Pantry storage

Does canned tuna need to be refrigerated?

Not while the can is sealed: unopened tuna keeps about 3 years in the pantry. After opening, yes. Once open, it keeps 3 to 4 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

Tuna in a foil pouch has a shorter shelf life than the can: the FSIS chart gives pouches 18 months on the shelf, and the same refrigerated window once opened. Source: USDA FSIS: shelf-stable food safety (opens in a new tab)

Kitchen list sorted by use soon, grouped into fridge and pantry, each item with its amount and buttons to change it
Keep track of what’s in the pantry, and type a date if you want a reminder. Free

Unopened and opened

Unopened and opened packages keep for different times. These are the times the source gives.

Unopened
About 3 years in the pantry
After opening
3 to 4 days refrigerated
Where to keep it 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 .

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