How long pickles, kimchi, olives, and sauerkraut last in the fridge
Quick answer
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Room temperature
Keeps for 1 year
Keep unopened pickles in the pantry for up to 1 year from the date you buy them.
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Fridge
Keeps for 1-3 months
After opening, keep pickles in the refrigerator and eat them within 1 to 3 months.
Unopened pickles keep 1 year in the pantry from the date you buy them, and opened pickles last 1 to 3 months in the refrigerator. Kimchi keeps 6 to 12 months in the refrigerator. Opened jarred olives keep 2 weeks, and opened canned sauerkraut 5 to 7 days.
Buying pickles this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
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Pickles keep 1 year in the pantry from the date you buy them, and 1 to 3 months in the refrigerator after opening. The same USDA FoodKeeper data gives times for kimchi, olives, pickled beets, and canned sauerkraut. Most keep for months, but opened jarred olives last 2 weeks and opened canned sauerkraut only 5 to 7 days.
Do pickles go bad?
Yes, pickles go bad, but unopened pickles keep 1 year in the pantry from the date you buy them. After opening, they keep 1 to 3 months in the refrigerator, according to the USDA FoodKeeper app. The table gives the FoodKeeper times for pickles and the other foods on this page.
| Food | Pantry, unopened | Fridge |
|---|---|---|
| Pickles | 1 year | 1 to 3 months after opening |
| Pickled beets | 1 year | 1 to 2 months after opening |
| Kimchi | Not listed | 6 to 12 months |
| Jarred black and green olives | 12 to 18 months | 2 weeks after opening |
| Olives from an olive bar | Not listed | 2 weeks |
| Canned sauerkraut | 12 to 18 months | 5 to 7 days after opening |
Do pickles need to be refrigerated?
Unopened pickles don’t need the fridge, since they keep 1 year in the pantry. Once opened, they belong in the refrigerator, where they keep 1 to 3 months.
How long are pickles good for after opening?
Opened pickles are good for 1 to 3 months in the fridge, counted from the day you open them. Opened pickled beets keep a little less, 1 to 2 months.
How long do pickled beets last?
Pickled beets keep 1 year in the pantry unopened and 1 to 2 months in the refrigerator after opening. FoodKeeper says to refrigerate them once they’re opened.
How long does kimchi last in the fridge?
Kimchi lasts 6 to 12 months in the refrigerator, according to USDA FoodKeeper. That time counts from the day you buy it.
Do olives go bad?
Yes, opened jarred olives keep only 2 weeks in the fridge. Unopened, they last 12 to 18 months in the pantry from the date you buy them. Both times apply to black and green olives.
Olives from an olive bar keep 2 weeks in the refrigerator from the date you buy them, the same 2 weeks an opened jar gets. FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend freezing them.
Does sauerkraut go bad?
Yes, opened canned sauerkraut lasts 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator. Unopened cans keep 12 to 18 months in the pantry from the date you buy them.
FoodKeeper has no line of its own for sauerkraut, so these times come from its line for canned high-acid foods. That group names sauerkraut along with juices, fruit, and tomato soup.
Don’t keep opened canned sauerkraut in the pantry, since FoodKeeper doesn’t recommend it. A can of sauerkraut stays safe well past the use-by or best by date as long as it shows no dents, rust, or swelling.
Frequently asked questions
Can kimchi go bad?
Yes. Kimchi keeps 6 to 12 months in the refrigerator, counted from the date you buy it.
Do unopened olives need to be refrigerated?
No, unopened black and green olives keep 12 to 18 months in the pantry from the date you buy them. Once opened, they keep 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze olives from an olive bar?
USDA FoodKeeper doesn't recommend freezing olives from an olive bar. Keep them in the refrigerator and eat them within 2 weeks of buying them.
Is canned sauerkraut safe after the best by date?
Yes, canned sauerkraut stays safe well past the use-by or best by date, as long as the can shows no dents, rust, or swelling.
How long does sauerkraut last in the refrigerator?
Opened canned sauerkraut lasts 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator. Unopened, it keeps 12 to 18 months in the pantry.
