Practice
How to store pesto
Fresh pesto is not pasteurised, so chilled storage decides both its flavour and its shelf life. A few simple rules keep a jar in good shape to the last spoonful.
Temperature
Fresh pesto belongs in the fridge at 2 to 6 °C, before opening as well. Utarté jars travel chilled and should stay that way on the shelf and in the kitchen.
After opening
Use an open jar within a few days and always reach in with a clean spoon. A thin layer of oil on top limits contact with air and helps hold the colour.
Freezing
Pesto freezes well. The easiest way is to portion it in an ice cube tray and move the cubes to a bag. Defrost in the fridge and stir before use, as the texture can loosen.
In a shop and in a kitchen
In retail and hospitality what matters is an unbroken chilled chain, from delivery to shelf.
- constant chilled storage, in transit and in the back room
- the shorter date goes to the front
- a separate spoon for each flavour in the kitchen
Questions and answers
Questions before you start
- How long does pesto keep once opened?
- Use fresh pesto within a few days of opening and keep it refrigerated throughout. The date for an unopened jar is on the batch label.
- Can pesto be frozen?
- Yes. Small portions work best, an ice cube tray for example. Defrost in the fridge and stir before use.
- Why does pesto darken?
- Herbs oxidise in contact with air, which is normal. A layer of oil on top and a tightly closed jar slow the colour change down.
- Can a jar be kept out of the fridge?
- Not when the pesto is fresh and free of preservatives. Outside chilled storage it loses flavour and spoils faster.
Fresh pesto delivered chilled
Deliveries run chilled, across Warsaw and the rest of Poland.
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