Tofu keeps for about Until the printed date in the fridge, and 3 months in the freezer. The table below splits those times by opened and unopened โ and a date still in range never overrides what your nose tells you.
Once opened, keep tofu submerged in water and change that water daily โ two to three days is realistic. Skip the water change and it turns slimy within a day. Frozen tofu comes out spongy and full of holes, which is a texture many people deliberately want for stews.
Storage times
| Unopened | Opened | |
|---|---|---|
| Room temperature | Not recommended | Within 2 hours |
| Fridge | Until the printed date | 2-3 days in fresh water |
| Freezer | 3 months | 3 months |
Throw it out if you see this
- A slippery surface
- A sour smell
- Cloudy, viscous water in the container
Storage tips
- Store submerged in water in a sealed container
- Change the water every day
- Squeeze thawed frozen tofu dry before using
Sell-by and use-by are not the same date
A sell-by date tells the shop how long it may display the product; a use-by date tells you how long it stays safe to eat. They are not interchangeable, and a use-by date is usually later than the sell-by date printed on the same product.
Every printed date assumes the package is unopened and stored at the labelled temperature. Once opened, follow the "opened" column below instead of the printed date โ and if the smell, colour or texture is off, throw it out regardless of what the date says.