It’s not to everybody’s tastes, so if you’ve bought a tub of taramasalata that you won’t get through before the expiry date, what should you do with it?
Can You Freeze Taramasalata?
Yes, you can freeze taramasalata for up to 3 months. The best way to do this is to allow it to chill in the fridge and then transfer it to a rigid plastic container. Seal it tightly before labelling and transferring it to the freezer.
Do Does Taramasalata freeze well? Yes
Can you refreeze Taramasalata? No
How to Freeze Taramasalata
Thanks to the texture of taramasalata, it isnāt difficult to freeze. However, we still recommend following our instructions to ensure you get every step right.
- Cool: During the process of making taramasalata, it may become warm. This is perfectly normal, of course, but you shouldnāt seal warm food inside an airtight container: warmth and humidity can lead to bacterial growth, which isnāt food-safe.
- Transfer: Once the taramasalata is cool, transfer it into the airtight container youāll use to store the food. Ideally, this container should be rigid, as this will prevent the dip from getting crushed, which could lead to a messy and frustrating result in any number of cases.
- Remove Bubbles: Removing air bubbles from food before freezing it is essential! The main reason is that the air bubbles can condense to water and, in turn, freeze into solid ice. This solid ice is liable to damage the food youāre freezing through freezer burn, so it should be avoided.
- Freeze: Freeze the taramasalata in the centre or edge of the freezer. Taramasalata doesnāt have an intense texture, which means it cannot be said to lose a lot of consistency when it freezes and thaws. However, to best maintain taramasalata as it was before being frozen, it should be stored in the centre of the freezer.
3 Tips for Freezing Taramasalata
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing taramasalata to have the best results:
Remove Excess Air
Remove as much excess air as you can from the rigid plastic container that youāre using to store the dip. We recommend that because excess air can leech some of the flavours from the dip, the aromatic and flavour-filled compounds are liable to evaporate over time.
Check the Seal
Ensuring the container is sealed is essential, as taramasalata has quite a potent smell. If the container is allowed to remain open while itās in the freezer, then that smell is liable to leak into the surrounding freezer, leading to poor storage conditions for several different items. Fishing ice cream anyone?
Don’t Add Finishing Oils
Sometimes, when itās being served, people will add a splash of olive oil to taramasalata. This can make it a little more impressive to look at and taste a little more smooth. Avoid freezing this oil with the taramasalata, as it is liable to freeze poorly, becoming a solid layer of oil on top of the dip.
How Long Can You Freeze Taramasalata?
You can freeze taramasalata for around 3 months before it might start to go bad in the freezer.
This is the general upper limit for freezing most food items, and we recommend it here because the fish is liable to lose some texture when frozen for an extended period.
When covered with cling film in a tub, taramasalata will keep in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
How Do You Defrost Taramasalata?
The simplest way to defrost taramasalata is to place it in the fridge overnight. Throughout this time, the food will thaw, becoming a smooth dip again. It may be a little grainy but giving it a quick stir will rectify this.
It will also then be kept at a safe temperature, which allows you to ensure there is as little bacterial growth as possible across the food youāre working with.
Can You Refreeze Taramasalata?
No, you cannot refreeze taramasalata.
The reason for this is that it is made from cured roe, which is a fish product. Fish, meat, and raw dairy cannot be thawed and refrozen as theyāre prime targets for bacterial growth.
Once thawed, the taramasalata must be eaten or thrown out.
Does Taramasalata Freeze Well?
Yes, taramasalata does freeze well.
The main reason for this is that it is a very dense food, meaning there is little space for the taramasalata to get damaged by freezer burn.
If food has large air pockets, the air will condense to water and freeze, which is a starting point for freezer burn. That can be avoided with sufficiently dense food.
Related FAQs
If youāve still got questions about freezing taramasalata or taramasalata in general, then these may help:
Generally, it is safe to freeze taramasalata from the supermarket but it’s always worth checking the label.
Sources
We have verified the information on this page using the following resources:
