Does Wasabi Go Bad?

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You have bought a wasabi paste and used some amount of it, and then stored the remaining. As time passes, you soon realize that you do not want to use wasabi in the current year, and now you are wondering if wasabi goes bad.

Like other food products, wasabi can also go bad. It also comes in a powdered form. If you store it in good conditions, then it will last for as long as possible. In this article, we will briefly discuss the shelf-life, storage, and going bad of wasabi.

Table of Contents

How To Store Wasabi?

Wasabi comes in two forms, one is pasted, and the other one is powdered form. The storage conditions for both kinds are a bit different from each other. However, it is quite clear that if you keep wasabi in proper storage conditions, then it will last for a long period.

If you have bought too much wasabi and you are worried about its spoilage, you need to go through the storage conditions mentioned below in this article.

Place Wasabi in a cool and dark place

If we talk about the wasabi paste, it is made up of starch, mustard and green food coloring. It usually comes in a jar. You can store an unopened jar of wasabi in a cool and dark place.

Keep Wasabi away from heat and sunlight

It would be best for you if you keep the jar away from the sunlight and heat sources. The heat will affect the wasabi, and it won’t retain its peak quality for too long. You should keep it away from the stove, oven, or refrigerator.

Keep Wasabi sealed tightly

Once you have opened the jar, make sure that you keep it sealed tightly. Once the jar is opened, the paste will be exposed to the air, and the process of oxidation will start. To avoid interaction with the air, keep the jar sealed tightly.

Store Wasabi in the refrigerator

After opening the jar, you should avoid keeping it at room temperature or pantry. The best place to store the opened jar of wasabi is a refrigerator. If you place the jar upside down, fresh oxygen will not enter the jar, and the paste will stay fresh for a longer period.

Keep Wasabi at room temperature.

If we talk about the powdered form of wasabi, it is like all the other powdered spices. You don’t need to store the powder in the refrigerator. The powder also comes in a jar or tin. It should be best if you keep the jar sealed tightly. The kitchen is the best place to store the powdered wasabi.

Can You Freeze Wasabi?

For storing wasabi for a long period, freezing is a good option, but it may affect the product’s taste and quality. It also depends on the quality of the wasabi. If it is of good quality, it may last for a long time. Otherwise, the quality of the paste will be affected.

It is recommended not to freeze wasabi because it will affect its quality. The taste and quality of wasabi will not be the same as it was before freezing.

How Long Does Wasabi Last?

The shelf-life of wasabi depends upon its quality and the time you purchased it. Real wasabi is very expensive, and it comes from the root of the plant, and it is also very hard to grow. Wasabi roots last for a couple of days at room temperature. Whereas it lasts for almost a week if stored in the fridge.

The shelf-life of wasabi paste is more than the root wasabi. Wasabi paste can last up to a year in the refrigerator. On the other hand, powdered form of wasabi can last for six months, kept in the pantry.

How to Tell If Wasabi Is Bad?

It is not very difficult to differentiate between good and bad wasabi. When a food product gets spoiled, there is a change in its taste, color, smell, and texture. If you are unable to tell whether the wasabi you have is good to use or not, you need to check for some sign of spoilage, as discussed below:

Spoiled wasabi root becomes soft and mushy. If your wasabi roots turn soft and mushy, you should not use them.
Fresh wasabi paste is green in color. Check the paste’s surface, and if you notice any change in the color, then the paste has gone bad. The green color may change into blue or grey when the paste goes bad.
Fresh wasabi paste has a pleasant smell. Give it a good sniff. If you notice any change in the smell, then you should avoid using it.
Check the taste of the paste. If it tastes bad and the original flavor is lacking, it would be best for you to get rid of it at once.
Powdered wasabi is safe to eat until it interacts with water. If you notice any mold formation in the powder, you should get rid of it at once.