How Long Does Pepperoni Last?
Opened pepperoni lasts 2–3 weeks in the fridge. An unopened shelf-stable stick or pack keeps 6 weeks in the pantry or indefinitely in the fridge, and pepperoni freezes for 1–2 months.
Pepperoni — opened
shelf life- Unopened: Indefinitely in the fridge
Fridge at 40°F (4°C) or below · freezer at 0°F (−18°C). Freezer times are for best quality; frozen food stays safe longer.
Pepperoni is an American dry sausage of cured pork and beef seasoned with paprika and chili, fermented and dried like salami. Whole sticks are shelf-stable until cut because of their salt, acidity and low moisture. Pre-sliced pepperoni, the form most people buy for pizza, is packed with the air flushed out and deteriorates faster once the bag is opened.
How to store pepperoni
- Check whether the package says 'refrigerate after opening' or 'keep refrigerated'. The first kind can sit in the pantry until opened; the second must never be stored at room temperature.
- Press the air out of the resealable bag each time. Oxygen turns the fat rancid, which is what ruins pepperoni long before bacteria do.
- Blot greasy slices with a paper towel before returning them to the bag; pooled orange oil goes stale quickly and carries that flavor to the rest.
- Freeze slices flat in a single layer in a freezer bag so you can shake out a handful for pizza without thawing the whole lot. They thaw in minutes, or can go on the pizza frozen.
How to tell if pepperoni has gone bad
- A rancid smell, like old cooking oil, paint or putty, from oxidized fat.
- A slimy or sticky coating on the slices rather than a simple oily sheen.
- Bright red-orange color fading to brown or gray, or slices with hard, dark, dried edges.
- Any fuzzy mold on slices. On a whole dry stick, a thin white powdery bloom on the casing is normal, but colored or fuzzy mold is not.
Bacteria that cause food poisoning usually do not change the look, smell or taste of food. Go by the time limits first, and the signs above second.
Pepperoni shelf life chart
| State | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opened | 2–3 weeks | 1–2 months | Not recommended |
| Sliced pepperoni is at its best in the first week after opening. | |||
| Unopened | Indefinitely | 1–2 months | 6 weeks |
| Shelf-stable dry pepperoni only. Packs labeled 'keep refrigerated', and turkey pepperoni, belong in the fridge. | |||
Not safe = perishable: no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90°F / 32°C). Not recommended = possible, but quality suffers or it serves no purpose.
Frequently asked questions
Does pepperoni have to be refrigerated?
Unopened shelf-stable pepperoni does not; it keeps about 6 weeks in the pantry under USDA guidance, or until its printed date. After opening, it must be refrigerated and is best used within 2–3 weeks. Any pepperoni that was sold from a refrigerated case labeled 'keep refrigerated' stays in the fridge.
How long does pepperoni last after opening?
Opened pepperoni lasts 2–3 weeks in the fridge when the bag is resealed with the air pressed out. Sticks hold up better than slices. After about 3 weeks the flavor turns stale and rancid even if it is not visibly spoiled, and freezing is the better way to keep it longer.
Can you eat pepperoni without cooking it?
Yes, pepperoni is a cured, fermented and dried ready-to-eat sausage and does not need cooking. It is not heat-cooked during production, however, so pregnant women and people with weakened immune systems are safer eating it baked on a pizza or otherwise heated until steaming hot.
How long does turkey pepperoni last?
Turkey pepperoni lasts about 1 week after opening in the fridge. It is lower in fat and higher in moisture than the pork and beef version and is normally sold refrigerated, so treat it more like lunch meat, keep it cold at all times and follow the dates on the package.
Related foods
| Food | Fridge | Freezer | Pantry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salami Opened |
2–3 weeks | 1–2 months | Not recommended |
| Pizza Cooked |
3–4 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Chorizo Raw |
1–2 days | 1–2 months | Not safe |
| Prosciutto Opened |
3–5 days | 1 month | Not safe |
| Frozen Pizza Unopened |
1 day | 12–18 months | Not safe |
| Mozzarella Opened |
1 week | 6 months | Not safe |
Reviewed 2026-09-20. Times follow published USDA FoodKeeper / FSIS, FDA and CDC storage guidance; where sources differ we use the shorter time. How we compile this data.