Mustard is a popular condiment used around the world. It’s popular to use due to its versatility. You can use it as a dressing on the salad, and it makes a great addition to sandwiches, hamburgers, and hot dogs. Once the mustard is opened, you’ll need to store them. Would the freezer be an option to store mustard?
Can you freeze mustard? Yes, you can freeze mustard, and they freeze quite well. If it’s properly stored, you can keep mustard in the freezer for about 14-16 months. To keep bacteria from growing on the mustard while it’s frozen, add some vinegar to it before freezing.
Does Mustard Freeze Well?
Mustard freezes extremely well, only if the proper steps are taken before storing them in the freezer. Mustard stored in the freezer must be kept airtight. Any air that leaks in the container while it’s frozen will cause the flavor of the mustard to deteriorate.
Mustard can be frozen in an ice cube tray or in an airtight container. These two methods are great at keeping the mustard at its best quality for a long time in the freezer.
How To Freeze Mustard
The best way to keep mustard longer than a year is to freeze them. When it comes to freezing mustard, it is quite simple and doesn’t require a lot of time.
All you need to freeze mustard is a couple of materials such as a spoon, ice tray, freezer bag or an airtight container, and a marker.
Below are the steps to freezing mustard:
Step 1: Portion the Mustard
You can either freeze the mustard in a large container or in smaller serving containers.
It’s unlikely that you’ll be using a large amount of mustard for cooking, so it’s better to freeze them in smaller portions. This way, it will prevent the mustard from spoiling and quicker to thaw them.
Step 2: Storage
You either use an airtight container or ice cube tray to store them.
For the ice cube tray, spoon the mustard into each slot. Leave a little space at the top of each slot to give the mustard room to expand. Then cover it with plastic wrap and place it into the freezer. Flash freeze the mustard for about 1-2 hours.
Once it’s completely frozen, remove them from the freezer. Then immediately transfer the mustard from the ice tray to an airtight container. After it’s all in there, seal the lid to the container tightly.
If you don’t want to use the ice cube method, simply spoon the mustard into several small airtight containers. Leave a small space at the top of the container to allow the mustard to expand. Then place the lid on the container and seal it tightly.
Step 3: Label and Freezing Mustard
Once you have the container sealed, with a marker, write down the date of freezing on the container. Then transfer them to the freezer for storage. It’s best to keep them at the far end of the freezer, where they will have a lesser chance of being affected by the changes in temperature.
How Long Can You Freeze Mustard?
Mustard will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 16 months if it’s properly stored. After that, the quality of it will start to deteriorate after each month thereafter.
However, the mustard will still be safe to consume, but you may not enjoy the taste of it very much.
In order to make sure the mustard is fresh, try to use it within a year after freezing it.
Related Article: How Long Does Mustard Last?
How Do You Defrost Mustard?
Before you can use the mustard for cooking or as a condiment for food after it’s frozen, you’ll need to thaw it first. Thawing is quite simple and doesn’t take a long time.
When you’re ready to use mustard, remove them from the freezer and set it on a plate. Let it sit at room temperature to thaw for about able 20-30 minutes. If it’s some part of it is still frozen, give it a quick stir.
However, leaving the mustard out at room temperature too long could allow bacteria contamination. If you’re not going to use it within an hour, place it into the refrigerator for storage.
If you need mustard much sooner, you can thaw them in warm water. Remove the bag of mustard and place it into a bowl of warm water. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. Every 2-3 minutes, squeeze the bag gently to help break the mustard up. This is a faster method and the quality of it remains the same.
Thawing the mustard in the microwave isn’t an option. Doing so will cause them to become watery, which will cause the mustard to lose some of its flavors.
Can You Refreeze Mustard?
Yes, you can refreeze mustard, but only on one condition. The mustard should not be thawed if you’re planning to put it back into the freezer.
Freezing the mustard more than once will alter the texture of the mustard. After it’s thawed for the second time, it will become watery.
To avoid having to refreeze mustard, it’s recommended to freeze them in portions. This way, you will only need to remove what you need without worry about any leftovers and having to refreeze them.
Other Questions about Mustard
Can you freeze mustard seeds?
Yes, you can freeze mustard seeds, but there’s no point in doing so. Mustard seeds can be stored in an airtight jar and kept in the pantry. As long as it’s kept airtight and in a cool place, the seeds will last for many months.
Can you freeze mustard in a jar?
If the mustard came in a jar when you bought them, it’s not recommended to freeze it. The jar wasn’t designed to withstand the freezing temperature and will likely crack when it’s frozen. However, if on the label, it says you can freeze it, then it’s fine.
Instead, you should transfer the mustard from the jar to an airtight container or a mason jar. Make sure both items are safe for freezer usage.