Tofu is a versatile ingredient made from soybeans that is commonly used in many cuisines around the world. With its mild flavor and spongy texture, tofu takes on the flavors of other ingredients and can be prepared in many different ways. However, like any perishable food, tofu does eventually spoil. So how long does an unopened package of tofu last? Here is a quick overview of tofu’s shelf life and how to tell if your unopened tofu has gone bad.
Does Unopened Tofu Go Bad?
Yes, unopened tofu can go bad. Tofu is a perishable food product that is made from soy milk. It requires refrigeration to maintain freshness and has a limited shelf life. An unopened package of tofu contains living organisms that will continue to grow and ferment the soy milk over time, even when refrigerated. Eventually, the tofu will spoil and become unsafe to eat.
How Long Does Unopened Tofu Last in the Fridge?
Properly stored, unopened tofu will generally stay fresh for 7-10 days past the printed sell-by or use-by date on the package when kept refrigerated at 40°F or below. The key is ensuring the tofu stays continuously refrigerated. Fluctuations in temperature can accelerate spoilage.
Here are some general guidelines for how long unopened tofu will last refrigerated:
- Firm or extra firm tofu: 7-10 days
- Soft or silken tofu: 5-7 days
- Low-fat or lite tofu: 7-10 days
- Fermented tofu: 2-3 weeks
Once opened, all types of tofu should be used within 3-5 days.
Does Unopened Tofu Go Bad in the Freezer?
Properly stored in a freezer at 0°F, unopened tofu has a significantly longer shelf life. Frozen tofu can retain its quality and flavor for up to 8 months past the printed date on the package. It’s important to check for any signs of freezer burn prior to use, as this can dry out the tofu and impact texture.
How to Tell if Unopened Tofu is Bad
Here are some signs that your unopened tofu has spoiled and should be discarded:
- Mold growth on the exterior of the package
- Sour, rancid or yeasty odor when package is opened
- Liquid is cloudy, bubbly or slimy
- Tofu has an off color or texture
- Presence of dark spots or discoloration in the tofu
Always inspect packaged tofu carefully before use and discard if you see any signs of spoilage. Do not taste tofu that you suspect may be spoiled.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Tofu?
Consuming spoiled tofu can potentially cause foodborne illness. Bad tofu often contains harmful bacteria like salmonella, listeria, E. coli, and Bacillus cereus. Eating spoiled tofu can cause symptoms like nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, and chills. The severity of food poisoning depends on your age and health, and the specific organisms involved. But in some cases, foodborne illness from bacteria in bad tofu can be life-threatening.
Some tips to avoid getting sick from bad tofu include:
- Check expiration or use-by dates and don’t eat tofu past its date
- Store unopened tofu on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator at 40°F or below
- Keep unopened tofu in its original packaging until you use it
- Check for signs of spoilage before using
- Follow cooking instructions carefully to destroy harmful bacteria
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly and use within 3-5 days
When in doubt, remember the old adage – if it smells funky, throw it out! Don’t risk getting sick from spoiled tofu.
How to Store Unopened Tofu Properly
To maximize the shelf life of your unopened tofu, it’s important to store it properly. Here are some tips for keeping tofu fresh longer:
- Check the date – Only purchase tofu that is before the expiration or use-by date on the package.
- Refrigerate promptly – Get your tofu into the fridge as soon as possible after purchasing.
- Keep cold – Store unopened tofu on a shelf or in a drawer towards the back of the refrigerator, where temps are coldest.
- Avoid temperature fluctuations – Opening the fridge frequently or keeping tofu in the door can shorten its shelf life.
- Use original packaging – Don’t repack tofu or remove it from its container until you are ready to use it.
- Check often – Inspect packages frequently and use oldest tofu first.
Can You Refreeze Thawed Tofu?
