A pantry without tomato sauce – you must be kidding!
Tomato sauce is something that can’t be absent from the pantry. If you are a sauce lover, you will probably need gallons of sauce to survive. It won’t help you to save some cost. Perhaps vacuum sealing can solve your problem.
What is it, you might ask? It is a method of preserving foods, even tomato sauce, by removing air. It ensures that your food lasts longer than its actual shelf life.
So, how long does vacuum-sealed tomato sauce last?
If you can vacuum-seal the bag of sauce by freezing and sealing it, it will last for 2 to 3 years in the fridge. No moisture or air inside means no bacterial or moldy growth. The dehydration helps keep the sauce retain its flavor and freshness for a long. Within this time, you can use a single container when needed.
But following storage rules is essential to make it work. Check out some more details about vacuum sealing, its effect on tomato sauce, its benefits, and how you can vacuum seal any food.
How Long does Vacuum-Sealed Tomato Sauce Last?
Can tomato sauce be vacuum sealed? It might look difficult, but you can easily vacuum seal sauce in a plastic bag or Ziploc. Since the vacuum preserves the item, tomato sauce can last for a really long time. It can be anywhere from 6 months to a full year.
Simply select your storage option and vacuum seal it to keep it inside the fridge. You will have a lot of tomato sauce for a year without needing a purchase.
The time span is around 2 to 3 years when it’s in the fridge. With no change, you will get the fresh taste of vacuum-sealed sauce for 3 years.
So, storing vacuum-sealed tomato sauce in a cool, dry place is a better way of preserving sauce than keeping it in a container or can.
Vacuum Seal Tomato Sauce
Instead of vacuum sealing, we usually keep homemade sauce inside the fridge for storage. But the proper way of storing it will make it last longer. Vacuum sealing is undoubtedly the best way. You can keep it inside the fridge to freeze it before vacuum-sealing it to preserve the taste.
What is the best method of vacuum sealing tomato sauce? Let’s see:
- The most common container is a FoodSaver bag. You can also use diced or crushed tomatoes for sealing.
- Freeze the tomato sauce inside the fridge, so the liquid turns solid. Use an ice cube tray or a similar item to make cubes of tomato sauce.
- Don’t keep it for too long to avoid freezer burn; only for around 3 hours.
- Keep the cubes inside the bag. Use a vacuum sealer to remove the air and seal the sauce.
- Use a small amount of sauce for a single bag.
- Store inside the fridge for 2 to 3 years and thaw the sauce before using it for any recipe.
- Use a single bag of sauce at a time to avoid contamination.
In case the sauce gets damaged, rusty, or a little bulging, it’s better to discard it.
Can You Vacuum Seal Store-Bought Tomato Sauce?
Usually, we don’t vacuum seal store-bought sauce since it already contains preservatives. Regular storage inside the fridge can also make it last longer. But there is no reason not to vacuum seal this sauce. The same vacuum sealing method initially by freezing and then sealing the solid sauce inside a food-grade bag is applied here.
Store-bought tomato sauce after vacuum sealing will last for even longer.
7 Benefits of Vacuum Sealing
There are good reasons for storing tomato sauce or any other food in this way. The primary reason would be to make your food last for a long time so that you don’t need to purchase continuously.
1. Saves Time
By vacuum sealing, you divide the sauce into portions for easy storage. Besides, a vacuum sealer is easy to use. Simply take a bag and seal it with the vacuum sealer.
2. Saves Your Money
Again, by storing a lot of homemade or store-bought tomato sauce like this, you can have a lot of sauce for the rest of the year. It will allow you to save money on tomato sauce, and you don’t have to buy can after can.
3. Easy Preservation
This is one of the best ways to keep your tomato sauce fresh. It will prevent bacterial growth or mold. As oxygen is removed, no microorganism can grow inside the bag.
4. Keeps Sauce Free from Freezer Burn
Even with the right storage method, you risk having freezer burns. But vacuum sealing will prevent this as no air is inside so that moisture won’t evaporate. It also prevents food dehydration.
5. Extends Shelf Life of Sauce
As compared to regular freezing, vacuum sealing will extend the life span of tomato sauce up to 5 times more. But the shelf life will depend on where you store your sauce, either in the fridge, pantry, or freezer. In this way, tomato sauce will last up to 3 years, whereas freezing will only make it for 2 weeks.
6. Effective Organization
By vacuum sealing tomato sauce in different bags, you are easily organizing tomato sauce. Storage in this way takes less space inside the fridge.
7. Tastes Fresh and Better
Tomato sauce are out of moisture, air, and bacterial growth. So even after 3 years, the taste will remain the same. Besides, vacuum sealing keeps tomato sauce fresh and safe by avoiding chemical reactions that could have happened with oxygen.
