How to Store and Preserve Anchovies to Maintain Their Freshness

Santoña anchovies are a true culinary treasure that should be enjoyed at their best. To ensure they retain their unmatched freshness and flavour, it’s essential to know the best preservation and storage practices.

To enjoy your anchovies in the best possible condition, follow these tips:

1. Purchase and Initial Storage

Maintaining the proper temperature is crucial to preserving the freshness and flavour of anchovies from the moment they leave the factory until they reach your table. At Pujadó Solano, we strictly follow the cold chain for all purchases made through our online store, shipping all orders via refrigerated transport. This ensures the product arrives in the best possible condition.

Once you have the anchovies at home, whether in a can or jar, remember that anchovies are a semi-preserve, meaning they are perishable products that need to be stored under special cold conditions, which are specified on each package. It’s also important not to expose the anchovies to direct sunlight or sudden temperature changes.

High temperatures can make your anchovies too salty, as heat can increase their salt concentration, and it will shorten their shelf life, causing them to spoil sooner.

Therefore, while canned anchovies can be stored at room temperature in a cool, dry place such as a cupboard or pantry, it’s preferable to keep them in the refrigerator, just like jarred anchovies, since the ideal temperature for storing them is between 5ºC and 12ºC (41ºF to 53.6ºF).

It’s also important to pay attention to the expiration date, which in the case of anchovies is determined by the salting process (which keeps them fresh). Generally, anchovies can have a shelf life of six months to a year if stored properly. Check the date on the package and be sure to consume your anchovies before it expires.

Once opened, anchovies should be eaten within a week.

Remember that anchovies are best when consumed fresh. Try not to store large quantities for long periods to always enjoy their best flavour.

2. How to Store Anchovies Once Opened

Once you’ve opened a can or jar of anchovies, you should know that exposure to air can cause the anchovies to oxidize and lose their flavour. That’s why it’s best to consume them all once the container is opened.

However, if you have leftover anchovies and want to keep them for a few days, to ensure they remain fresh and retain their full flavour, place the remaining anchovies in the refrigerator immediately.

If you decide to keep the anchovies in their original container, cover it with plastic wrap. This will provide an extra layer of protection against air and moisture.

If you prefer to transfer the anchovies to another container, keep in mind that the type of container you use can also make a big difference in their freshness and flavour. We recommend using airtight glass or plastic containers to store the anchovies in the fridge. Make sure they are well sealed to prevent air from entering and to avoid absorbing other food odors.

Finally, to prevent them from drying out, anchovies should be well covered with oil (in the case of anchovies in olive or vegetable oil) or with salt if they are anchovies in salt. So, if you transfer the anchovies to another container, make sure they are completely covered. If they are in oil, cover them entirely with high-quality oil, which will not only keep them fresh but also enhance their flavour. If they are in salt, cover them with salt and brine.