114shares
44
19
29
22

How Long Do Olives Last?

How long do olives last? Olives last for 1-2 years beyond a "best by" date if unopened. The shelf life of olives depends on a variety of factors, such as the best by date, the preparation method and how they are stored. Please read our full article to make an informed decision on your product.

Olives come from a small fruit tree native to the Mediterranean, making them technically a fruit, but for culinary purposes they are generally considered a vegetable possibly due to their very bitter taste. Most U.S. olives are now grown in California and then fermented to reduce their bitterness. Most green olives are stuffed with a tiny red pimento, or sweet pepper, to enhance the flavor. They can range in color from green to black.

So, do olives go bad? Eventually, but how long do olives last? When properly stored, the shelf life of olives past their best before date is at least ...

Our Favorite Food Storage Set!

With oven-safe glass and water-tight lids, these food storage containers are ready for action! Not a Prime Member? Try a 30-day free trial today!

SHOP NOW

Olives Expiration Date

Product	Pantry (Unopened)	Refrigerator (Opened)
	Past Printed Date	Past Printed Date
Olives last for	1-2 Years	3-4 Months
Deli Olives (in oil) last for	--	2-3 Months
Pimentos last for	1-2 Years	3-4 Months

Of course, olives last for a shorter period of time if they are not stored properly. But remember, olives, like a lot of other fruits, usually have a best before date and not a use by date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use olives to compliment your favorite meals even after the best before date has lapsed.

How to tell if Olives are bad, rotten or spoiled?

Practicing proper hygiene and food safety techniques will help prevent foodborne illness.

Your sense of smell is usually the best way to tell if your olives have gone bad. The olives will begin to have an odor if they are going bad. Their texture and color may also change and they may develop mold if spoiled.

If the top of the lid on the jar or can is rounded and dome shaped instead of flat across, the olives have most likely gone bad probably because the jar/can was not sealed properly. If you open the jar and do not a hear the normal pop then the seal had been broken.

There are, of course, certain health risks associated with spoiled foods so always remember to practice food safety and enjoy your foods before their shelf life has expired!

How to store Olives to extend their shelf life?

You can help olives stay fresh longer by storing them unopened in the pantry where the temperature is always less than 75 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once opened, the olives should be kept in the fridge, fully submerged in their liquid. Never store open cans in the fridge, place the olives and their liquid in an airtight jar or plastic container before putting them in the fridge.

Some benefits of proper food storage include eating healthier, cutting food costs and helping the environment by avoiding waste.

How long are Olives good for when prepared in a dish?

How long do olives last? That depends. How long does pasta last? In general, the olives will last as long as the quickest expiring ingredient in the prepared dish.

What are our shelf life resources?

In determining how long Olives lasts, our content incorporates research from multiple resources, including the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Food & Drug Administration. In addition, we scoured the web for informative articles and reports related to food safety, food storage and the shelf life of Olives.

*An important note about expiration dates...

Although the Olives shelf life information on Eat By Date is generally reliable, please remember that individual cases will vary and that our advice should only be taken as an opinion and not a replacement for your health care professional. Please eat responsibly!