Spirulina is popular due to its nutrient-rich properties. Most people will prefer spirulina in powder form due to the ease of mixing it with other foods. You may want to stock up on these algae, so you’ll always have a supply of them. You may be wondering if you can freeze spirulina powder in order to extend its shelf life.
So, can you freeze spirulina powder? Yes, you can freeze spirulina powder. These algae freeze well because it’s in powder form. Place them in an airtight container or freezer bag and seal them tightly. Properly stored, spirulina powder will last indefinitely in the freezer, but for the best quality, you’ll want to use them within a year.
What is Spirulina Powder?
Spirulina has been gaining a lot of popularity due to its health benefits. It has been consumed by humans and animals alike for thousands of years.
Spirulina is a freshwater type of blue-green algae. The algae are usually harvested in deep water, and it’s quite easy to harvest them.
In today’s modern world, the idea of going into the water and grabbing algae to snack on isn’t something that most will want to do. Instead, to make it easier to consume, companies turn these algae into the form of dried and powdered spirulina. Also, it will have the highest concentration of nutrition by weight.
Do Spirulina Powder Freeze Well?
Spirulina powder freeze very well. Since the algae are in their powder form, all the moisture has been extracted. This means it won’t be affected by the freezing temperature.
However, if spirulina powder is exposed to moisture, it can clump together. This usually happens when there’s a leak in the container or plastic bag.
Also, it could be opening and closing the container or bag frequently. As you take them out of the freezer, condensation will occur. As you place them back into the freezer, the small water droplet will freeze. Once you take the algae out again, it will melt and cause the powder to become moist.
As long as you keep spirulina powder dry and sealed tight, it can last indefinitely.
How to Freeze Spirulina Powder
Powder in general freezes well, and you can place spirulina powder in the freezer if the bag is unopened.
If the bag is already open, you’ll need to transfer the powder to a freezer bag or an airtight container.
Spirulina also comes in a resealable bag. If it does, you can use the original bag to store the powder in the freezer. Just make sure to squeeze out as much air as you can before sealing it back up.
The reason why you can’t have air in the bag or container is that powders are so fine. Even a small amount of air could oxidize the powder. The longer it’s kept in the freezer, the more oxidized the powder will be.
How to Store Spirulina Powder Without Freezing
Spirulina powder doesn’t need the freezer to keep them fresh. As long as it’s sealed tight, you can keep them in the pantry for a long time.
For unopened spirulina powder, all you need to do is keep them in a cool and dry place. The pantry or cupboard works great for storing the powder.
On the other hand, if the spirulina bag is open, you’ll need to transfer them to an airtight container. The container should be opaque. A clear container will allow sunshine to shine through which could cause them to go bad.
How Do You Defrost Spirulina Powder?
There’s no need to defrost spirulina powder. All you need to do is remove the bag from the freezer and scoop the amount you need into a glass of water. Give it a good stir, and you’re ready to enjoy this healthy and nutritious drink.
Make sure not to keep the powder out at room temperature for a long time. Doing so will cause condensation in the bag when you place them back in the freezer. While nothing will happen yet, but when you take the bag out again, the water droplet could cause the powder to clump together.
For that reason, you should try to portion them in several containers or freezer bags. This way, you’ll only need to remove what you need without worrying about condensation forming.
How Long Can You Freeze Spirulina Powder?
Spirulina powder will last indefinitely in the freezer if it’s properly stored and kept at a constant temperature. However, you should try to consume them within a year for the best quality.
The longer that it’s stored in the freezer, the more the quality of it will deteriorate. However, the powder will still be safe to eat, it just won’t have a lot of nutrition like when it was fresh.
The powder doesn’t go bad if there is no air present. This means you should try to limit the amount of time the bag is open and closed. Every time that it’s open, the air is introduced into the bag and will affect the powder.
Can Spirulina Powder Stored In The Freezer Go Bad?
Spirulina powder doesn’t actually go bad. The longer they are stored in the freezer, the more the quality of it will deteriorate. This means the longer that it’s in the freezer, the more nutrition that will be lost.
After about a year, the quality of spirulina powder will start to diminish. You may notice that it’s not that tasteful anymore. When the algae lose its taste, it will also lose nutrition.
While you can store spirulina powder in the freezer forever, and it won’t go bad, it will just lose its quality.
Conclusion
Spirulina powder can be frozen without any issues, but you need to keep them dry by sealing them tight. Just a small amount of air or moisture that leaks into the packaging, it will cause them to lose their nutrition and taste. Since it’s in powdered form, you don’t need to freeze them. They can be stored at room temperature and will have the same shelf life as in the freezer.