Unopened tomato paste from TOMEX keeps for 24 months from the production date, in every pack: 230 kg aseptic drums, tins and sachets. Store it cool and dry, away from heat and direct sun. Drums need no refrigeration until they are opened. Once a drum, can or sachet is opened, the paste becomes a perishable food: keep it covered and refrigerated, and use it soon.
This guide explains what the 24 months cover, how temperature affects paste in storage, and how to handle each pack before and after opening.
Shelf life by pack
Every TOMEX pack has the same shelf life, and it is counted from the production date, not from the shipping or arrival date.
| Pack | Sizes | Shelf life | Storage before opening |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aseptic bag-in-drum | 230 kg net | 24 months from production | Ambient temperature, no refrigeration |
| Tin cans | 400 g, 800 g, 3 kg | 24 months from production | Cool and dry |
| Sachets | 35 g, 50 g, 70 g | 24 months from production | Cool and dry |
| Glass jars | 320 g | Confirmed on the quotation | Confirmed on the quotation |
The same 24 months apply to all three grades: Grade A at 36–38% Brix, Grade B at 28–30% Brix and Hot Break at 28–30% Brix.
The date that matters is the production date printed on each drum, carton or tin. Plan your stock around it: use the oldest production dates first, and order quantities you can use well within the shelf life, especially if your warehouse runs warm.
Why aseptic drums need no refrigeration
In aseptic packing, the paste is sterilised and filled into a sterile bag that is sealed without contact with the outside air. The steel drum protects the bag. As long as the bag stays closed, microorganisms cannot get in, which is why TOMEX drums are stored at ambient temperature and need no refrigeration until they are opened.
Ambient does not mean any temperature, though. The sealed bag keeps microbes out, but it does not stop the slow chemical changes that happen in all processed tomato products, and those changes depend on heat. Supplier specifications reflect this. One European distributor, for example, lists its aseptic drums for storage above −10 °C and below +24 °C.
So the practical rule for drums is simple: no refrigerated container or cold store is needed, but a cool, shaded warehouse keeps the paste closer to its original specification for longer.
What heat does to paste in storage
Tomato paste changes slowly during storage even when it is sealed and safe. Heat speeds the changes up. Two studies measured this directly.
| Study | Product | Storage tested | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Giovanelli and Lavelli, 2002, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture | Tomato pulp, purée and paste | 30, 40 and 50 °C, up to 90 days | Heat damage indices (HMF, furosine and colour change) rose over time. The reactions went on even at room temperature, and ran faster in products with more solids. |
| Study of tomato paste in aseptic bags, Turkey | Paste packed in aseptic bags | 20, 28 and 37 °C, six months | Lycopene and colour values fell, while HMF and serum colour rose. Every change was faster at the higher temperatures. HMF, colour score and serum colour were the most sensitive to heat. Its shelf-life estimates at 20 °C ranged from under a year to several years, depending on which quality measure was used as the limit. |
Study links: Giovanelli and Lavelli, 2002 and the aseptic-bag study (Turkey).
Two practical points follow. First, colour is among the qualities most affected by warm storage, so a buyer who specifies a colour value such as 2.0 or 2.1 gains the most from keeping the paste cool. Second, the Italian study found faster heat damage in products with higher solids, which matters for 36–38% Brix triple concentrate.
Storage conditions that work
These rules apply to every pack, from the port to your production line:
- Keep it cool. For canned foods, Clemson University's Home & Garden Information Center gives 10–21 °C (50–70 °F) as the best storage range, and notes that storage time falls sharply above 24 °C (75 °F).
- Keep it out of the sun and away from heat. Avoid warm spots such as direct sunlight, hot pipes, and areas next to ovens or boilers.
- Keep it dry. A dry store protects tins, cartons and drums.
- Rotate the stock. Use the oldest production date first.
- Keep the pack closed until you need it. The shelf life applies only to unopened packs.
After opening
Once a bag, can or sachet is opened, the paste is no longer sealed, and the 24-month shelf life no longer applies.
- Aseptic drums. Open a drum only when you are ready to use the paste. Take it out with clean tools, close the bag again, and keep what is left refrigerated. Plan production so that an opened drum is used as quickly as possible.
- Cans. Do not store paste in the opened can. Clemson advises moving the contents to a covered glass or plastic container in the refrigerator.
- Sachets. The 35 g, 50 g and 70 g sizes are small enough to use at once. Treat any leftover the same way as opened canned paste.
How long opened paste can be kept depends on your hygiene, your temperatures and how the paste is used, so follow your own food safety plan for the exact time.
Checks on arrival and before use
A few checks protect both quality and safety:
- Production date and batch. Read them on the label and match the batch to the Certificate of Analysis that came with the shipment.
- Cans. Check for dents, bulging lids, rust and leaks. Clemson warns that dents, cracks or bulging lids can pose a risk of serious food poisoning. Set damaged cans aside and do not use them.
- Drums. Check that the drum is not damaged and that the bag inside is intact and not leaking before you open it.
- Quality after long or warm storage. Test Brix, colour and pH against the Certificate of Analysis before the paste goes into production.
Next step
Tell us which grade and pack you need, and the export team will confirm the shelf life and storage details on your quotation. Request a quote, or ask for a sample with its Certificate of Analysis.
Related pages: 230 kg aseptic drums, canned tomato paste, tomato paste sachets and our guide to the tomato paste HS code and import duty.
Storage guidance and sources checked on 10 October 2026. This guide is general information; follow the food safety rules of your country and your own food safety plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 24-month shelf life start from production or from arrival?
From production. The production date is printed on each drum, carton or tin, and it is the date to track in your stock system.
Do aseptic drums need a refrigerated container?
No. TOMEX drums are stored at ambient temperature and need no refrigeration until they are opened. Keep them shaded and away from heat at the port and in the warehouse.
Is the shelf life the same for 36–38% and 28–30% Brix paste?
Yes, 24 months from production for all three grades. Research shows that paste with more solids reacts faster to heat, so triple concentrate gains the most from cool storage.
How long does tomato paste keep after opening?
Opened paste is perishable, whatever the pack. Keep it covered and refrigerated, use it as soon as you can, and follow your own food safety plan for the exact time.
What should we do with a bulging or badly dented can?
Do not use it. Dents, cracks or bulging lids can pose a risk of serious food poisoning, so set the can aside and report it with the batch number.
How can we check a batch that has been stored for a long time?
Test Brix, colour and pH, and compare the results with the Certificate of Analysis that came with the batch.
