Does Pesto Go Bad?

It is an Italian sauce made mostly of basil, crushed pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan or sheep cheese, and olive oil. Pesto is derived from the old name for the place of origin of this sauce, which means mash since it is produced in this manner.

Assume you want to use pesto sauce to spice up the foods you cook in your home. In such case, you need also know how to keep it and how long it will stay in excellent shape, as well as why it is a tasty product but not everlasting. Continue reading to find out all you need to know about it.

How to store Pesto

Contrary to popular belief, the pesto sauce is not restricted to the pasta. Because its taste blends nicely with a variety of foods, it may also be used as a dressing or in the company of other meals such as pizzas and salads.

The only way to enjoy the delicious taste of pesto sauce is to keep it in excellent condition, which requires knowing how to store it correctly. To achieve this goal, you must be cautious with your conservation measures.

Before getting into the issue, it should be mentioned that this sauce comes in two varieties, each with its own preservation technique. These are the refrigerated and non-refrigerated varieties. You must pay close attention to these nuances in order to keep your pesto sauce as fresh as possible. Everything you need to do to save each version is outlined below:

Room temperature

If you acquire your pesto sauce at room temperature, it’s best to maintain it that way when you arrive home.

We suggest storing your pesto sauce in a location that satisfies specific criteria, such as being dark, cold, and dry. In general, the pantry generally satisfies all of these criteria, therefore this is your greatest choice for storing it.

Once the Where Does Pesto Sauce Comes Container has been opened, it will lose its capacity to remain at room temperature and will need to be refrigerated. Keep it securely wrapped in its container to avoid drying out from the cold or being contaminated in any manner.

Chilled

There isn’t much to say about the pesto sauce that you purchase refrigerated, and you must put it in your refrigerator as soon as you get it home so that it may be kept.

If the container it arrives in does not enable you to keep it sealed, pour it into an airtight container to keep it secure from any contaminating agents.

Can You Freeze Pesto Pesto?

Something that happens to all of us is that we buy more food than we can consume or that we buy something to use in recipes that we rarely cook; this may be the case with pesto sauce, but don’t worry, there is a solution: you can freeze it for long-term consumption.

Before freezing the pesto sauce, keep in mind that the texture will change depending on the ingredients of the recipe to which your sauce was added when it thaws, so the best thing you can do is freeze a small portion first to see if the result is acceptable to you before deciding if you want to freeze everything.

The freezing of pesto sauce is an easy operation. Simply store it in an airtight container and it will be ready for sub-zero conditions. However, since it is a sauce, we suggest using tiny containers or even a tray to produce ice cubes so you can choose how much to use when you need it.

How Long Does Pesto Last

First and foremost, keep in mind that it is a product made with very sensitive components such as fresh basil and cheese. As a result, the pesto sauce has a short shelf life and should be used as soon as possible.

As previously said, the version you discover in the market has a considerable impact on the Pesto sauce longevity since one has features that the other does not.

Pesto sauce containers in both circumstances feature labels that reflect the quality deadline. Because pesto sauce sold at room temperature contains preservatives, this variety may survive between a month and two months beyond the expiration date on the package. Pesto sauce sold in the refrigerator has a shelf life of just one week after this date.

The above-mentioned times relate to the case when your container stays closed. When you open the jar, both refrigerated and room temperature pesto sauce have a one-week shelf life. If you freeze the pesto sauce, it will stay fresh for a month; after that, it will lose taste quality but will still be safe to eat.

How to Tell If Pesto Is Bad

Because pesto sauce has a limited shelf life, it will degrade quickly after you open the container it comes in, so you should always search for signals that there is a problem before ingesting it to prevent being inebriated by eating damaged food.

When inspecting your pesto sauce for spoilage, look for any organic development such as mold, a change from its usual green to a brownish hue, and the presence of a bad stench.

If your pesto sauce contains any of the traits listed above, you should reject it. You may safely use it in your dishes if you don’t discover anything and everything seems to be alright.

Sources:

Does it go bad

Eat by date

Kitchn