How to identify expired saffron?

How to identify expired saffron?

One of the most delicious and fragrant spices in the world is saffron, the purest of which is cultivated in our country. If we exclude all the properties of saffron, we must also pay attention to the damages caused by improper use of saffron and not forget it. Also, you might not believe that expired saffron is also available. It should be noted that all products in this world can expire one day, even though saffron has a high shelf life, it is no exception.

The best way to store saffron and avoid having expired saffron

One of the factors that affect the saffron expire date is the properties of saffron, although if we look more closely at this native plant, we find that the sale of saffron is actually for the sake of saffron coloring and few people are just buying it for its medical properties. They actually do not care whether saffron has medical properties or not.

Saffron is stored in a variety of ways. Saffron should not be exposed to sunlight or moisture, especially after being powdered, it should be stored in a glass container. Because the aroma of this fragrant spice is volatile, if kept in an inappropriate place, the fragrance evaporates over time and its healthy factors, color, and taste vanish and therefore expires. The expired saffron does not have the high quality as the ingredients. The aromatic saffron in the milled state will evaporate much faster than the unmilled one. It is recommended not to grind the saffron until it is used.

Note: Saffron should not be stored in the refrigerator for more than two weeks as it loses color and expires. To keep the saffron in the fridge, you first need to soak the saffron and place it in a freezer in small ice packs to remove some of it and use it whenever you need it.

The best way to store saffron and avoid having expired saffron

What does old saffron or expired saffron mean?

In fact, saffron can be kept in any form and shape and in any way only 2 to 3 years and sometimes in the case of ideal saffron storage conditions up to 4 years dry saffron can be kept after that saffron expires. After this time, the old saffron or expired saffron does not change its appearance, but in fact the saffron evaporates and loses more than half its moisture. This indicates that there is no longer any saffron oil or valuable substances. The old saffron or expired saffron has no benefit.

Identification of fresh saffron from the old saffron or expired saffron

Some of the apparent differences between fresh saffron and old saffron or expired saffron can only be detected at the beginning of the harvested months. The longer after the harvested time, the more difficult it is to identify expired saffron and fresh saffron, especially if the saffron has been stored properly for years. Overall saffron that has expiration date and has a mild aroma, and if stored and dried properly, it is lighter and brighter than expired saffron. In addition, expired saffron has a lighter aroma than fresh saffron, and expired saffron color is darker.

Difference between fresh saffron and expired saffron

Fresh saffron is softer than expired saffron. expired saffron is a little more fragile. If you don’t know about this, you might think about fresh and soft saffron. Old saffron or expired saffron is easier to use because it crushes faster and easier to grind. expired saffron easily releases color and soaks faster, but the newer the saffron, the harder and slower to release color.

Difference between fresh saffron and expired saffron

After how long does the saffron expires?

Saffron, if dried properly, it can be kept for up to three to four years. Still it will be considered as a high quality fresh saffron and expired saffron is slightly fragile than fresh saffron. In other words, there is no issue regarding the consumption of saffron, which has been kept for three years.

Most of the exported saffron due to standard tests for exporting saffron are not expired saffron, because if they do not meet the required standards, saffron will not be exported. But all these expired saffron are sold in Iran in unnamed and without branded packaging. An issue that dear consumers should keep in mind, is to avoid the saffron without branded and do not be fooled by the cheap price of saffron.

Possible dangers of expired saffron consumption

Possible dangers of expired saffron consumption

Some manufacturers combine chemical dyes and preservatives in the production of saffron. Although these products are saffron, they may threaten your health their due to the impurities the contain. The problem is that the structure and color of the saffron in which the preservatives are used is so similar to fresh saffron that you can hardly identify them. So, next time when you want to buy saffron, consider these issues. Trust only reputable brands while shopping if you do not want to buy fake or expired saffron.