Exact Answer: 1 – 2 years
Whether it is taken as a hobby or a daily necessary activity, the basic knowledge of cooking is extremely essential in life. Cooking is a unique life skill that is different for everyone. Some take it as a necessary activity and continue with what they know while others like to experiment.
For those who love to experiment in the kitchen, it is a new adventure every day with new ingredients and their combinations. Most people cannot get freshly picked ingredients, especially in the case of fruits and vegetables. Hence, they used canned products which have an expiry date that must be paid attention to.
How Long do Olives Last?
Olives are one of the most unique fruits available in the food industry. Their universality and versatility make them extremely likeable. Olives can be used in a variety of dishes but most of these recipes can only use a handful of them.
Hence when they are stored in the kitchen for long periods, it is only natural to wonder if they ever go bad. People are confused about how long can they keep olives in their kitchen.
Olives are mostly available in packets, jars, or cans at the supermarket or grocery stores. In the case of these products, they can be used many times and even the leftovers can be stored for a while.
Two major places to store these olives is the shelf or pantry and the refrigerator and the criteria for them is as follows:
Unopened:
An unopened can or jar of olives tends to last much longer. It can be stored in the kitchen shelf or pantry ad can last up to 1 to 2 years.
Opened:
Once a jar or can of olives is opened it must not be stored in the pantry anymore, instead, the can or jar should be resealed and transferred to the refrigerator now. It has a much better chance of lasting there and it can last a while in the refrigerator and be used again and again. Once opened, a can or jar of olives can be stored in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 months.
| Condition | Time |
| Unopened | 1 to 2 years |
| Opened | 3 to 4 months |
Why do Olives Last So Long?
Olives are one of the important ingredients in many dishes. But they are always required to be used in very fewer quantities, just a handful. Hence it becomes a question of real concern for many people that how long do olives last.
An important factor to be taken into account when storing olives is that they must be stored away from heat and light because these can affect the olives negatively and make them perish faster. Olives last long because they are packed in jars and cans and stored in a neutral environment, in a solution that preserves them for a very long time.
Until the jar or can is sealed the olives are safe to be stored in a cool and dry place for a long time, like the shelf or the pantry. They will last for a very long time like 1 to 2 years since their environment is unchanged and they have not been subjected to any strong environmental factors prevalent.
Once these olive jars or cans are opened however they will start to perish faster. They must be stored in the refrigerator and can last for 3 to 4 months, and they must be used within this given period. While storing in the fridge it is important to seal the cans or jars tightly, so that they can be stored in a usable condition for a long time.
Often these olives are available submerged in the brine. In such a case it is important to not discard the brine because it helps to preserve the olives by preventing the growth of microbes.
Conclusion
Olives are one of the most delicious and useful fruits available. They can be used in many continental and authentic dishes and various combinations and flavours. It is essential to know how long olives can last, however. Unopened cans or jars of olives have a very long shelf life, that is they can be stored for one to two years before they start to go bad. Once opened however they must be stored in the refrigerator and must be used within 3 to 4 months before they start to perish and become unusable. The jar or can be sealed tightly and the brine should not be discarded.