Does red curry paste go bad?

In this brief guide, we will answer the question “Does red curry paste go bad?”, and tell you how to store curry paste in the freezer to make it last longer.

Does red curry paste go bad?

Yes, red curry paste can go bad if not stored properly. Once opened, red curry paste can stay good for upto 4 weeks when kept in the refrigerator. After four weeks, it may lose its flavor and aroma.

Unopened red curry paste can last upto 3 years when stored properly. It should be kept in a cool, dry place away from moisture and heat.

You can store curry paste in the freezer if you want to store it for longer periods of time.

Is it a good idea to store red curry paste in the freezer?

Yes, freezing the curry paste is a good idea when you have a lot of it left and you wish to store it for longer periods of time rather than having to throw it out and buying a new one every time you want to make curry.

However, curry paste may lose its taste and freshness over time so if you use it after a long time, you may have to adjust the seasonings or ingredients according to your needs. Also, curry paste may also get freezer burns which is why it is important to store it properly and in a freezer safe ziploc bag.

How to store red curry paste in the freezer?

There are two ways to store curry paste in the freezer.

Method  1

1. Take an empty ice cube tray and wash it.
2. Then pat it completely dry with a paper towel.
3. Next, spray the ice cube tray with cooking oil or use a brush to put oil.
4. Measure out the amount of curry paste you would require to make one meal of curry.
5. Pour this exact same amount in multiple cubes.
6. Place the ice cube tray in the freezer and let the paste freeze for at least 2-3 hours.
7. Once they have been frozen, take all the frozen curry paste cubes out of the ice cube tray.
8. Place them inside a heavy duty freezer bag or an airtight container. 
9. Thaw them when needed and use them.

Freezing them first prevents them from sticking together and makes it easy for you to take out only the amount of curry paste needed. 

Method 2

1. Measure out the amount needed to make curry by following your favorite recipe.
2. Pull out a plastic wrap and lay it on your countertop.
   
3. Place all the measured out curry paste servings on the plastic wrap with some distance in between them.
   
4. Place another piece of plastic wrap on top of it and press it down in between the spaces.
   
5. Take a pair of scissors and cut the plastic wrap from in between the spaces.
   
6. Wrap the plastic properly around the curry paste.
   
7. Place all of these curry paste balls and place them in the freezer as it is or inside a heavy duty freezer bag.
   
8. Take them out individually when required.

Is red curry paste the same as Gochujang?

No, red curry paste is not the same as Gochujang. Gochujang is basically just Korean chili paste. 

Red curry paste has a lot of other ingredients added to it other than red chili peppers such as cumin, coriander, fenugreek, etc. These other ingredients are what give the curry paste its unique flavor. This is also why different types of curry pastes taste different and also have different colors.

Gochujang on the other hand is just made with mainly red chili peppers.

Gochujang is used widely in a lot of dishes to make the food more spicy. Depending on one’s own preference, they can add as much or as little Gochujang as they like. It is added as an ingredient. On the contrary, curry paste is used with a lot of different meats and vegetables. The star of the dish is the curry paste rather than an ingredient. 

Find out about the uses of curry paste here.

Other FAQs about Curry that you may be interested in.

How healthy is curry?

How do you store curry paste in the freezer?

How do you reheat curry puffs in the microwave?

Conclusion

In this brief guide, we answered the question “Does red curry paste go bad?”, and told you how to store curry paste in the freezer to make it last longer.

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