Can You Freeze Wasabi Root?

It’s potent stuff, right? If you know anything about wasabi, it’s probably that a little goes a long way. If you’re lucky enough to have acquired some proper, fresh wasabi then do you know the best way to store it?

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How to Freeze Wasabi Root

4.0 from 1 vote

Course: HerbsCuisine: InternationalDifficulty: Easy

Servings

12

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

0

minutes

Total time

10

minutes

This is My Preferred Method for Freezing Wasabi Root

Cook Mode

Keeps the screen of your device ON

Ingredients

• 1 Wasabi Root

Directions

• Clean
  Clean the wasabi root under cold running water to remove dirt or impurities.
• Peel
  Using a sharp knife, carefully peel the outer layer of the wasabi root. Take care to only remove the skin, as the layer immediately beneath the skin has the highest concentration of flavour.
• Grate
  Grate the wasabi root. A traditional Japanese sharkskin grater (oni-oroshi) is the best tool, but a fine microplane grater can also work.

  • 

• Fill an Ice Cube Tray
  Spoon the grated wasabi into an ice cube tray, spreading it evenly to fill each section. Try not to overfill the sections, as this can make the frozen wasabi challenging to remove.
• Freeze
  Once the ice cube tray is filled, cover it with a lid or plastic wrap to prevent the wasabi from absorbing any other flavours from the freezer. Place the tray in the freezer and leave it until the wasabi is wholly frozen, typically for at least a few hours.
• Bag Up
  After the wasabi is frozen, you can pop the cubes out of the tray and transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container for longer-term storage. Be sure to label the bag or container with the date.

How Long Can You Freeze Wasabi Root?

You can freeze wasabi root for around 6 months before you notice degradation.

This degradation will be in the flavour – wasabi is a very potent flavour, so you’ll notice if it’s just a little less intense than usual. It’ll be completely safe to consume after this but if it doesn’t have that fiery kick then you have to question if there’s any point in freezing it.

How Do You Defrost Wasabi Root?

The best way to defrost wasabi root is to simply add it directly to the pan. Typically, it’s grated so finely that any ice within the piece would rapidly thaw and boil away.

This means that you’re left with a piece of fresh wasabi, and you can cook as though that’s precisely what it is.

Can You Refreeze Wasabi Root?

Yes, you can refreeze wasabi root as many times as you like. It’s a fibrous, strongly-flavoured item, so you’ll tend not to notice a lot of degradation from repeated freezing.

Does Wasabi Root Freeze Well?

For an ingredient that can be incredibly temperamental at room temperature, wasabi does freeze pretty well.

When I freeze my wasabi root, I find it generally retains a good portion of its flavour and pungency.

However, I’ve noticed a couple of things when freezing wasabi. While it’s true that freezing preserves its flavour better than just refrigerating or keeping it at room temperature, I do notice a slight decrease in the intensity of flavour over time.

That fresh, fiery taste of wasabi is most potent when it’s fresh, and freezing, though beneficial, will never perfectly preserve it.

I’ve also found that the texture can change slightly after freezing and thawing. It can become slightly more watery, and it might lose a bit of its creaminess. But in my opinion, this isn’t a significant issue, especially if I’m using the wasabi in a sauce or if I mix it into a dish.

So, if you’re like me and you love the flavour of wasabi but don’t use it every day, freezing could be a great option.