Shelf life of caviar: how long can it last?
The shelf life of caviar is something to worry about, especially if you’re getting some of the more expensive varieties per pound. It is the period of time in which the best quality can be maintained without diminishing texture or flavor. Some caviar can be stored frozen for up to a year, and others should never really be frozen, but should only be kept refrigerated. If you want to buy caviar but are a little concerned about the shelf life of caviar, here is a list of the most popular varieties of caviar with their corresponding shelf life periods …
This list assumes refrigerated storage at a temperature between 26 and 36 degrees F.
Beluga – 4-6 weeks
Ossetra – 4-6 weeks
Sevruga (American) – 1 week
Sevruga (Russian) – 4-6 weeks
Transmontanus – 3 weeks
Sturgeon – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
Paddlefish – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
American black – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
Bowfin – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
Ikura (salmon roe) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
Trout – 1-2 weeks, can be frozen up to 3 months
White fish (black or gold) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
Royal gold – 2-4 weeks, can be frozen
Tobiko (all types) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
Capelin roe (masago) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year
Vegetarian (made from seaweed) – unopened, can be refrigerated indefinitely
snail – 3-4 months in unopened cans, 2-3 months if opened
Considering these caviar shelf life times, you can now know how much caviar to order for how many people and for how long it will keep fresh. As expensive as some of these things may be, you definitely want to enjoy them to the fullest.