It’s not recommended to refreeze thawed tofu. When tofu is thawed and then refrozen, it can damage the texture and absorb moisture. This makes the tofu more prone to bacterial growth during subsequent storage. For food safety, it’s best to thaw tofu in the refrigerator and use within 1-2 days. Do not refreeze thawed tofu. Only refreeze tofu if it has been kept continuously frozen.
Does Unopened Tofu Need to Be Refrigerated?
Yes, unopened tofu always requires refrigeration to maintain quality and prevent bacterial growth. Tofu is a perishable food made from soy milk, so it must be kept cold, even in its original sealed package. Leaving unopened tofu at room temperature or failing to promptly refrigerate after purchase allows harmful bacteria to multiply rapidly.
To maintain safety and peak freshness, refrigerate unopened tofu right away and keep it stored in the fridge at 40°F or below until you are ready to use it. Do not leave tofu sitting out on the counter. Refrigeration is key for preserving unopened tofu’s shelf life.
Can Unopened Tofu Sit Out Overnight?
It is not recommended to leave unopened tofu sitting out overnight. Tofu requires continuous refrigeration at 40°F or below to inhibit bacterial growth. Exposing unopened tofu to room temperature for an extended period allows bacteria to multiply to unsafe levels, even if the package is still sealed. Just a couple hours on the counter can be enough for bacteria to grow to dangerous levels.
Always refrigerate unopened tofu promptly after purchasing. Do not leave it sitting on the counter or “sweating” in a hot car. Refrigerate within 1-2 hours or discard the tofu if it has sat out overnight. When in doubt, it’s better to be safe than risk foodborne illness from temperature-abused tofu.
Can Unopened Tofu Be Stored in the Pantry?
No, unopened tofu should never be stored in the pantry. Some people mistakenly believe that unopened packaged foods do not require refrigeration. However, tofu is a perishable dairy product that must be refrigerated, even when sealed in its original container.
Storing unopened tofu in the pantry allows bacteria like E. coli, salmonella, and listeria to grow to hazardous levels that can make you sick. For food safety, it’s important to get unopened tofu into the fridge as soon as possible after purchasing. Do not store in the pantry or any place without proper refrigeration.
Should You Rinse Tofu Before Use?
Washing unopened tofu prior to use is generally not recommended. The soy milk and water used to make tofu are pasteurized during processing, so rinsing should not be necessary for safety if the package remains properly sealed.
Rinsing could introduce bacteria from your sink and hands onto the tofu. It’s best not to rinse until you are ready to use the tofu. When opening tofu, drain any excess liquid before following your recipe instructions. There’s no need to wash unopened packages.
Is Moldy Tofu Safe to Eat if Cut Off?
No, tofu should be discarded if any mold is spotted, even if you think you can cut the mold away. Mold often penetrates deep into foods, beyond what’s visible on the surface. Its roots can leave behind toxic byproducts like mycotoxins that are unsafe to eat.
With perishables like tofu, it’s impossible to fully remove mold contamination. Don’t take risks with iffy tofu. Always err on the side of caution and throw away any tofu that has grown mold.
Can Unopened Tofu Be Frozen Past Expiration Date?
Freezing can extend the shelf life of tofu past the expiration or use-by date printed on the package, but only up to a certain point. Unopened, commercially packaged tofu that has been continuously frozen at 0°F can generally last safely in the freezer for about 8 months past its date.
However, don’t freeze very old tofu, or if it has been previously thawed. For best quality, freeze tofu by the use-by date. Monitor packages for signs of freezer burn and use frozen tofu within 8-12 months. If in doubt, remember it’s better to just toss very old, expired tofu.
Does Unopened Tofu Need to be Used by Expiration Date?
It’s generally recommended to use unopened tofu by the expiration or use-by date on the package for peak freshness and flavor. However, unopened tofu stored properly in the fridge may remain safe for consumption several days past that printed date.
How far past the date you can still safely consume it depends on factors like storage conditions and the type of tofu. Firm, pressed tofu may last 7-10 days past its date refrigerated, while more delicate tofu may only last 3-5 days. Watch for signs of spoilage and discard if tofu smells, looks or feels iffy.
