If you happen to be so lucky as to have some saffron, then you are probably well aware that it’s not just some common spice—rather, it’s a high-end ingredient that can take your cooking to a whole new level. But here’s a secret that not everyone knows: it’s also a fragile and expensive one, and as such, you will ensure that you’re storing it properly in order for it to remain flavorful and fresh for a very long time. So, have you ever been wondering how to store saffron, and what are the saffron storage tips? Well, then, your search is over, and in the following article, I will provide you with a few tips for storing saffron that keep saffron fresh for a long, long time, regardless whether for a single dish or for storing for future use.
Also, if you’re also looking for a guide to help with your saffron purchase, check out the following link: Buy Saffron: Where to Find the Best Saffron Sources
What is Saffron?
A high-value spice derived from dried out stigmas of flowers of Crocus sativus, a “red gold” with a deep color, a strong, pungent scent, and a rich, deep, and warm flavor, a high-end ingredient in culinary, medical, and cosmetic uses, and one of the most expensive spices in the entire world, and one whose high price and fragility make many search for tips on storing saffron in an attempt to store saffron properly and make it a long-lived and flavorful one for a long time.
What is the Best Way to Store Saffron in a Fresh and Long-Lived Form?
Saffron is one of those wonder spices that can make any dish pop, but let’s face it—this one’s pretty costly, too. So, when your hands are on high-quality saffron, obviously, you don’t want its aroma and its flavor to burn out too soon. That’s why it’s important how to store saffron properly.
The best part? Storing saffron doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require a little TLC. First and most importantly, store it in a way that keeps it out of direct sunlight, moisture, and air. Best practice? Store it in an airtight jar—ideally a metal can or a jar of glass. Plastic isn’t ideal, as it absorbs odor, and that could corrupt its delicate aroma.
Where, not when, to store your saffron is significant, too. Dark and cool, a pantry cupboard or a kitchen cupboard is perfect. Don’t store it near a stove, though, as its moisture and heat could break down its quality. And don’t even attempt putting it in the fridge or freezer, say many, thinking that’s a smart move—humidity will go and corrupt its texture and make it less effective.
Another tip for storing your saffron? Store it whole. Grounded saffron ages out of its intensity in a shorter timeframe, and it’s best to break it down with a mortar and a pestle at the last minute when using it in a dish. And, for an added precaution, wrap your strands in aluminum foil first and then store them in a jar to insulate them even further from sunlight and air.
When stored properly, saffron can preserve its characteristic aroma and hue for two years with no loss whatsoever. So, in order to utilize such yellow gold to its fullest, simply use such simple tips in storing it. That way, whenever you use it, you will have that deep, rich, luxurious flavor that saffron is renowned for.
Can Saffron Be Stored in the Refrigerator or Freezer?
Can Saffron, then, go in the fridge, and can your fridge store your saffron? Well, in a word: no, not a wise move at all. As convenient and cool a place as your fridge is, storing your saffron in your fridge can actually cause a lot of harm for little gain. With each use and retrieval, moisture forms, and moisture in your fridge creates a moisture level rise, and your saffron pays for it.
So, when working at storing your saffron for such a long duration, use a simple Saffron Storage Tip or two. First, store your saffron in an airtight jar in an effort to exclude moisture and air. A little jar will work, such that your spice isn’t in constant contact with air when opening and closing it over and over and over again. Store your saffron in a cool, dry place—like a cupboard in your kitchen—away from direct sunlight. Don’t store your saffron in a high humidity environment, and go one additional step in protecting your saffron with aluminum foil for additional cover.
So, can Saffron go in the fridge? So, while storing your saffron in the fridge and freezer isn’t ideal, with a proper storing environment and jar, your saffron can live for several years and enjoy its efficacy for years and months to come.
How Long Does Saffron Last When Stored Properly?
So, for everyone interested in knowing how long you can store your saffron, the best part is, your saffron can live for a long period of time—normally 2 to 3 years—if stored in a proper environment. What keeps your saffron long-lasting and its efficacy and its taste strong is proper storing, and for that, an airtight jar will work.
For storing tips for your saffron, store its jar in a cool, dry environment, and not in sunlight and in near sources of heat, but a kitchen cupboard with no direct access to sources of heat will work, and high temperatures can shorten its life.
Also, don’t store your saffron in a fridge, and don’t even attempt, for moisture in the form of moisture through the refrigerator’s condensed water can make your saffron go wrong in a long run.
Following these simple tips, your saffron will become long-lasting for years, and its medical efficacy and its distinguishing taste won’t go down, but remember, with a use period of about 2 years, your saffron can start becoming less effective.
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Does Saffron Form (Threads/Powdered) Have Any Effect on Storing Methods?
When it comes to storing saffron, whether in thread form or powdered form, it can make a significant difference when it comes to its freshness lasting long enough. On a positive note, both must be stored with care in an attempt to save its flavor, but both have a little variation in consideration.
For one, threads are best stored in terms of freshness for an extended period of time. Because threads have a deeper, rich flavor and don’t break down in terms of its integrity as soon as powdered saffron, storing them is best for them. All one must do is store them in an airtight jar, in a dark environment, and it will have a six-month life span. A cool, dark environment is your best bet. For an added level of security, storing them in foil first and then storing them is a smart move.
Powdered saffron, on the other hand, can become a little less flavorful and become susceptible to having a lot of fillers, and therefore, not necessarily getting full use of your desired saffron use for your purchase. If, however, one must use powdered, make sure it comes in a jar with a seal and store in a cool, dark environment. The better one stores it, the longer it will survive.
So, when one considers storing saffron and in what form will have a long-lasting use, threads win hands down. All one must remember, however, is both must have a level of protection in terms of sunlight and a little air in order to actually store them for an extended period of time.
Final Words
To put it all in a nutshell, saffron storage is all about keeping it out of direct sunlight, air, and moisture to keep it fresh and full of flavor. Best to store it in an airtight container, like a metal tin, and in a cool, dark place—away from heat and moisture. Need a saffron storage tip that will allow it to last for as long a period of time as possible? Keep in mind: whole threads, your best bet. They will both live and perform for a longer period of time than powdered saffron will. So, take these saffron storage tips, and enjoy that lovely, pungent spice for months, even years, to come!