Does Tahini Go Bad? Everything You Need to Know

Whether store-bought or homemade tahini (or tahina as it is also known) is used commonly and well-loved in various regions around the world such as the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East, and some parts of Western Asia. Of course, the popularity of tahini has slowly spread from these regions to places such as the UK and America. However, if you’re not too familiar with tahini, then you may be wondering, does tahini go bad?

Table of Contents

• What Is Tahini?
• Does Tahini Turn Bad?
• How Long Does Tahini Last?
• How Should You Store Tahini?
  • Storing Tahini In The Pantry
  • Storing Tahini In The Fridge
  • Using The Right Storage Container
• How Do You Know If Tahini Has Gone Bad?
  • The Dangers Of Consuming Off Tahini
• Answered: Does Tahini Go Bad?
• FAQ – Does Tahini Go Bad?

What Is Tahini?

Tahini is a condiment made from toasted and ground sesame seeds, that is visually quite similar to something like peanut butter. However, the color and consistency of tahini is really the only commonality that it does have with peanut butter or indeed most other nut spreads.

Tahini isn’t sweet at all. Instead, whilst it is nutty, it is also very earthy and often quite bitter. That said, if it is overwhelmingly bitter then this is likely a sign the tahini is not very fresh.

Often, tahini will be used as a condiment. However, just as frequently it will also be used as an ingredient in other dishes such as hummus, baba ghanoush, or even halva.

Does Tahini Turn Bad?

Like most types of foodstuff, tahini will in fact go bad eventually. However, surprisingly, tahini has an incredibly long shelf life, although when not stored properly it will likely not last as long as it should do.

That said though, whether store-bought or homemade, tahini paste can have a long shelf life, although the former is likely to last a lot longer than the latter due to containing additional preservatives.

The reason that tahini has such as strong shelf life though is thanks to the presence of oil as it is one of the main ingredients aside from sesame seeds. The sesame oil acts as a natural preservative and as a result, prevents the other ingredients from spoiling as quickly as they would have otherwise.

How Long Does Tahini Last?

There are many variables at play that will determine how long a jar of tahini will remain edible, along with remaining pleasant to eat.

As mentioned above, a homemade jar of tahini lacks the same level of preservatives found in store-bought tahini. As such, the shelf life of the sesame seed paste will not be nearly as long as only the oil is keeping it preserved in a fresh state.

That said though, another huge factor when determining tahini shelf life and freshness is whether you have an opened or unopened jar of it. This is because an unopened tahini jar will last much longer, due to the airtight seal having not been temporarily broken. The reason this is so important is that an airtight container prevents the tahini from being exposed to open air which will cause it to spoil much more quickly.

Additionally, different brands of store-bought tahini will often vary in how long they will be good for. This can be seen through the expiration date as the length of time recommended by one brand will likely differ from another brand. 

With the above in mind, determining how long your tahini will last can be slightly tricky. That said though there are a few guidelines you can follow to ensure you maximize the quality and shelf life of your tahini. These guidelines are as follows:

For homemade tahini, it can be expected to last for roughly a week in the refrigerator whilst in the pantry or kitchen cabinet, it will likely up only last up to three days.

Meanwhile, on average, store-bought tahini will often stay good for roughly four to twelve months. However, if unopened you should be able to eat tahini that was stored in the pantry up to six months after the sell-by date. Although, if unopened tahini is stored in the fridge instead it will likely last for at least twelve months after this date. 

How Should You Store Tahini?

As mentioned above whilst it stays fresh for quite some time, how you keep tahini stored will greatly impact how long this sesame paste or indeed foods it is used in such as homemade hummus will stay fresh. 

An obvious solution to some might be to freeze tahini. However, this is often not recommended since tahini can be extremely sensitive to cold temperatures and therefore negatively affect the taste and texture.

Instead, you are better off storing it in the fridge or pantry or manufacturers suggest keeping tahini in either location or occasionally both. Additionally, you can avoid having prematurely rancid tahini on your hand by ensuring that it is stored properly. 

Storing Tahini In The Pantry

Tahini should be stored in a cool, dry place that is away from direct sunlight and heat. As such both the panty and the fridge are ideal choices. However, many people will prefer to opt for the former rather than the latter due to tahini having a long shelf life and not wanting the cold of the refrigerator to impact the texture. 

