Olives are one of the most popular foods in Spain and Greece. They’re a great source of antioxidants, healthy fats, potassium, iron, calcium and many other vitamins! But when do they become bad? When you taste an olive that’s gone ashy or dark brown to black on the outside is it still good for consumption?
The “do olives go bad if not refrigerated” is a question that has been asked by many people. The answer to the question is yes, but it depends on how long the olive has been sitting out.
In your refrigerator, there’s an open bottle of olives. You’ve used a third of the basil in a pizza and a tiny bunch in a salad, and you’re wondering how long you can keep the remainder refrigerated.
Knowing how long you can store olives before they go bad is quite handy if you don’t eat them very frequently.
The good news is that the storage rules and spoilage signs are very much the same whether we’re talking about green or black olives, stuffed, pitted, or whole.
The bad news is that it’s impossible to determine how long an open bottle of olives will last.
But first and foremost, let’s talk about the basics.
Is it Possible for Olives to Go Bad? How Can You Tell If They’re Bad?
Olives may go bad, and there are a few things you should look for before eating them.
If the lid of an unopened bottle or jar is popped rather than flat, something has gone wrong. Before eating, thoroughly inspect the olives, or toss them for safety concerns. Both options are acceptable.
Examine the olives after opening the jar to see how they seem, smell, and taste.
To begin, search for visible signs of decomposition, such as mold.
If there are any while floaties on the brine’s surface, remove them and the olives will be alright ([MZ]). However, I won’t blame you if you toss away the olives when you see them.
Mold suggests the olives are beyond their prime if the box isn’t brine-free.
Second, take a deep breath and smell the brine to see whether it smells fresh.
I once had a jar of olives that went bad after a couple of days in the fridge for no apparent reason. The stench was terrible.
I didn’t care whether the olives were still edible; all I wanted was to get rid of them.
In a nutshell, if it stinks, throw it away.
Breakfast with a side of olives
It’s time to give those tiny gentlemen a taste if both the fragrance and the appearance are acceptable.
Throw them away if the taste isn’t quite right. If the flavor is acceptable, they are most likely safe to consume.
Olives may also lose part of their texture with age. If this occurs, they are best used in cooked foods rather as salads.
If it’s a liquid-free packaging, pay extra attention to all of the variables listed. They don’t survive as long and go bad rapidly if the package has a little hole in it.
Close-up of olives
What Is the Shelf Life of Olives?
There isn’t much of a variation in shelf life between various cultivars (like Kalamata or Manzanilla) and kinds of olives.
Choose the best-by date on the label for an unopened product. The shelf life of most varieties of olives is between a year and two years, which is already included into the date.
Olives will likely keep for a few weeks or perhaps months beyond the expiration date on the label.
Once you’ve opened the product, follow the storage instructions on the label.
The olives I regularly purchase have a label that indicates I should complete the jar in a week. Other companies usually want you to eat the fruits within a week to ten days ([CA]).
If the olives aren’t immersed in brine, vinegar, or oil, they’ll preserve their quality for 3 to 5 days after opening if they’re in a liquid-free box.
That concludes the simple section.
On the jar of olives, there is a date.
I’m sure you’ve heard of individuals storing open jars of olives for months at a time with no ill effects. Some companies, such as Mezzetta, claim that their olives will keep for a year after being opened ([MZ]). What’s the deal with that?
I don’t know everything, but I can make a reasonable approximation.
To begin with, certain brines are saltier than others, and stronger brines have a lower chance of spoiling.
The second point to consider is food safety. If you consistently grab olives with clean equipment, there’s a good chance you won’t add hazardous germs to the brine.
You should be able to acquire at least an additional week or two of storage for liquid-packed olives if you take proper care of them.
What Is The Best Way To Store Olives?
Unopened packages should be kept at room temperature or slightly below, out of direct sunlight, and in a locked cabinet.
For bottles and jars, it’s particularly crucial to keep olives in the dark. This is because they let light in, and extended exposure may produce a change in taste.
Unless the label specifies otherwise, an open bag of olives should be kept carefully wrapped in the refrigerator.
Leave the liquid in the olives if they’re liquid-packed; it helps keep the fruit fresh.
Also, make sure the olives are continually submerged in the brine. Fruits that are above the surface level may deteriorate if this is not done.
If you’ve already thrown away the brine, you may simply manufacture your own using just salt and water ([CA]).
Seal the olives tightly after opening for liquid-free packaging. Use a tiny airtight container or a freezer bag if the pouch isn’t resealable.
Olives in a brine-covered jar
Summary
- Look for visible signs of deterioration, such as mold, an off-odor, or a change in taste, particularly if the package isn’t liquid-free.
- Liquid-free olives may last up to three days once opened. Liquid packed ones usually last at least a week or two, but may last much longer if properly stored.
- After opening the olives, keep them refrigerated. Make sure they’re completely immersed in brine or any other liquid they’ve been in contact with. If the packaging was liquid-free, ensure sure the leftovers are well sealed.
References
Olives can last for weeks, months, or years. If you have an olive that has been opened then it will only last a few days. Reference: how long do olives last unopened.
Related Tags
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- how to tell if olives are bad
- how long do kalamata olives last once opened
- how to store olives after opening
