The shelf life of caviar is something to worry about, especially if you are getting some of the more expensive varieties per pound. It is the period of time in which the best quality can be maintained without diminishing the texture or flavor. Some caviar can be stored frozen for up to a year, and some should never really be frozen, but only kept refrigerated. If you want to buy caviar but are a bit worried about the shelf life of caviar, here is a list of the most popular caviar varieties with their corresponding shelf life…

This listing assumes refrigerated storage at a temperature between 26 and 36 degrees F.

beluga – 4-6 weeks

osetra – 4-6 weeks

Sevruga (American) – 1 week

Sevruga (Russian) – 4-6 weeks

transmontane – 3 weeks

sturgeon – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

paddlefish – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

black american – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

bow fin – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

ikura (salmon roe) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

trout – 1-2 weeks, can be frozen up to 3 months

White fish (black or gold) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

royal gold – 2-4 weeks, can be frozen

Tobikō (all types) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

capelin roe (masago) – 1 week, can be frozen up to 1 year

vegetarian (made from algae) – unopened, can be refrigerated indefinitely

Snail – 3-4 months in unopened cans, 2-3 months if opened

Keeping these caviar shelf life times in mind, you can now know how much caviar to order for how many people and how long it will stay fresh. As expensive as some of these things can be, you definitely want to enjoy every bit of it to the fullest.