How long does caviar last? Unopened, opened and in the fridge
An unopened tin of fresh, unpasteurized caviar keeps about one month when it is held at 28–32°F, the coldest part of the fridge. Once you open it, eat it within 48 hours. Pasteurized caviar in a jar lasts longer unopened; follow the date on its label.
Caviar is a fresh food. It is cured with salt and nothing else, so cold is what keeps it at its best. These are the rules we use for our own Imperial Ossetra, and they apply to any fresh malossol sturgeon caviar.
How long caviar lasts, at a glance
| Caviar | Where | How long |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh, unopened tin | Fridge, 28–32°F | About one month; go by the date on the tin |
| Fresh, opened tin | Fridge, covered | Within 48 hours |
| Fresh, served | On the table, on ice | About an hour, then back in the fridge |
| Pasteurized, unopened jar | Fridge or as labeled | Follow the label; usually much longer |
| Any caviar | Freezer | Not recommended |
Why 28–32°F
Most home fridges run at about 35 to 40°F, warmer than caviar likes. Fresh caviar keeps best just below freezing, at 28 to 32°F. The salt in the cure stops it from freezing at that temperature.
To get close at home:
- Use the coldest spot. That's usually the back of the bottom shelf or the meat drawer. Never the door, which warms up every time it opens.
- Keep it on ice. For anything longer than a day or two, set the closed tin in a bowl of ice in the fridge and replace the ice as it melts.
- Don't let it sit out. Caviar should go straight from the delivery bag to the fridge. Our packaging holds 28–32°F for about 12 hours, but don't treat that as storage.
After you open the tin
Opening the tin lets in air, and the clock starts. Eat it within 48 hours.
- Take out only what you'll serve, with a clean non-metal spoon.
- Smooth the surface and press a piece of plastic wrap directly onto the caviar.
- Put the lid back on and return the tin to the coldest part of the fridge.
If you are serving a group over a long evening or a weekend, buy two smaller tins and open the second only when you need it. See how much caviar per person for sizes.
Can you freeze caviar?
We don't recommend it. Freezing fresh caviar damages the pearls: they soften, weep liquid and lose their pop when they thaw. It won't make you ill, but it won't taste like caviar anymore. Buy the size you'll eat instead.
How to tell if caviar has gone bad
Good caviar smells clean and briny, like the sea, and the pearls are glossy, separate and firm. Throw it out if you notice:
- A sour, strongly fishy or ammonia-like smell
- Pearls that are mushy, burst or stuck together in a paste
- Milky or cloudy liquid pooling in the tin
- A bulging or swollen lid on an unopened tin
- Mold, or any sign it was left warm
When in doubt, don't eat it.
Common questions
How long does caviar last in the fridge?
Unopened and kept at 28–32°F, about one month. Opened, 48 hours. A standard fridge set warmer than that shortens both, so use the coldest shelf and keep the tin on ice.
Can I eat caviar after the date on the tin?
We wouldn't. The date assumes the tin was kept cold the whole time. If it's past the date, or you're unsure how it was stored, don't eat it.
How long can caviar stay out of the fridge?
Serve it on crushed ice and aim to finish it, or put it back, within about an hour. Don't leave fresh caviar at room temperature.
Does caviar need to be refrigerated?
Yes. Fresh caviar must always be kept cold. Some pasteurized caviar is sold shelf-stable until opened; check its label, and refrigerate it once open.
Does the type of caviar change how long it lasts?
The species matters less than how it was cured and kept. Fresh malossol (lightly salted) caviar from any sturgeon follows the rules above. Pasteurized caviar and heavily salted roe last longer, but they taste different.
More on serving it: how to serve caviar. Opus Caviar delivers fresh Imperial Ossetra the same day, by courier on ice, across the South Bay, so it goes into your fridge cold. Choose your tin or see where we deliver.