Tahini is renowned for its nutty, earthy flavour and is popular in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisine. No matter how you use it, homemade tahini is delicious and versatile, and itās also pretty good for you. But whatās the best way to preserve.
Can You Freeze Tahini?
Yes, you can freeze tahini for up to 3 months. Your first job is to portion it up into suitable serving sizes before adding each serving to an individual container or freezer-safe bag.
Do Does Tahini freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Tahini? No
How to Freeze Tahini
Youāll be pleased to hear that freezing tahini is remarkably straightforward.
If youāve bought a large tub of tahini from somewhere like Costco, chances are that you wonāt use it all at once, given that most dishes call for a small amount.
So, with that in mind, here are the steps you need to follow to freeze tahini:Ā
- Portion
While you can simply place your big tub of tahini directly in the freezer, doing so means you will have to use it all at once when you take it out again. Therefore, you need to split your tahini into relevant portion sizes. How you do this is entirely up to you, but the smaller, the better.Ā - Add to a Container
Choose suitable containers or freezer-safe bags to add your tahini to. Tupperware boxes or even glass jars work well. Just make sure you leave some space for expansion, perhaps an inch or so from the top.Ā - Label and Freeze
Once youāve portioned up your tahini, youāre ready to affix the lids to the containers or seal the bags. Then, write todayās date and the use-by date on the containers/bags and place them in the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Tahini
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing tahini to have the best results:
Stir Well After Freezing
When you thaw a portion of tahini, you might notice slight changes in its consistency. This is nothing to worry about, but you will need to stir your tahini well before using it.
Don’t Refreeze
Tahini doesnāt respond particularly well to fluctuations in temperature. So, if you keep freezing and thawing tahini, it is likely to spoil.
Itās for this reason that itās best to split tahini into individual portion sizes before freezing it in the first instance, so you can easily take out whatever you need at any given time.
Freeze In An Ice Cube Tray
If you plan on creating really small portions of tahini, itās best to use an ice cube tray. Spoon the required amount of tahini into each section and place the tray in the freezer for several hours. Once the tahini cubes are frozen solid, you can empty the tray and bag them up.
How Long Can You Freeze Tahini?
You can freeze tahini for around three months. Itās important to refrigerate tahini as soon as you have made or bought it in order to keep it fresh. Then, the sooner you freeze it, the better.
If you leave tahini in the fridge for 4-5 days before freezing, it wonāt be super fresh by the time you come to use it in the future.
Therefore, if you have a particularly big batch of tahini, split it into smaller portions and freeze it as soon as you can.
You Can Freeze Tahini for up to 3 Months
How Do You Defrost Tahini?
When itās time to thaw tahini, transfer it from the freezer to the fridge, keeping it in the same bag or container that you froze it in.
Itās best to do this the night before you plan to use it to allow the tahini sufficient time to thaw completely. You should never thaw tahini at room temperature as it may spoil.
Can You Refreeze Tahini?
No, you should only freeze tahini once. This is because the dip doesnāt respond well to temperature fluctuations, and refreezing tahini will affect its consistency.
As mentioned, the best way to freeze tahini in the first place is to separate your batch into smaller portion sizes, so you can easily remove whatever you need at any given time. This way, you donāt need to worry about wasting tahini.
Does Tahini Freeze Well?
Generally, tahini freezes well. You might notice a slight change in its consistency after freezing, but as long as you stir it well before serving or using it in your recipe, you shouldnāt encounter any issues.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing tahini or tahini in general, then these may help:
Tahini can actually last a surprisingly long time when opened and kept in the fridge, providing that it is stored with a tight-fitting lid. In the fridge, it will keep for anywhere between 3 and 6 months as long as it’s within the use-by date.
Yes, you can freeze tahini dressing and the best way to do so is in an ice cube tray. Be prepared for some textural changes though. Once thawed, you’ll need to give it a vigorous stir to incorporate the ingredients again.