When storing in the pantry though, it is important to keep it sealed to avoid having a jar of spoiled tahini. Additionally, it is also important to remember that homemade and organic tahini will not last nearly as long as regular or store-bought variants.

When you refrigerate tahini, the shelf life will invariably be much longer. As such this is often the best choice for organic or homemade tahini, as they will not have a very long shelf life compared to typical store-bought varieties. This especially applies to those who live in warmer climates since the higher temperatures can cause unrefrigerated tahini to go bad much more quickly.

Storing Tahini In The Fridge

That said though, when storing tahini in the fridge it will inevitably become thicker. Now for some people, thick tahini isn’t an issue. However, it does make it significantly less spreadable and less suitable as an ingredient with even a good stir sometimes not being enough to remedy the issue.

Additionally is important to take a few extra steps to ensure you don’t end up with a jar of bad tahini. The first of these steps is to ensure that you always screw the top back on tightly as not doing so may allow moisture to get in which encourages mold. Secondly, in order to reduce the impacts of temperature changes, you should only scoop out the tahini you need without removing the jar from the fridge.

Using The Right Storage Container

When storing tahini, using the right type of storage container is crucial to maximizing freshness for as long as possible. As mentioned earlier, this means that you should use an airtight container to avoid pollutants from the air, moisture, or any nearby foods that will impact the freshness.

Fortunately, in the case of store-bought tahini, keeping it properly stored is quite simple since even an opened jar can be resealed thanks to most having an airtight seal. Although for this to truly be effective you must screw the lid off very tightly.

When storing homemade tahini though things can be slightly more tricky. Mason jars are a good option as are Tupperware containers due to both being airtight. However, if in a pinch, using tin foil or plastic wraps such as cling film and a bowl should do the job.

How Do You Know If Tahini Has Gone Bad?

Often times you will likely notice that your tahini has deteriorated in quality before noticing whether it has gone off or not. Even with proper storage, tahini will eventually go bad, although for it to become completely inedible can take quite a while. 

Often after a few months even in such an environment where it should be fine, you may not find it appealing, as it may have become a more thick paste or slightly solidified, although not completely. In such a state, people may not be too comfortable with consuming it. However, with a thorough and good stir, it will likely be perfectly safe if no signs of it being off are present. 

If though, some of the signs of your tahini being off are present though, then you should dispose of it immediately as it will likely be dangerous to consume. Signs that it off includes the following:

• Foul Smell: Perhaps the first sign that most people will notice that near enough any food is off is the presence of an unusually foul smell. In the case of tahini, this is no exception as it will develop an odd smell when off. Typically this will be metallic, bitter, and sour, however, a smell like crayons or a soapy aroma is not uncommon.
• Presence Of Mould: The most obvious sign that any food has gone bad is the presence of mold. We all know that mold means that food is off but with tahini, this is especially so since the oil present should make it difficult for mold to grow. As such you should always check the seals of your container for mold presence as it may not clear within the tahini itself. 
• Bad Taste: Obviously if the other signs that your tahini is off are present then consumption should be avoided. However, if it seems fine but you wish to be cautious then tasting a small amount is advised. If upon tasting, there is an overwhelmingly bitter taste or something similar to petrol or old cooking oil then this is a sign that the tahini has gone bad.
• Significant Hardening: Whilst some hardening is to be expected with old but still edible tahini, if you notice significant amounts of hardening then it is highly likely the oil will have dried out. As such, the tahini will not only be unpleasant to eat but may also be inedible.

The Dangers Of Consuming Off Tahini

If you do end up consuming tahini, it may not be the end of the world. However, you are likely to be at least slightly ill and suffer particularly from a stomach ache. That said though any off food can potentially cause minor or severe food poisoning. As such, especially if you see any signs of mold, gone off tahini should be avoided as in some cases they cause severe illness or even something like kidney failure. 

Answered: Does Tahini Go Bad?

As we’ve established above tahini can and will go bad. However, whilst this may happen quite quickly for organic or homemade tahini, in the case of most store-bought varieties this likely won’t happen for a while.

To maximize freshness though, keep your hummus in a cool and dry environment such as the pantry or refrigerator. Additionally, it should also be kept in an airtight container to help prevent mold growth. 

Keeping the above in mind and being wary of signs of mold will help you to avoid the hazards of off tahini. Additionally, it will make what dishes you use it in will taste that much better, whether it’s as a condiment or with chickpeas in some homemade hummus.

FAQ – Does Tahini Go Bad?