What is the average shelf life of mustard? How long does mustard last in the pantry, refrigerator, or freezer? What is the best way to store mustard to increase their shelf life? Find out the answers to these questions and more below:
Shelf Life of Mustard
| Pantry | Refrigerator | Freezer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ground | 1-3 Years | - | - |
| Dried | 1-3 Years | - | - |
| Whole | 4-5 Years |
Mustard is an herb that comes in many forms. It can be ground, dried, or whole. Herbs and spices are known to last for a year when buying a fairly large amount. The shelf life of this herb is 1-5 years if kept in a tight container. Dried or ground mustard will easily last for at least 1-3 years. If you have purchased mustard whole, then its shelf life is about 5 years.
Purchasing Mustard:
Mustard can be bought at known grocery and herb stores. When purchasing mustard, you should examine the color and judge its quality by checking how old the spice has been on the shelf. Be certain to buy the spice that hasn’t been ground for a long time, because the powdered spices have some ingredients added to them; for this reason, it is preferable to purchase freshly-ground spices. One more thing that you can do is purchase whole mustard and grind it at home; this is the best form of the spice.
Storing Mustard:
Mustard seeds should be kept in an airtight jar, which makes them suitable for use for at least a year. Ground mustard should be kept in an airtight jar or ziplock bag, which allows it to be used for up to 6 months. Make sure that there is no moisture near the herbs; if water gets in the container, then that’s the end of your spices, and you will need to purchase more.
How to Handle Mustard:
Before you use mustard seeds or powdered mustard in any of your dishes, you need to cook the seeds in hot oil or dry fry them in a pan, which will bring out the flavor. By frying the seeds, the pungency of mustard seeds lessens, and they become more pleasant to add to your dishes. While frying them, use a lid on the pan so that you are safe from seeds popping out.
Cooking with Mustard:
Mustard seeds are used as the main ingredient in different curries and in many Indian dishes. You can add the seeds directly, or grind the seeds and use them in the respective dish, which is the preferable method. You can use the seeds in cheese dishes or add crushed seeds to pork, veal, or any other chicken or meat dish. The best way to cook with mustard seeds is to add them with salt and pepper, or you can season your meat with the seeds to give it an aroma of mustard.