesto has gone bad, you can always use these general guidelines. The important thing is to always verify what you see and sense by using and trusting your senses!
On GoodOrGoneBad, we always say that if there’s doubt involved, toss it away, and don’t take any unnecessary risks. For a fairly low price, you can buy or make new pesto with higher quality. Your stomach will be happy that you did.
Spoiled pesto is the last thing we need right?
Tips:
- Does the pesto have another (darker) color? If yes, toss it away immediately, don’t start by selecting the good or bad parts as there’s liquid involved, always more delicate. Basil for example should look green, not something else.
- Are there any black marks on/in the container? This can be a sign of mold.
- Does the pesto have a sharp smell? If you smell something funny or unpleasant, toss it away.
- Is the package expanding? If yes, this will be because of the fermentation process that’s going on inside the package. Throw it away. You’re not drinking orange juice anymore.
- How is the taste? Does it taste odd? Get rid of it.
Don’t take any chances with pesto as this is a product that spoils fast. Better to be safe than sorry! Food poisoning is not something funny but something real and unpleasant.
Enjoy your pesto!