Best Containers for Tomato Sauce Storage
In case you don’t want to vacuum seal, you have other great options to preserve tomato sauce effectively. These are:
- FoodSaver Mason Jar
- Plastic Container
- Ziploc Bag
Life Time of Different Tomato Sauce
Whether you are making the sauce at home or purchasing from the store, you can keep the sauce for some time before the expiration date crosses. The time will depend on whether you keep it outside or inside the refrigerator.
| Different Types of Sauce | Life Span (Refrigeration) | Regular Storage |
| Jarred Tomato Sauce | One year | 12 hours |
| Canned Tomato Sauce | A week | 24 hours |
| Homemade Tomato Sauce | 3-5 days | 24 hours |
| Store-bought Tomato Sauce | A week | 5 days |
How Long does Tomato Sauce Last after Opening?
The container usually mentions that the sauce will last for a while after it’s opened. If the tomato sauce comes in an airtight container or can, then you keep it for around 2 years inside the fridge. Once opened, it can stay good for 18 months outside in a cool, dry area.
However, it will slowly lose its freshness and color at room temperature. Regardless of the container, keeping it in the fridge for storage as soon as possible is better. You can leave it outside for not more than 5 days. But keep the sauce jar in the dark and dry place.
Vacuum Sealing Different Types of Tomatoes
Before getting on with the tomato sauce, you need to make one at the home store. For this, you will need the best types of tomatoes. Nothing beats the taste and freshness of homemade tomato sauce.
The best part is tomatoes are easily vacuum-sealed. Find it out how to do it for different types of tomatoes.
| Types of Tomatoes | Process |
| Fresh Tomatoes | Cut in half, remove peels and seeds, and vacuum seal for 3 months. |
| Green Tomatoes | Blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds, keep in ice water, and then vacuum seal for 8 months. |
| Cherry Tomatoes | Remove stems and use only dry and firm ones for vacuum sealing. |
| Canned Tomatoes | are unsuitable for vacuum sealing; better to refrigerate by removing liquid. |
| Diced or Sliced Tomatoes | Vacuum seal after freezing them for some hours. |
How to Extend the Shelf-Life of Tomatoes?
First, you need to pick the tomatoes to make the sauce. Then you need to wash them properly to remove any spots or damaged areas. Remove the stems as well.
Now you can use a food-grade bag for vacuum sealing them. Then you can keep them in the refrigerator. By doing this, the tomatoes will last longer.
Will vacuum-sealing vegetables make them last longer? Definitely!
Similar to tomatoes, vegetables are also easy to vacuum seal. The process is the same. But ensure that the bag you use has no leaks. Besides, wash and dry them before sealing. Different veggies will have different shelf lives.
Has Your Tomato Sauce Turned Bad?
Sometimes, it may all go in vain. Even if the expiration date doesn’t pass, the tomato sauce may be spoiled. It can happen if the sauce is outside for more than seven days or two hours at 90 F. The problem is that it’s not easy to tell if the sauce is damaged from the inside.
Check for molds or moisture. It may also smell sluggish or unpleasant. Sometimes you may also notice a color change. The jar or container will also smell bad.
If you don’t understand and use it on your pizza, you will find a smell or bad flavor. It will look slimy. Moreover, eating a pizza made of rotten sauce may lead to food poisoning.
FAQ’s
- What Happens if We Eat Expired Tomato Sauce?
If the date is passed, you can still eat tomato sauce. The sauce is good if there is no bacterial growth, bad smell, or mold. But if the sauce goes bad then you should leave it. Otherwise, you have the risk of stomach problems, discomfort, nausea, or diarrhea. In severe cases, you can suffer from botulism.
- Can You Vacuum Seal Spaghetti Sauce?
Vacuum sealing is possible for any liquid food, be it tomato sauce or spaghetti sauce. Freeze the sauce to a solid form to make it dry. Then use a plastic bag to store and vacuum seal by removing air. Similar to tomato sauce, it’s good for 3 years.
- What are the best tomatoes to choose for vacuum sealing?
Freshly picked tomatoes from the vines are always the best. They are not too soft or firm. It makes them easier to cut in half and solidify for vacuum sealing. They will be easier to peel for later use. These kinds of tomatoes are also perfect for making pizza sauce.
Conclusion
If you are still calculating ‘how long does vacuum-sealed tomato sauce last,’ well, you can keep it for long if vacuum-sealed correctly.
Tomato sauce or tomatoes last longer than the regular storage option, for at least three years. Vacuum sealing is also quite simple and convenient for both preservation and storage.
Once you vacuum seal, you will have enough tomato sauce for your pizza or any other food throughout the year. It saves costs and allows you to reserve sauce whenever needed.
