How Long Does Tahini Last? Answered With Expert Storage Tips

Even people who are not really into tahini have to admit that certain dishes can’t be delicious without this sauce.

The nutty, creamy, rich sludge can boost the taste of baked items, soups, and stews. Apart from that, it can serve as a delicious dressing or snack.

The beauty is that you can store the sauce for quite a long time, and it’s still in good use. But, how long does tahini last, to be exact? Does it go bad?

We’ll refer to all the essential info you need about tahini’s lifespan and its storage. Keep scrolling!

What Is Tahini?

Tahini is a staple in many cuisines, like the Middle East and the Mediterranean – a paste made of ground and toasted sesame seeds.

What do sesame seeds taste like? Sesame seeds feature a slightly sweet, nutty, and mild flavor with a pleasing crunch as enjoyed the whole.

When making the sauce, people soak the seeds in clean, salty water, so the bran and kernel are separated and settled.

After that, they collect, toast, and ground the seeds using olive oil to increase the flavor and transform them into a thick oily sauce.

The final sludge-like result with a nutty, creamy texture will lift the overall taste of your recipes, whether they’re soups, salads, stews, or dips.

How Long Does Tahini Last?

Store-bought sesame paste can last for 1-2 years from the manufacturing date and stay good for several months past this date.

After opening, expect to use it within 5-6 months or until it approaches the printed expiry date.

For the homemade sauce, it’s generally safe to use in four weeks refrigerated.

That is the gist! Now, time to delve into detail!

After Opening

Once you open the jar, fresh air will leak into the content inside, accelerating the quality deterioration process, yet not much.

So, how long does open tahini last? Some brands suggest using the products in one year since opening, while some recommend simply following the printed expiry date.

Generally, the store-bought sauce is pretty stable since it consists of all antioxidants in sesame bran. Those antioxidants help the paste stay safe and retain quality for months.

This duration may vary, depending on the brand. Yet, most products will be good to use even when they pass the printed expiry date for a few months.

“Expired” Tahini

Products from different brands have different lifespans. Some last for 18 months or one year, whereas others last for a more prolonged time of 2,5-3 years.

Many of you don’t know that the printed date suggests the best time to stop using the product, not the time when the content is no longer safe to use. It’s not about safety but food quality.

Brands only inform you how long their products retain the highest quality.

It doesn’t mean the sauce will spoil or go bad past the date – the same goes for peanut butter and olive oil – a substitute for butter extract.

Like open cans, it’s hard to answer the question, ‘how long does unopened tahini last past the expiration date?’ Usually, it can retain the quality for six months or even more.

Homemade Tahini

How about a homemade condiment? How long does homemade tahini sauce last? When it comes to homemade sludge, things slightly change.

Store-bought products are bacteria-free since they have to go through an extreme temperature during the manufacturing process to destroy any microbes.

That’s pasteurization, which home cooks can’t do at home. Thus, it’s advisable to store homemade condiments in the refrigerator.

How long does tahini last in fridge? Usually, homemade sludge can stay good for four weeks from making.

After that, it might be OK to use if you don’t accidentally expose it to any bacteria. But you can never know, right? So, look before you leap!

Does Tahini Go Bad?

Though the sauce will not go bad quickly, there will come the day when your condiment dries out or goes rancid. The less paste left in the jar, the longer it can last.

But if your sludge is pretty old (six-plus months past the expiration date, for example), the taste won’t be pleasant. While that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s gone rancid, you’d better discard it.

Even when the paste looks quite OK, the quality may no longer be good.

Unsafe sludge doesn’t need to be thoroughly dry, but it is just drier than you would usually like it to.

How To Tell If Tahini Has Gone Bad?

Now that you have the answer to ‘how long does tahini paste last?’ and whether it will go bad. Let’s discuss how some spoilage signs may appear!

Rancid Smell 

The annoyingly foul smell is the first red flag you’ll most likely notice when standing near any spoiled food. Tahini is not foreign to this since it’ll develop a rancid smell when spoiled.

It’s usually sour, bitter, or metallic, but sometimes, the aroma can be soapy or crayon-like.

Unpleasant Taste

Another evident sign of spoiled sesame sauce is the odd taste. Of course, don’t taste it once you notice the unusual smell.

Yet, if it looks and smells OK, but you still want to be sure about the quality, taste a tiny amount only.

It’ll taste overwhelmingly bitter if the sludge has gone bad, like expired cooking oil or petrol.

Hardening

Like tomato sauce or peanut butter, this condiment will harden and lose its freshness and smooth consistency once it has spoiled.

If your paste has been too long and exposed to other elements many times, you’ll notice this.

Mold

Fungi and mold on foods are always warning signs. Though the oil in this paste makes it hard for mold and fungi to grow there, it doesn’t completely prevent mold growth.

A tip is to inspect the jar’s lips and surrounding area exposed to moisture and air – the ideal environment for mold build-up.

Don’t just rub the fungus spores off and continue consuming the sludge. It’s better to discard that moldy bottle right away.

What Happens If I Consume Contaminated Tahini?

As discussed, the olive oil used to make the sauce can procrastinate the development of bacteria and mold and help your condiment last for a prolonged period.

However, once mold thrives, it’s better to stay on the cautious side and throw the jar away, though we’re unsure if the mold is harmful to our health or not.

Some bacteria and mold could lead to tummy aches or more severe symptoms like kidney failure or diarrhea.

Even when rancidity may not be really hazardous to our health, you don’t want to smell something foul or taste something rotten in a meal, alright? Go to a nearby grocery store and buy a new bottle.

How To Store Tahini Properly?

The only way to prolong your condiment’s shelf life is to store it properly. The good news is that there’s not much to do.

Use The Pantry

While many people store their sesame sauce in the fridge as a habit, and there’s no problem with this, we highly recommend placing it in a kitchen cabinet or pantry.

This sludge requires a dry, cool environment, away from humidity, heat, and direct sunlight.

Ensure to seal the jar tightly to avoid oxidation – a cause of rancidity.

Refrigerate

If you make your condiment at home, we advise you to refrigerate it right after finishing and consume it within a couple of weeks.

If your living place has warm weather or it’s summer now, refrigeration is an intelligent choice.

Just note to seal the jar tightly before putting it in the refrigerator to prevent mold and moisture from growing.

Use A Good Storage Container

It’s necessary to store sesame sauce in a tightly-sealed (airtight) container, so oxygen, moisture, and contaminants don’t have a chance to build up.

Even a tiny amount of moisture can harm the condiment, so check the jar lid after use.

Neighboring foods’ smells may also affect the paste, so remember to cover the container carefully to retain the sludge’s maximum freshness.

Can You Freeze Tahini?

Besides ‘how long does joyva sesame tahini last?’ another question you may have is whether it’s OK to freeze the sauce.

Freezing is a clever way to keep your food fresh almost definitely. If you often use only a modest amount in your recipes, we strongly recommend this storage method.

Hold the sludge on an ice cube tray or small freezer bag for quick and convenient storage.

It’s fine to use airtight containers, but they are usually bigger and take up plenty of freezer space.

Conclusion

How long does tahini last? Tahini has a decent lifespan and won’t spoil within at least 1-2 years unopened and 5-6 months open.

Should you be a hummus geek, tahini is a must-have in your kitchen. Learn how to thicken hummus and keep this guide in mind to always have a delicious favorite dish!