Is Unopened Tofu Safe to Eat if Expired?
Eating expired tofu comes with increased safety risks. Unopened, refrigerated tofu may still be safe up to a week past its printed date, but it depends how it was stored. If it has been continually refrigerated at 40°F and there are no signs of spoilage, firm tofu is generally safe up to 7-10 days past its date.
However, safety cannot be guaranteed once tofu passes its date, and quality declines. Always inspect unopened packages carefully before consuming expired tofu. Check for off odors, slime, discoloration. When in doubt, remember “if in doubt, throw it out”. Don’t take risks with expired tofu.
What Happens If You Eat Expired Tofu?
Eating expired tofu that has begun to spoil can potentially cause food poisoning. Tofu can harbor dangerous bacteria when improperly stored and allowed to sit too long past its date. Consuming spoiled, aged tofu introduces these harmful bugs into your body.
Symptoms of foodborne illness may include nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhea, headache, fever, and chills. Severity depends on factors like your health, the specific bacteria, and amount consumed. In vulnerable groups, eating expired tofu could have life-threatening consequences. Play it safe – don’t eat tofu past its prime.
Foodborne Illnesses Associated With Spoiled Tofu
Here are some common foodborne pathogens that can contaminate spoiled, past date tofu:
- Salmonella – Causes salmonellosis
- E. coli – Causes diarrheal illness
- Listeria monocytogenes – Causes listeriosis
- Staphylococcus aureus – Causes severe gastrointestinal illness
- Clostridium botulinum – Causes potentially fatal botulism
Should You Smell Tofu Before Cooking?
Yes, it’s important to check the smell of tofu before cooking or eating it. A sour, rancid or off odor is a tell-tale sign of spoilage and that potentially dangerous bacteria may be present. Do not cook, eat or even taste tofu with an unpleasant scent.
Your nose is an important first defense against consuming bad tofu. Give the package a big sniff when you open it. Good fresh tofu has a mild, neutral aroma. Discard immediately if you detect foul odors, slime, or anything suspicious. Don’t risk getting sick from smelly tofu.
Is Pink Discoloration Inside Tofu Dangerous?
Seeing pink or red discolored spots inside the tofu is not necessarily dangerous. This harmless natural pigmentation sometimes occurs in tofu from soybeans with a red or pink seed coat.
However, any unnatural colors like black, blue, green or yellow indicate spoilage and potentially hazardous bacterial growth. Do not eat tofu with strange discoloration inside. While pink is likely safe, when in doubt, throw it out to avoid any risks.
Can Unopened Tofu Make You Sick?
Yes, consuming spoiled, contaminated tofu can make you sick, even if the package is still sealed. Tofu is not a sterile product and contains live cultures and enzymes that continue fermenting inside the package over time. Pathogenic bacteria that are present can grow to dangerous levels if temperature abused.
Always inspect unopened packages carefully before use. Signs like bulging container, mucus-like liquid, odors, and slime indicate bacteria may have multiplied enough to cause foodborne illness. While rare, it is possible to get sick from tofu even if the package was never opened.
Conclusion
Unopened, properly stored tofu has a refrigerator shelf life around 7-10 days past the sell-by or use-by date. Soft or silken tofu may only last 5-7 days. For optimal freshness and food safety, use unopened refrigerated tofu within a week of the printed date. Discard immediately if you see any mold, slime, or suspicious odors.
Freezing extends the shelf life of unopened tofu up to 8 months past its date if kept continuously frozen. Thawing and refreezing is not recommended. Always keep unopened tofu refrigerated and handle it properly to inhibit bacterial growth.
Consuming spoiled, aged tofu can potentially cause severe foodborne illness. If tofu looks, smells or seems at all iffy, remember the golden rule – when in doubt, throw it out! Don’t take risks with questionable tofu.
