How long do pickles last?

FoodKeeper gives pickles 1 year unopened, as a guide to quality. Once opened, that's 1 to 3 months in the refrigerator.

How to store it

Unopened jars are fine in the pantry. Once opened, keep them in the refrigerator, with the pickles under the liquid.

USDA says temperatures below 85°F are best, and to avoid anywhere above or beside the stove, under the sink, or in a damp garage or basement. Once it's open, follow any storage instruction on the label.

What to look for

USDA says never to use a cracked jar, or one with a loose or bulging lid. Cloudy brine that wasn't cloudy when you bought it, or a bad smell, means it should go.

Don't use food from a cracked jar, or a jar with a loose or bulging lid. Don't taste it to check.

Worth knowing

The brine does a lot of the work. USDA's outage chart lists pickles among the foods you can keep if the power's been off.

Similar foods

From preppantry.app. Checked 2 November 2026. Independent tool, not official advice.

How it works

FoodKeeper is USDA's food storage database. Its figures are guides to quality for food stored at cool room temperature, not safety cut-offs, and we show them as USDA gives them. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase. Opened times start when you open the pack.

Where FoodKeeper gives no figure, we say so instead of guessing. The date printed on a package is the manufacturer's, and it's about quality except on infant formula.

Common questions

How long do pickles last unopened?

1 year, according to USDA FoodKeeper, as a guide to best quality. FoodKeeper counts this from the date of purchase.

How long do pickles keep once opened?

FoodKeeper gives no figure for an opened pack in the pantry. 1 to 3 months in the refrigerator.

Do pickles go bad after the date on the package?

USDA says dates are about quality, except on infant formula. A product should still be safe if handled properly until spoilage shows, so check for an off smell, taste or texture.

What should I look for before using pickles?