Pantry storage
Do canned tomatoes need to be refrigerated?
An unopened can stays safe well past its use-by or best-by date if it shows no dents, rust or swelling. After opening, yes. Once open, they keep 5 to 7 days in the fridge.
These times are a guide, not a safety guarantee, and a label that says to refrigerate comes first.
How we checked this: the storage times here come from the sources named on the page, and each one is checked against its source before the page goes live. Editorial policy
Tomatoes are acidic enough to react slowly with the can itself. FSIS says that over several years this changes their taste and texture, so use your oldest cans first. Source: USDA FSIS: shelf-stable food safety (opens in a new tab)
Unopened and opened
Unopened and opened packages keep for different times. These are the times the source gives.
- Unopened
- Safe well past the use-by or best-by date as long as the can shows no dents, rust, or swelling
- After opening
- 5 to 7 days refrigerated
- Where to keep them once open
- Refrigerator. Refrigeration is required here, not optional.
Sources and limits
The after-opening time runs from the day you opened it, not from the date printed on the package, so write that day down. Well Stockd doesn’t know when your package was made, bought or opened: follow the package directions, keep it in the fridge at 40°F or below once it’s open, and check the official listing when food safety is in question.
The storage times above are quoted from the sources below. They’re a guide, not a safety guarantee: quality varies with packaging, temperature and how the package is handled between uses. Nothing here overrides a label that says to refrigerate. This page was last updated .