Pantry storage
Does tahini need to be refrigerated?
Not while the jar is sealed: unopened tahini keeps about 1 year in the pantry. After opening, yes. Once open, it keeps about 3 weeks 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
Oil pooling on top is normal. Joyva, a tahini maker, calls the separation natural: stir it back in, or blend the whole can, oil and solids, if it is too stiff to stir. Source: Joyva: FAQ (opens in a new tab)

Unopened and opened
Unopened and opened packages keep for different times. These are the times the source gives.
- Unopened
- About 1 year in the pantry
- After opening
- About 3 weeks 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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