Tahini purchased from a store doesn’t need to be refrigerated, but you can if you choose. Tahini, whether opened or not, can be kept in a cool, dry place like a kitchen pantry or cupboard. It’s OK either way. You must keep homemade tahini in the fridge after making it.
Are there any advantages of refrigerating tahini?
Tahini thickens significantly after being chilled in the refrigerator. If you like your tahini on the thicker side, that’s OK, but it could be a problem if you’re attempting to spread it over toast or stir it into something like oats or yogurt.
You know how it goes if you’ve ever refrigerated olive oil. At room temperature, it’s the right thickness for drizzling, but in the fridge, it gets a lot thicker. Tahini experiences a similar phenomenon, except it is more pronounced.
However, you can reheat your tahini in a bowl of warm water or leave it out to stand for a few hours to soften the consistency.
To sum it up, leaving it at room temperature is the most convenient option (no need to reheat it or stir it for an extended period of time, etc.). Sesame seed paste benefits from being refrigerated to maintain its freshness. Refrigeration could be a good option if you want it to keep its quality for the longest possible period after opening or if you plan on keeping it open for up to a year.
What does tahini taste like?
Tahini is a sesame seed spread that is sometimes referred to as “sesame butter.” It has a texture and consistency that are a lot like nut butter, and most of its parts are simple. A smooth and creamy paste is made by grinding roasted or unroasted, hulled sesame seeds.
Because of how it looks, tahini is sometimes mistaken for natural peanut butter. However, it is not sweet like peanut butter. The flavor is similar to that of sesame seeds, which are earthy and nutty, but it’s slightly bitter. Raw sesame seed tahini tastes stronger than sesame seed tahini that has been roasted.
How long does tahini last after opening?
Tahini has a shelf life of anything from one to three years, and it continues to be usable for at least a few months beyond the expiry date. Once the jar has been opened, it will be used at least until the expiration date, but likely for much longer.
It’s best to use homemade tahini within four weeks after making it and storing it in the fridge. There is no way to safely store it for a long time because it has not been pasteurized.
When you crack open a jar of tahini, the paste is exposed to the outside air for the first time. As a result, quality declines somewhat more quickly, although not drastically.
Because of this, some companies say you should use your tahini within a year of opening it, while others say you should eat it before it goes bad. In the grand scheme of things, the tahini’s shelf life won’t be affected too much if the seal is broken.
Tahini has a long shelf life, and the antioxidants it gets from sesame seeds help it keep its nutritional value. These antioxidants keep the spread fresh and edible for a very long time.
How do I know if tahini has gone bad?
Putrid Odor
Tahini has a long shelf life because the oil in it functions as a preservative. However, oils can become bad when exposed to air, heat, and light. If you fear your tahini has gone bad, give it a sniff; rancid tahini will have a scent that is bitter, slightly metallic, and soapy.
Foul Taste
If the tahini has gone bad, it will also have an unpleasant odor and taste. Start with a tiny serving to see how you like it. If the tahini you purchased tastes stale or metallic, or if it smells like gas or old, overdone oil, then you should not eat it.
Mold growth
Tahini does not support mold growth very well. Nonetheless, it’s not implausible, especially near the container’s opening. Mold can cause serious health problems, but rancidity usually won’t. So, if you notice mold, toss the tahini right away.
What are the health benefits of tahini?
Tahini is a great food to add to your diet because it is full of nutrients and antioxidants. I will be listing some of its health benefits below.
Promotes cardiac health
Studies have shown that adding tahini to your diet is good for your heart health because it lowers your blood pressure, triglyceride levels, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.
Lowers inflammation
While your immune system relies on inflammation in the short term, long-term inflammation is linked to diseases like cancer and diabetes.
There’s evidence to suggest eating sesame seeds can help reduce inflammation.
Also, patients with osteoarthritis who ate sesame seeds every day for two months had less malondialdehyde (MDA), which is a sign of inflammation.
