Pesto has become increasingly popular over the last few years. Why?
Well, it is mostly due to the healthy eating frenzy that took over the world. Of course, a lot has to do with how good it tastes too.
One thing is sure, a good pesto is a thing of beauty! If it is fresh, it tastes heavenly cheesy and nutty, like no other sauce.
There are some excellent pesto sauces to be bought, but you can easily prepare it on your own too. It is a no-cook Italian sauce that you can make by blending fresh basil with pine nuts, garlic, olive oil, and parmesan cheese.
We know that you are probably super-busy, who isn’t these days?
Hence, our suggestion is to make enough sauce to last you for at least a couple of days. If you are wondering how long does pesto lasts, the following post will provide all the answers you need!
If you read it carefully, you’ll enjoy homemade or store-bought pesto for as long as you like without endangering your health.
Check out our article on does parmesan cheese go bad.
Why Eat Pesto?
Pesto has it all! You can combine it with just about everything or simply grab a spoon and eat it on its own.
We like it over pasta or slathered on crispy bread, and it makes a supreme dip too. It is especially appetizing in the summertime.
If you have never tried it, it is high time you do! You do not want to be late for this game. It is truly a life-changing food!
You can work it into almost every meal you normally cook.
Besides being incredibly delicious, pesto has numerous health benefits. If you look at the calorie intake only, you will never eat pesto again. However, you would be terribly wrong!
The calories in pesto come from unsaturated fats. What does it mean?
Well, unsaturated fats are the so-called healthy fats. They support your heart’s health and provide your body with the energy it needs to get through a busy day.
For this reason, pesto is an excellent substitute for bad fatty food such as mayo, various pasta sauces, and salad dressings.
If you look at the nutrition label more closely, you will notice that pesto is high in valuable vitamins and minerals too. Most of all, it is rich in Vitamin A and Vitamin C, as well as calcium and iron.
Our Tips For Ultimate Pesto Experience
1. Make A Pesto Sandwich
Make a turkey sandwich with feta cheese and fresh tomatoes, but instead of the mayo or mustard throw in some pesto. It will give it a new twist and make it your go-to sandwich.
2. Mix Some Pesto Into Your Dips
Hummus and pesto make a great combo, try it out and see for yourself. You can also add a spoonful of pesto into nonfat Greek yogurt and make yourself a refreshing vegetable dip.
3. Make Pesto Salad Dressing
The ranch dressing is certainly overused, and it is high time you try something new. Luckily for you, pesto is an easy solution to this problem as it makes a delicious salad dressing.
Read our article to find out does salad dressing go bad.
4. Throw Some Pesto Over Your Pasta
Pasta is everybody’s favorite dish, but it can become boring if you do not constantly find new ways to switch it up. A little bit of pesto on top of your pasta makes a significant difference, especially if you add some fresh tomatoes too.
5. Put Pesto Onto Your Pizza
If you put garlic sauce on your favorite pizza, you can try to switch it up with pesto. It will give it a new flavor.
Now that you know why pesto is good for you and how easy it is to use it with all your favorite dishes, it is time to find out how long does pesto lasts so that you can use it safely too.
How Long Does Pesto Last In Your Refrigerator?
Pesto oxidizes as soon as you expose it to air. How can you tell? It turns brown on the surface, or, if you wait too long, throughout.
It is an unsightly picture, so try to avoid it by all means. How can you do that?
It is simple, never leave your pesto uncovered out in the open. Use a film of plastic wrap to cover the top of the sauce.
The next step is the most important one (and quite logical). You should refrigerate your pesto as soon as you are done using it. It needs to stay refrigerated until you’re ready to use it again too.
So, the main question is, how long does pesto last in the fridge?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is not simple. It depends on a variety of factors. First of all, you need to answer the following questions:
- Is your pesto homemade or bought?
- Is it fresh, canned, or bottled?
- How was it prepared?
- Does it have the best before date?
Once refrigerated, pesto can roughly last from one to three weeks. For more precise information, check out the following table:
Homemade pesto | Purchased Refrigerated Pesto | Purchased Canned Pesto | Pesto made from dry mix | Unopened canned or dry pesto |
---|---|---|---|---|
5-7 days | 7-14 days | 7-14 days | 7-14 days | 4-6 weeks or to the best before date |
How Long Does Pesto Last In Your Freezer?
If you want to be able to use your favorite pesto for a long, long time, you will be pleased to know that it freezes beautifully.
Many people believe that they can keep their food in the freezer for an unlimited time. They are very wrong! While we agree that it will hardly go bad, frozen food will not remain good to eat forever either.
It will lose its nutritional value and flavor and even change its consistency. Pesto is no different.
Therefore, if you want to truly enjoy your thawed pesto make sure you check out our next table and see how long does pesto last in a freezer:
Homemade pesto | Purchased Refrigerated Pesto | Purchased Canned Pesto | Pesto made from dry mix | Unopened canned or dry pesto |
---|---|---|---|---|
3-4 months | 3-4 months | 3-6 months | 3-4 months | 6-8 months |
As you can see, it would be best to freeze your pesto if you do not plan to eat it in the following two weeks. That is the only storage method that guarantees your safety and prevents food-borne illnesses.
See Also: How Long Does Spaghetti Last In The Fridge?
How To Tell If Pesto Is Spoiled?
Due to improper storage or some kind of contamination, fresh or packaged pesto can turn bad sooner than it would normally do. It is crucial to be able to recognize a spoiled pesto before you eat it, or you can get seriously ill.
As we have already mentioned, pesto turns brown when exposed to air. If the basil leaves have turned brown too, the pesto will not taste the same and is most probably not good to eat. The flavor will be much different also, but we do not recommend trying it out.
Dry packaged pesto will also turn into a brown color when it is past its best by date, or spoiled and rotten. Therefore you should consume it only while it is enticing green.
To avoid all health risks associated with spoiled food, always practice food safety and check expiration or best-by dates on the package!