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I make a lot of sushi. But, as I buy the paper/wrapper in 100's, sometimes I do not use it in what might be considered good time. I have searched and searched the packet for a sell or eat by date but there is none. Is this OK to use even though I bought it about 8 months ago, and opened it about 6 months ago. I have made sushi today from it, it seems OK, rolled great and cut brilliantly, but should I be concerned? The paper is not too dry on the edges and is still a great greeny/blackish color.

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I just checked with my Chinese wife. She confirms that it doesn’t go bad but just is less tasty.

My instinct is that it's very dry, so it will last for years without going rancid or becoming inetable, if kept in a climate that's not super humid (or kept in the fridge which is very dry air).

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    Dry doesn't stop rancidity, unfortunately. I've definitely had rancid nori before. But it's the oil that goes rancid, so that's more an issue with the roasted snack kind than the plain nori you use for sushi.
    – Cascabel ♦
    Apr 8, 2017 at 18:31
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According to Still Tasty (a site that looks at USDA, CDC and FDA data), nori lasts 2-4 months in the pantry and 4-6 months in the fridge. Also it says:

Store in airtight glass or plastic container or in sealed plastic bag. Refrigerate to extend shelf life.

Still, nori is completely dried. I imagine that the concern beyond that time frame is staleness, not safety.

I have nori that's years old. I would check to be sure that it is somewhat brittle, not leather-like before I used it, but for quality, not safety.

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    I second this, but would add that the colour can deteriorate somewhat as the nori oxidises - it loses some of the rich dark green sheen and turns darker, browner and less attractive. Still tastes fine
    – canardgras
    Apr 10, 2017 at 9:20
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Once opened, unless tightly sealed in a not-too-big airtight container, it goes stale and leathery quite quickly. So although I would use it out of date (and probably have) it's likely to be past its best having been open so long.

It's not going to do you any harm if it's just lost some texture though - so try it and see.

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    It is in a zip-lock bag (which it comes in), normally we make a lot of sushi (what with living in the middle of the Atlantic ocean - lots of fresh fish!). It was just a question that surfaced yesterday when I said 'sushi tomorrow', and realized that a particular package was a bit old. However, used it today, and no one is dead ........yet!
    – dougal 5.0.0
    Apr 8, 2017 at 14:57
  • The brand that the local store carries comes with those 'do not eat' packets (silica gel, which absorbs moisture). I put the opened package (with original wrapper and anti-moisture packet) into a gallon freezer bag, squeeze out the air, and put it back into my pantry. I've not yet had a problem, and I wouldn't be surprised if I had one that sat open for a year before I finished it.
    – Joe
    Apr 10, 2017 at 12:28
  • @Joe that sounds like the packs we get, but we've been less successful with a similar approach to resealing.
    – Chris H
    Apr 10, 2017 at 12:34
  • @ChrisH : I wonder if it might be something while the partial package is being used -- differences in humidity in the room it was opened, how long it was out in the open, etc.
    – Joe
    Apr 10, 2017 at 15:58
  • @Joe quite possibly. Maybe you get on with it shut the packet quickly, while I'm still fiddling about making a mess of the filling.
    – Chris H
    Apr 10, 2017 at 16:00
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I like my nori chewy, personally. You could store it in an airtight container with a packet of silica gel (electronics equipment usually comes with one or more inside the box- and they can be regenerated in the oven), and that would probably keep it from going off but it would dry out faster.

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    We'd much prefer you suggest an edit if you see something that can be improved, especially something as straightforward as this.
    – Cascabel ♦
    Apr 9, 2017 at 18:46
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i bought my sushi wraps, nori a few years ago, the packages were never opened, and it would be like a double packed plastic on them, as they sheets are plastic wrapped and then the outside package. They have been in my cupboard and not moved.

I opened them today and they are gooey. The inside of the package feels like sticky glue, and the edges of the nori sheets are very very sticky. The sheets are moist and bouncing if you press on them, but the stickiness to them worries me. Feels like someone poured glue on them.

I think it's safe to say that Nori does have a shelf life and will go bad eventually. These don't smell, they do look green when you hold it up to the light, I am going to chuck all four packages out. I'd be happy to send u a pic if you'd like to see it.

I should add that some of the sheets are just really oily, if you touch them your fingers feel like they are oily as if you touched cooking oil. I think mine have gone bad, I've never seen nori that wasn't dry, and I think it's just deteriorating and breaking down. I also wouldn't trust that bacteria would form once the oil and stickiness started forming.

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