Beneficial to the bones
A lack of magnesium in the diet has been linked to brittle, easily broken bones. This condition is known as osteoporosis. Additionally, it may reduce bone strength by interfering with the parathyroid hormone’s normal function. Because of its high magnesium content, tahini may be beneficial for bone health.
What are the potential downsides of tahini?
Sesame allergy
Tahini consumption has been linked to gastrointestinal distress, vomiting, and rashes in sesame-allergic people. Extreme reactions, such as itching in the mouth, skin redness, and wheezing, can also be brought on by a hypersensitivity to sesame seeds.
However, the early phases of such reactions are typically modest. Early diagnosis is important because removing the offending food can stop symptoms from getting worse.
Can lead to indigestion
Indigestion is a common side effect of consuming too much tahini. Too much oil and protein in the diet can cause buildup in the digestive tract, which can be especially hard for people who already have trouble digesting. Most of the time, though, these problems are small and go away after a day or two.
How do you eat tahini?
Tahini is a delicious sesame seed paste that may be used in a wide variety of ways.
People typically use it as a bread dip or to spread on toast.
You can also make a delicious homemade salad dressing by combining it with olive oil, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice.
As an alternative, you may use it as a dip for nutritious snacks like carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, cucumber spears, and celery.
Adding tahini to baked foods and sweets like cookies and banana bread is a great way to make them less sweet and give them a unique nutty flavor.
What are some tahini substitutes?
Sesame seeds rank 9th in common food allergies for children and adults. As a result, you might want to seek an alternative if you are allergic to it. I have listed some substitutes that you can and should try out.
Cashew Butter
People often say that peanut butter can be used instead of tahini, but you might have better luck with cashew butter. As a milder nut butter, it takes the place of tahini in many vegan sauces, spreads, and dressings.
Those who are allergic to sesame can use cashew butter instead. Those who are allergic to nuts should not consume it. For those concerned with their diet, cashew butter has a few more calories and carbs than its peanut butter counterpart. Nonetheless, it has fewer calories and more protein. If you don’t have almond butter on hand, you can use cashew butter in its place.
Almond Butter
In recent years, almond butter has risen in popularity as a spreadable nut alternative. The higher fiber and vitamin content make it a popular alternative to peanut butter. Because of its moderate flavor, high fat content, and creamy texture, it can stand in for tahini in many recipes. Almond butter can be substituted for tahini if you have an allergy to sesame, but it’s not a good option if you’re allergic to nuts.
Almond butter and tahini have comparable nutritional profiles. While almond butter does have a few extra calories and fat, it has a lot less sugar and a lot more protein. There’s a one-to-one substitution ratio between almond butter and other spreads.
Sunflower Butter
Sunflower butter can be used in place of tahini in recipes that call for a similar taste and consistency. Sunflower butter, like tahini, is prepared from seeds, but it is often thicker than tahini.
Though sunflower butter is higher in fat and carbs, it is also higher in protein. Sunflower butter can be substituted for tahini in any recipe that calls for tahini at a 1:1 ratio.
When sugar is added to sunflower butter, it can change the way a dish tastes, especially when it is used in savory dishes. Sunflower seeds and sesame oil make a good homemade alternative, or you may look for a sugar-free brand in the supermarket.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is popular due to its high nutritional value. Because of its high protein and vitamin content, this meal is often used in place of tahini and other similar foods.
Because it is more watery than tahini, it is a great substitute for it in sauces and dips. Tahini’s thicker consistency means you might need to tweak the proportions of other ingredients.
Greek yogurt has a higher protein content and a lower fat content. It also has fewer calories than tahini. While it does have more sugar than tahini, it has less fiber.
Sesame Oil
Sesame oil is a good choice for people looking for a healthy alternative that is low in sugar, salt, and carbs. When it is similarly made from sesame, it may have a taste similar to tahini when used in savory applications like salad dressings. Sesame oil has more calories and fat content per serving than olive oil, but it doesn’t have any protein or fiber.