If you have ever been to the Middle East or tried Middle Eastern cuisine, then you must be familiar with Tahini.
Even if you don’t know, I have simple words to explain what tahini is; peanuts give you peanut butter, and sesame seeds give you tahini! Tahini is sometimes used as a dip, sometimes as a condiment, and sometimes as a spread.
Tahini has a strong, earthy, and nutty flavor that stands out from other sauces. One can easily make tahini at home according to their taste buds.
Some prefer to toast sesame seeds if they want a strong flavor. If you create your own tahini, can you freeze it? I am here to tell you all the dos and don’ts about freezing tahini!
Can You Freeze Tahini?
What do you do if you have completed the process of creating some tahini and want to extend the amount of time it may be stored? So, Yes, You can freeze tahini!
It is common knowledge that seeds and nuts get rancid over time, at which point they begin to smell, taste stale and metallic and have an unpleasant flavor.
Placing the tahini in the freezer may prevent it from worsening since the low temperatures stop oils from becoming musty.
Tahini is made from sesame seeds, which have many health benefits; thus, this spread is not only tasty but also very good for you.
This paste may find abundant fiber, protein, calcium, and magnesium. Your health will benefit from the anti-inflammatory characteristics that it has.
As a direct consequence, the tahini preserves its taste and does not experience a rapid decline in quality.
How To Freeze Tahini?
How can you freeze tahini perfectly if you wish to have it later on? There are many methods available on the internet to freeze tahini sauce, but these are the ones I follow. Choosing the correct method is essential to stop your tahini from going off.
Freezing store-bought tahini paste is effortless! Inspect the package for damages; the seal shouldn’t be broken, and the tahini should not leak from anywhere. Then simply put your unopened package inside your freezer, and you are good to go.
Opened your tahini sauce already, or are you willing to save some homemade tahini by freezing it? How can you freeze tahini paste? First and foremost, divide tahini into portions to reduce wastage.
Take out one portion at a time instead of the whole thing. Add tahini to small Tupperware or ice-cube trays (my personal favorites).
Once the tahini solidifies inside the freezer, transfer it to Ziploc bags to make room inside your freezer. Don’t forget to label it!
How Long Can You Keep Tahini Frozen?
So you froze your tahini sauce, but do you know how long you can freeze tahini? Can tahini stay fine in the freezer forever? Obviously not. You can only keep tahini in the freezer for 1 year.
Freezing can delay the expiry date of tahini sauce; however, after 6 months, the strong taste of tahini starts deteriorating.
It will not go wrong before a year, but if you want to experience the best taste of tahini, don’t freeze it for an extended period.
Frozen tahini is very convenient to use, mainly if divided adequately into portions and labeled. Freezing tahini consumes little time, and you can utilize that frozen tahini for months!
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How Do You Defrost Tahini?
Once the tahini has frozen, what methods may be used to thaw it? Please take out your frozen tahini from the freezer and pop it in the microwave for a few seconds. The tahini sauce’s texture might feel weird once it is thawed, but that is entirely normal.
Tahini can turn a little grainy or dry, but it is not an issue because that happens when oil is separated due to temperature change.
Just use a spoon to stir the tahini, and it will return to its original consistency. Still, if you feel like your tahini paste is drying up, add a little oil to it; I like adding olive oil to mine.
Can You Refreeze Tahini?
Yes! You can freeze tahini for the future, but once you thaw it, can you refreeze it? Yes, it is possible to refreeze tahini sauce. Nevertheless, I do not recommend refreezing a thawed tahini sauce for many reasons.
Refreezing tahini will not destroy tahini paste but can heavily affect its quality. The fluctuating temperatures will ruin the flavor and texture of the tahini paste. Either it will get highly gritty, or it will become very watery.
At least I don’t want to refreeze my tahini sauces, so I avoid them by freezing them in portions!
Final Verdict:
The earthy flavor of tahini makes any meal feel comforting! The intense flavor is still different from everyone’s taste; only some can appreciate it. Tahini is highly beneficial for health and can boost immunity.
Make your tahini or buy it at the store. There are many reasons why you should. You know how to freeze tahini now too, so I hope there won’t be any difficulty if you are left with extra tahini.
Freeze it the correct way, and save your tahini from going rancid!
Frequently Asked Questions
How Can You Tell If Tahini Has Gone Bad?
Because tahini is comparable to nut butter and is made up of a lot of oil, you can tell if it has gone wrong by tasting it. When tahini has gone bad, it begins to smell rancid, which is a combination of old and metallic odors.
How Long Can Homemade Tahini Be Stored?
Homemade tahini does not contain preservatives, but it can stay good in the freezer for around 2-3 months, so you can freeze it if you plan to have it in the long run.
If you refrigerate homemade tahini sauce, it remains in pristine condition for 2-3 weeks, and then it will go stale.
Should You Store The Tahini Upside Down?
This may sound weird, but yes! You should store tahini paste upside down. It is highly recommended to store the tahini bottle upside down, so the sesame oil is separated from the tahini, leaving the paste at the bottom.
You can shake your bottle before use, so the mixture gets incorporated again and the tahini stays fresh for a long time.
Can I Freeze Tahini Hummus?
Yes, you can freeze tahini hummus! I would recommend breaking it up into smaller chunks before freezing it.
That way, you won’t have to defrost the whole jar whenever you want to use some of it. When you want to keep tahini hummus in the freezer, the most efficient method is to do it in ice cube trays.
