How Long Does Caviar Last? Storage, Shelf Life and Why Unpasteurised Is Different

The short answer: an unopened tin of our caviar keeps for about 8 weeks in the refrigerator at -2 °C to +4 °C, and trout roe for up to 6 months. Once opened, caviar should be enjoyed within 2 days. The longer answer explains why those numbers look different from what some supermarket jars promise - and it comes down to one word: pasteurisation.

Unpasteurised vs. pasteurised: two different products

Pasteurisation heats caviar to extend its shelf life to many months. That heat also changes the product: the pearls firm up, the delicate membrane toughens, and the subtle, fresh notes flatten out. Our caviar is deliberately unpasteurised - every tin contains nothing but roe and salt. You get the texture and flavour the sturgeon actually produced, in exchange for a shorter, honest shelf life.

How to store an unopened tin

Keep it in the coldest part of your refrigerator, ideally towards the back on the lowest shelf, at -2 °C to +4 °C. Caviar tolerates slight sub-zero temperatures because of its salt content - it will not freeze solid at -2 °C. What it does not tolerate is a freezer: freezing bursts the pearls and destroys the texture. Never freeze caviar.

After opening: 48 hours

Once the vacuum is broken, oxygen starts working on the delicate roe. Keep the tin covered, return it to the fridge immediately after serving, and finish it within 2 days. In practice this is rarely a problem - opened caviar has a way of disappearing quickly.

Serving temperature

Take the tin out of the refrigerator about 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Slightly below room temperature is where the aromas open up; straight from the fridge, much of the flavour stays locked away.

Why freshness is our system, not a promise

Shelf life only matters if the clock starts late. We harvest weekly and dispatch within days of harvest - never from frozen stock, never from a warehouse. Combined with temperature-controlled express delivery, the tin that reaches you has spent almost its entire life in the cold chain, not in storage. More on that in our FAQ.

Quick reference

• Unopened sturgeon caviar: approx. 8 weeks at -2 to +4 °C
• Unopened trout roe (Red Pearl): up to 6 months
• Opened: within 2 days, kept covered and chilled
• Never: the freezer