Condiments, Sauces & Canned Goods
How long do opened olives last in the fridge?
Opened olives keep 2 weeks in the fridge, where a sealed jar or can holds 12–18 months in the pantry — keep them pushed under their brine or they shrivel first.
How long does it keep?
| Pantry, from purchase | 12–18 months |
|---|---|
| Fridge, opened | 2 weeks |
Can it sit out?
Unopened, olives is shelf-stable. Once opened, treat it as perishable — the FSIS 2-hour rule applies.
Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).
How to tell if olives has gone bad
- Olives standing above the brine line, dried and wrinkled
- Brine gone cloudy and ropy
- A sour smell rather than a clean salty one
- Olives that collapse to mush between your fingers
When in doubt, throw it out.
Tip canned olives into a jar with their liquid — left in the open can they pick up a tinny edge within a day.
Quick answers
How long do opened olives last in the fridge?
Opened olives keep 2 weeks in the fridge, where a sealed jar or can holds 12–18 months in the pantry — keep them pushed under their brine or they shrivel first.
How long can olives sit out?
Sitting out isn’t the safety question for unopened olives — once opened, the FSIS 2-hour rule applies. Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).