When the importer unpacks and repackages the caviar it is sold fresh in jars or tins, typically in 1-ounce containers. Those are the choices in buying caviar. Now for the inviolable rule. The best caviar is the freshest. Once caviar is imported and repackaged it has a shelf life in the stores of only 2-3 weeks.
Fresh caviar is sold only in refrigerated cases.
Caviar should be purchased in small portions to ensure that the seller is a quality dealer. If purchased from a mail order house, caviar should be shipped overnight and find out how a company packages the caviar before ordering. Once in the home, the caviar should be consumed within 3-4 days, stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not the freezer. If the tin cannot be finished, leftover caviar can be preserved for a short time by pressing plastic wrap against the surface of the eggs. Rotate the tins twice a day to distribute the oils.