Tahini is not a recently discovered condiment as it has been around for many years, particularly in the Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and North American parts of the world. In this article, we will be looking at all you need to know about tahini, from its storage to how you can add this flavoring condiment to your dishes to bring out its glory.
Generally, we would describe tahini as a condiment or a flavoring ingredient that is kept on the table for use in our dishes. Taking a closer look, tahini paste is made by grinding sesame seeds, which are usually very oily. The oil content of sesame seeds contributes about half the weight of the seeds. Some brands of tahini require additional oil, salt, and other necessary ingredients you might wish to add.
If you just recently purchased your tahini at your grocery store and you wish to use it more than once, proper storage is advised so as to extend its shelf life. Knowing how to store all your recipes is a gift, as it makes them really accessible for next time without having to go to the grocery store for everything you need.
Once you have opened your tahini and you are done using it for that time, make sure to store the whole condiments to infuse the oil back into the paste and place them in your refrigerator. Note that your tahini is capable of lasting for a long time, possibly months, but the oil will definitely go rancid.
How long before tahini goes bad after opening?
Tahini, as you may know, is basically sesame seed oil, so its shelf life is fairly long and not really predictable. Just like your nut butter and others, the quality of tahini is bound to degrade with time, especially when it is already opened. Hence, it will be disposed of not because it has gone bad but because it has lost its quality.
Tahini jars will definitely have a best before date, which is often calculated from the day the sesame seed is jarred, and this period is usually between one to two years when it is still sealed. However, when the seal is broken, tahini paste will last best for a period of 5 to 6 months at least, while some, with proper preservation, may stay till the best-by date.
One factor that sometimes influences the shelf life of Tahini is the preservatives added into it by the manufacturer to help keep it quality. In essence, organic tahini will definitely have a shorter shelf life compared with those with additional ingredients.
What you know is that tahini will retain its quality until its expiration date. However, once the seal on the jar is broken, know that the degradation process increases and it will last for at least a period of 5–6 months, while some may be in shape till the best-by date.
All periods mentioned concerning Tahini’s shelf life are not exact but rough estimates aimed at optimum quality alone.
What does tahini smell like?
Can you, if you are placed with tahini and another option, differentiate between the two? Well, to clear that up, you may like the taste of tahini more than peanut butter, but not as sweet as peanut butter. Tahini, when it’s still in perfect condition, tends to have a nutty, earthy flavor of sesame seeds. Also know that those made from roasted sesame seed will have a more mild taste compared with Tahini from raw, unshelled sesame seeds
How do I know if tahini has gone bad?
Bacteria and fungi do not grow easily on tahini due to its high oil content, which does provide the most conducive environment for it. Because of this oil, it is very rare to see mold or irritating growth on your tahini paste, but if you do find any questionable growth on your tahini paste in the jar, do well to dispose of it properly.
However, like any fatty food, one very uncomfortable factor, which may not be too dangerous, is rancidity. Food rancidity is somewhat less dangerous when talking about food safety. However, it will affect both the taste and smell of the food, making a lot of people not want to eat rancid foods.
There are several factors which cause food rancidity, namely time and access to oxygen. Access to light and temperature also has a hand. You can know if your tahini paste is still good by checking for rancidity through the smell or taste.
Is tahini healthy for consumption?
Of course, everyone wants to know if what they are consuming is in any way healthy or beneficial to their health. Tahini does have great culinary use and benefits, but apart from that, it also possesses health benefits.
Below are some of the health benefits of tahini paste.
- You should know that tahini is a nutritious powerhouse, rich in healthy fat, vitamins, and certain minerals. They contain calories, protein, fat, carbs, fiber, thiamine, vitamin B6, phosphorus, and manganese.
- Tahini is also a strong source of antioxidants, particularly lignan sesamin, which helps against free radicals in the body as well as combating diseases.
- Sesame seeds, which are used to manufacture tahini paste, help to decrease the risk of certain health conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart conditions. Consuming sesame seeds reduces the risk of high cholesterol levels and triglycerides, which are responsible for certain heart diseases. Also, consuming diets rich in monounsaturated fats helps to lessen the risk of diabetes.
- Other health benefits linked with consumption of tahini paste include possession of antibacterial properties due to its healthy fat and antioxidant content. They are also known to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, contain certain compounds which helps to make the central nervous system strong, helps with cancer due to presence of sesamin and sesamol, also aiding in proper functioning of the liver and kidney etc.
How do you use tahini?
Well, generally, tahini is often described as a condiment. We can use it as a flavoring agent for our dishes, and it can even be used for baked goods. In this article, we are going to see the detailed use of tahini paste in our kitchen.
Below are some of the common uses of tahini paste.
- The first way we can use tahini is by mixing it into appetizers. Apart from chickpeas, another prominent ingredient used for flavoring hummus is pomegranates. It gives a pronounced nutty flavor to this staple dish. As a Mediterranean cooking recipe, apart from hummus, it is also used in other dishes like baba Ghanouj, in dressings for salads, and also to prepare sauce for falafel.
- Another way to use tahini is by whisking it into a dressing. It is very suitable for salads because of its thick texture, giving the salad a creamy base dressing. It is also very suitable as a dip for vegetables.
- You can also blend tahini into smoothies and oatmeal mix for your breakfast. This is so satisfying as it adds an extra flavor to our breakfast as well as makes it extra nutritious. Tahini may also be used as a spread by mixing it with honey and cinnamon to make a flavorful plant based spread for toast, muffins, bagels etc.
- We can also use Tahini to prepare flavorful condiments for roasting vegetables and meat. For this purpose, thin tahini with lemon juice, water, and chopped garlic cloves to give a really savory sauce.
Lastly, tahini paste can be used in desserts by drizzling over fresh fruits. You can also swirl into brownies or cookies to finish off your meals satisfactorily. You may also use it for your ice cream.
What can I use to replace Tahini?
Ever been in a situation whereby a necessary ingredient is unavailable and you start looking for what you can use in place of the unavailable ingredient? Well, the good news is that Tahini does have a replacement.
Tahini is a paste basically manufactured from sesame seeds. Nut butters are a good substitute, but do well to ensure your jar choice is an unsweetened one. Some basic substitutes for tahini include peanut butter, cashew butter, butter from sunflower seeds, etc.
Also, add some drops. The flavor of sesame seed oil familiarizes the flavor but doesn’t do much for the consistency as well as feel, hence it is advisable to use a mild nut butter like cashew butter as a substitute.
Can I store tahini in my refrigerator?
One is under a cool temperature, either by freezing or refrigerating. This method has proven very effective with little or no effect on the quality of the stored food.
When we talk about refrigerating tahini, you need to know that the paste has a stable shelf life, so refrigerating is not really necessary. Other than the popular fact that refrigerating goods helps to retain their quality, it is optional and much preferable to store your tahini paste in a cool, dark area where it is less exposed to light than at room temperature.
Note that refrigerating tahini tends to increase its thickness, making it less likely to be a paste and more like ice cream.