Food Purchased Frozen
How long does tempeh last?
Tempeh holds 6 months frozen, and once you’ve cooked it you’re down to 3–4 days in the fridge — cut the block into meal-size slabs before it goes in the freezer.
How long does it keep?
| Fridge | 3–4 days |
|---|---|
| Freezer, from purchase | 6 months |
- Fridge: Recommendation is for storage after cooking.
- Freezer, from purchase: Keep frozen. For safety, cook as directed.
Can it sit out?
Tempeh is 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 tempeh has gone bad
- A sharp ammonia smell through the wrapper
- Pink, yellow, or blue fuzz on the block
- Beans gone wet and mushy instead of knitted into a firm cake
When in doubt, throw it out.
The white bloom binding the beans together is the culture doing its job — it’s colored fuzz and an ammonia hit that mean trouble.
Quick answers
How long does tempeh last?
Tempeh holds 6 months frozen, and once you’ve cooked it you’re down to 3–4 days in the fridge — cut the block into meal-size slabs before it goes in the freezer.
Can you freeze tempeh?
USDA’s freezer window for tempeh is 6 months.
How long can tempeh sit out?
The FSIS 2-hour rule applies to tempeh. 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).