How Long Do Black Olives Last In The Fridge?
Black olive oils are extremely healthy and their shelf life can be extended by placing them in the refrigerator. This is because they can last up to twelve to eighteen months in the fridge. However, make sure that they are completely submerged in a liquid or brine so that they don’t go bad.
If you do not use olives that much, knowing how long you can store them before they spoil is pretty handy. If you want to store your olives as long as you possibly can, storing them in a secure plastic container in your refrigerator is the best option.
By the way, if you’re interested in How To Preserve Food, check out my article on that.
Never store opened tins in the refrigerator, place your olives and their liquids into a sealed can or plastic container before placing in the refrigerator. Once you open a can, store olives fully immersed in their liquid in an enclosed container in the fridge for one to two weeks. If you do not plan on using the olives from the can right after you open it, you are better off moving its contents into a glass jar.
| Olives | Shelf life |
| Unopened jar | About 2 years |
| Open can | Up to 3 days |
| Sealed container | 6-8 months |
If olives are still in an unopened jar/can, you may want to perform this step before taking them home from the grocery store. You will want to put your opened olives into a resealable container to better preserve them once the metal jar is opened. If your olives are coming from an opened can, wrap the olives in plastic wrap or move them to a sealed plastic container.
Just know that if for whatever reason your can is not sealed airtight anymore, you can always move the olives into another sealed container (these are my favorites). No matter which type of olives you pick, you cannot keep your olives outside again after the jar is sealed the first time. Now, unless you are opening the olives from your brined jars for some reason, you will be able to store them for quite some time in the pantry.
Dry olives may only last for a couple days, but olives packed with a little bit of liquid may last for as long as 12 months. Olives generally do not need refrigeration (unless they are served dry). Olives left in brine or their liquids can remain outside for the night with no problems. In fact, olives kept in their liquids can remain outside of your fridge up to six months, provided that they are not exposed to extreme heat. Olives stored in their brine can stay up to eighteen months in the refrigerator, provided they are kept cold all the time.
If you’re wondering How To Preserve Basil, take a look at my other article after you finish this one.
Olives stored in a sealed container with the brine in it, provided room temperatures are kept below 75 degrees F, can last for up to six months at room temperature.
You can help olives keep fresh longer by keeping them in a pantry, unopened, with temperatures that are consistently below 75 degrees F. If olives that you take home are soaked in liquid brine, they will remain fresh from 12 to 18 months after you open them, provided that you keep them stored correctly. Once opened, the olives need to be stored refrigerated, and provided that they stay covered with liquid from jars or brine, they should stay fresh for up to three weeks.
All olives preserved in liquid will last for up to two years if not opened, and up to six months when opened, if properly stored. Dry-cured olives may keep about two years unopened, but they may last only about five days once the package is opened. If you choose to keep your unopened black olive cans out, you will be able to enjoy their freshness only for three to five days at most. As mentioned earlier, properly stored olives can last for six to 18 months, under the right conditions.
Olives kept in constant refrigeration generally remain of good quality for around 12 to 18 months. While there is some variation between manufacturers recommendations, typically, an olive jar or can that has been opened and then refrigerated should keep about three weeks. Olives purchased in cans or cans at a grocery store can be stored on a pantry shelf until they are ready to be used, and should be good for 18-24 months.
Olives purchased at the deli counter at a grocery store can also be left outside for several hours, but should be returned to the fridge after that. Olives purchased at a grocery store, packaged in brine or oil, should be stored on the pantry shelf, away from heat and light. Olives purchased in cans should be transferred to a food-storage container along with their brine and stored in the refrigerator.
Canned olives are generally stored in a dark area, but should be discarded immediately if you notice any signs of spoilage. If the olives are still in their sealed jar/can, you can leave them in the room temperature with no worries, but do remember to avoid direct sunlight or heat, so you are better off keeping them in a covered cupboard. Unlike many fresh vegetables, opened jars of olives stored in glass or vacuum-sealed containers can sit outside at room temperature for up to six months at a time, provided that they are kept out of the sun and kept in their brine.
To prolong your olives, and with some work, olives, whether packed in oil or brine, can be frozen for up to six months. To maximize shelf life for unpacked olives, refrigerate them in covered glass or plastic containers, and store the olives immersed in the liquid.
For brined or oil-based olives, ensure that olives are fully covered in liquid such as salt, oil, or water-based liquid. Be sure to store your olives covered in brine, as this will ensure the olives remain as fresh as possible as long as possible.
If none are present, then you can safely assume the olives packed in the brine should last for at least 3 weeks after opening. Since olives are one of those things that you only use sparingly, it is also useful to know how long your olives are going to stay fresh, so that you are confident that you are using the olives before you have to toss them. As you would imagine, a fluid packed one does not go bad and change flavors dramatically one day, week, or even one month after this date.
To keep this from happening, keep your olives in the fridge, where they will remain crunchy and firm. Liquid-free olive packets, such as the ones from a salad bar, will last for just three to five days if stored correctly; dried olives should never be left outside for more than four hours, and must be stored in the fridge at all times.
How do you know if black olives are bad?
Throw the olives away if they have an unpleasant scent or if the oil smells rancid. Second, have a look at it. If there is a coating of white mold on top of the brine-dipped olives, you can remove it and keep eating.
How long are olives good in the fridge after opening?
The typical shelf life of opened liquid-free olives is three days. When handled carefully, liquid-packed ones can last for at least a week or two but are frequently considerably longer. After opening, keep the olives in the fridge. Brine or any other liquid they come in should be submerged.
Do black olives go bad in the fridge?
It depends especially on how they are stored; to extend the shelf life of opened olives, keep them chilled and firmly covered. How long do open olives stay fresh in the fridge? Continuously chilled olives will often maintain their maximum quality for 12 to 18 months.