What is the average shelf life of curry? How long does curry last in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer? What is the best way to store curry to increase its shelf life? Find out the answers to these questions and more below:
Shelf Life of Curry
| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | 2-3 Years | - | - |
Curry is a combination of dried spices and fresh herbs put together to make a sauce. The sauce can act as a base or for adding extra flavor. Both in Indian cuisine and Thai cuisine, the word Curry is used to describe a dish of meat or vegetables usually with some sort of gravy present. The gravy is the combination of spices, vegetables, and herbs with the whole dish referred to as a Curry. If the Curry is in powder form – where the spices have been grounded up – the concoction can last for up to two years as long as it’s not exposed to moisture. Cooked Curry can be kept in the fridge for up to a week. The long cooking process kills most if not all bacteria present, the water content of the dish can lead to the growth of fungus and bacteria.
Purchasing Curry
Curry powder uses a combination of ground spices usually catering to a specific dish. Curry powder can be made at home but requires the purchasing of individual ingredients that have to be ground and mixed together. There is certain Curry paste like the one used in Thai cooking which uses shrimp as an ingredient. If you have any allergies, do go over the ingredients list to put your mind at ease.
Storing Curry
Curry powder after being taken out of the packet should be stored in an airtight container. The container can be placed in the pantry, on the counter, or in the cabinet. Even direct sunlight doesn’t harm the taste of curry powder, but moisture will ruin it. Cooked Curry should be placed in the fridge and will last around a week. Curry can be frozen too and can be defrosted in the microwave or at room temperature. After defrosting put the curry back on the stove, heat, and mix to restore a uniform taste. When storing Curry in a box go for a lid. The lid prevents air from reacting with the food and Curry can have a strong aroma which will be absorbed into the fridge.
How to Handle Curry
Curry powder can be measured and transferred using a spoon or measuring cup. As long as there is no water on the utensil, a simple wipe can make it clean. Cooked curry usually contains a noticeable amount of oil. The oil left on a plate dries and hardens. When this happens, not only does it require more elbow grease to deal with it but can give off a foul odor.
Cooking Curry
There are different methods of working with curry paste, powder, and sauce. The powder is usually added to vegetables and water and cooked to create a sauce. The paste can be the first ingredient in the pan usually to fry lightly and brown the spices to develop a deeper flavor. During this process, heat has to be very well managed otherwise the spices will burn. Curry sauce can have a different viscosity and cooking time will depend on this. Curry sauce like curry powder can be very dish specific.