Dry sea cucumber has a low water content, so it is not easy to breed bacteria and microorganisms. As long as it is properly stored and protected from moisture, it can generally be stored for 2-3 years. Deteriorated sea cucumber will be wet, moldy, shriveled, musty or smelly, so it is not recommended to eat this kind of sea cucumber to avoid harm to the body. Generally good sea cucumbers are dry and plump, not shriveled, and have no peculiar smell.

Any food has a shelf life, so does sea cucumber, but the shelf life of different forms of sea cucumber is different. Because sea cucumber is rich in protein, it may breed a large number of bacteria and go moldy and deteriorate beyond the shelf life, and it may also produce some mycotoxins. The quality and flavor are not guaranteed, which not only makes the taste worse, but also may cause food poisoning symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea after human consumption. Therefore, sea cucumber cannot be eaten after expiration.