How Long Can Miso Paste Be Stored In The Refrigerator?

If you're looking for an umami boost for your bland dishes that need some help on the savory side of things, look no further than the beautiful brown miso paste. Sharply flavorful and easily incorporated into any dish, this powerful paste is a great way to give some body to any soup, salad, sauce, or stew.

Made from soybeans that have been fermented, miso is a staple in many Asian cuisines, per The Spruce Eats. The beans are mixed with salt and koji mold — a fungus from east Asia that is used to make not only miso paste but also things like sake, rice wines, and soy sauce, according to Epicurious — and left to ferment from anywhere between several weeks to several years. There are a variety of different miso types, all with their own special flavors and aromas, but as a general rule of thumb the darker the miso is the stronger the flavor tends to be. Also, the darker the miso type is typically the longer it has been fermented.

Because of its fermented nature, miso will keep for quite a while in your refrigerator in any airtight container. According to Bon Appétit, miso paste will last somewhere between nine months to a year. That's all depending on the variety of miso you have and how long it's been fermented — aka how dark it is. The more it's been fermented, the longer it will typically last in your refrigerator. Try and avoid miso with any extra additives in it as well, as these can make it spoil faster.

If you're unsure whether or not your miso paste is still good, just give it a quick inspection to see that nothing foreign is growing on it and give it a good whiff as well. Miso paste has a strong smell, so if your nose detects something wrong or you see mold growing, it's best to just play it safe and get rid of it, per Eat Delights. Of course, the best and most highly recommended suggestion to ensure that you don't consume spoiled miso is just to keep a close eye on those expiration dates.