Does Burdock Go Bad?

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Burdock is a herbal plant with dark green leaves found worldwide, especially in Northern Asia and Europe. Burdock is a plant in which roots, leaves, and seeds are used in medicine. Burdock is also used to cure many skin problems, stomach-related problems, and bone joints swelling.

Burdock can be stored for many months under proper circumstances, which means it does not go bad very fast, but eventually, it does. Like other herbal plants, burdock also has its freshness period, after which it can expire. Following are the points to ensure the maximum life of this plant.

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How to Store Burdock

Like all other herbs, burdock also needs to be stored in a cool place and not in a dry environment. To keep the burdock last long or increase its shelf life so that you can use it for a few weeks, some points need to be considered; those are mentioned as follow.

Keep it Wet

Burdock should be wrapped in a wet kitchen towel and place in any bag sealed tightly. It will keep for several months. If the root becomes flaccid, immerse it in water until the roots get firm again. To increase the shelf life of it, shower water on them; it will make them hydrated and fresh.

Keep in a Cool Environment

Herbs like burdock cannot sustain in warm temperatures. It should be Refrigerated in the vegetable compartment to keep them fresh and last longer. You can also put it in an airy place but make sure it does not get dehydrated for a long period; otherwise, it will get spoiled.

Cover it Properly

Burdock should be covered, but it is much better than it is completely wrapped to keep away from moisture loss. You can wrap unwashed burdock roots in damp paper towels and place them in an airtight plastic bag in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 weeks while keeping the towels damp.

Away from direct sunlight

Keep burdock away from direct sunlight because it can increase the chances of burdock getting spoiled very fast. Rather than putting burdock in direct sunlight exposure, keep it in the shade and under low temperature.

Place it away from heat

Burdock can sit at room temperature for a while after it is opened. There will be more chances of going burdock bad if you do not place it away from the heat source. After it is opened, the best place to keep it to retain its quality is to refrigerate.

Can You Freeze Burdock

Yes, burdock is certainly freezable. Burdock is virtually indestructible, and freezing makes it more tender. Make sure after you take burdock out of the freezer, put it in water to defrost, and never defrost it in a microwave oven to prevent it from oxidation.

You can freeze it. Just use a quality bag to protect it from freezer burn. But once defrosted, freezing it again is not a good idea because it will make it flabby and lose its tenderness, resulting in a taste change. Normally, if frozen and remain freeze for as long as you want, it does not deteriorate its original taste.

How Long Does Burdock Last

It should hold at cold refrigerator temperatures for up to two or three weeks. If you want to keep it for a longer period, you can put it in a plastic bag or sealed container and freeze it. By freezing, it can last up to 1 to 2 years.

Burdock can be seasoned, and then freezing it would increase its life compared to frozen unseasoned. Talking about shelf life does not have an expiry date like all other vegetables, but it will lose potency or strength over time.

The degradation of burdock also depends on how it is stored and it’s quality that how it was produced, cropped, and dried. If burdock is placed in a hot environment or exposed to direct sunlight, it will spoil earlier than tightly sealed and stored in a low temperature and dry place.

How To Tell If Burdock Is Bad

Burdock is a kind of vegetable. It also gets spoiled very fast when not refrigerated or kept in the proper place. As it deteriorates, its structure becomes flaccid, and if it is spoiled due to high temperature, it will start developing unpleasant odors.

Change in taste: You can check its taste and tell whether it is good or bad. Because when it starts spoiling, its taste starts getting change from sweet to sour.
Discoloration: If the color of the burdock starts changing, it is also a sign that it will get bad soon. Normally it is light brownish, and it starts changing to grey or dark brown when it is going to spoil.
Check for mold: It can get mold if placed outside of the refrigerator for a very long time. It is also one of the signs that burdock is spoiled when you start seeing mold on it.