How Long Will Smoked Salmon Keep In The Fridge

Here's all near the shelf life, storage, and going bad of smoked salmon. Learn how long it lasts, what's the best way to shop it, and how to tell if it's spoiled.

So smoked salmon was on sale, and you decided to stock upward. You lot bought a few more packages than you tin apply in the side by side week or two, and you started wondering: how long does smoked salmon terminal?

Or maybe you've bought smoked salmon for the first fourth dimension, and y'all want to know how long you tin shop the leftovers or if you can freeze the fish.

Sounds familiar?

If so, this article is for yous. Read on.

Shelf life
Spoilage
Storage
Freezing

How Long Does Smoked Salmon Final?

Like other fish, smoked salmon comes with a date on the label. Commonly, it'southward a sell-past or use-by date, and it's nigh two to 3 weeks from the moment the package was sealed.

That engagement is a pretty good approximate of how long the salmon will retain freshness. Of course, it should however be fresh for at least a day or two longer, just don't look miracles.

Once you open the package, the smoked salmon stays fresh for near 5 days. If you handle the storage well, y'all might exist able to get away with a calendar week, but that's about it.

Tip

If yous need to store smoked salmon for longer, freeze it. The process is straightforward and takes footling time, and so it has no downsides.

	Refrigerator
Smoked salmon (unopened)	Sell-by + 3 days
Smoked salmon (opened)	5 – 7 days

Delight note the periods to a higher place are only estimates.

Smoked salmon date on label — Smoked salmon date on characterization

How to Tell If Smoked Salmon Is Bad?

First of all, watch the dates. If an unopened package is more than a week by the appointment on the label, discard it. Same thing if an open package sits in the fridge for over a week.

If the date is reasonable, apply your senses to determine the quality. If the fish develops a slimy moving picture, the color becomes dull, or the smell sour, those are sure signs you should get rid of it.

Given that everything appearance-wise and smell-wise is okay give the salmon a taste. If it tastes okay, experience gratis to consume it. Otherwise, it's past its prime, and y'all should discard it.

In short, if anything with the salmon seems fishy (see what I did there?), err on the side of circumspection and throw it away.

Bread with smoked salmon salad — Staff of life with smoked salmon salad

How to Store Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon almost always sits in the refrigerated section of the store, and so information technology'south no surprise that it requires refrigeration.

In one case you get back dwelling after the trip to your local grocer make certain to transfer it to the fridge promptly. It won't spoil if it sits at room temperature for thirty minutes or even an hr, simply it's definitely non a salubrious thing to do.

Delight note that some producers sell smoked salmon unrefrigerated.

SeaBear is such a company. If the packet sits unrefrigerated and the label clearly says information technology tin exist stored at room temperature, feel free to keep it in the pantry or in a dark cabinet in the kitchen. Make certain information technology'due south away from sunlight and sources of heat, though. When in doubt, refrigerate the fish.

When it comes to smoked salmon leftovers, they belong to the fridge.

If the original package is resealable, seal it tightly and put information technology into the refrigerator. If not, put the container into a freezer bag for some additional protection. That will keep the fish aroma independent and protect the smoked salmon from fridge odors at the same fourth dimension.

Can Yous Freeze Smoked Salmon?

If yous've bought as well much of the fish on a sale, I've got good news: you lot tin can freeze smoked salmon.

Smoked salmon usually comes in vacuum-sealed packs, and these are great for freezing. There'southward no demand for repacking or anything. But take the container, chuck information technology into the freezer, and y'all're skillful to go.

If you have some leftover smoked salmon you lot'd like to freeze, you demand to wrap information technology properly. Putting the bundle into a freezer pocketbook should have care of that.

Tip

When freezing smoked salmon in a handbag, think to clasp as much air out as you can before sealing it.

Frozen smoked salmon should retain quality in the freezer for at to the lowest degree a few months.

When information technology comes to defrosting the frozen fish, the refrigerator is male monarch. Transfer the package to the fridge the night earlier you need it, and the fish should exist thawed in the morning time.

Smoked Salmon Shelf Life and Spoilage Summary

I promise you've found this article helpful. Allow's recap the about important pieces of data:

How long does smoked salmon last? Store-bought smoked salmon typically lasts for upwardly to a couple of days past the printed date. Once you open the parcel, y'all get about 5 days of storage fourth dimension, possibly upwards to a week if you're lucky. Of course, if the fish is by the printed date already, don't expect it retain quality for more than 1 to 2 days.
Does smoked salmon go bad? Yes, unopened smoked salmon goes bad. Unremarkably, it starts to smell off and become slimy later 2 to 3 days past its date, and that's when y'all throw it out. If you lot need more than time, consider freezing it.