Saffron shelf life and whatever you want to know…

Saffron shelf life is a question that may be in the minds of those who use this popular and expensive spice. For this reason, in this article, we try to study the duration as well as the factors affecting the saffron shelf life. Before we discuss the saffron shelf life, the question is whether you know the usages of saffron in the industry or do you think this valuable spice is used only as a condiment in home-made foods? You have to know you are wrong because saffron is more than just a seasoning and it has many uses in the food and other industries that we will mention below:

Saffron shelf life and its use in different industries

Because of the special aroma and color that saffron gives to food, it is used in the food industry such as sausage making and confectionery to make cake powder. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry in antidepressants. Other industries that use saffron include textiles for dyeing silk, in the dairy industry, as well as natural flavors. As a result, we should not easily turn it into a worthless scrap metal, and this depends on how you maintain it. You need to know that to increase the saffron shelf life, a few simple but important and practical points are essential. You can extend your saffron shelf life by following a few simple tips. Follow the tips in this article so that you can increase the saffron shelf life, enjoy the taste and odor and medicinal properties of your stored saffron for a long time, without the slightest change in the time the saffron is stored. So don’t miss this article and follow us till the end.

extending saffron shelf life

What are the factors affecting the saffron shelf life?

We are all familiar with saffron and its extraordinary impact on most Iranian foods, and we know that if we use it for one time in our cooking, we will no longer be able to use it in our dishes. When we buy saffron we all look for the best quality saffron. Some people believe that the higher the quality of the saffron, the better the saffron shelf life will be. This issue is not ruled out and the quality somewhat affects the saffron shelf life but you should know that the quality of the purchased saffron is no guarantee for the saffron shelf life. Of course, we all know that saffron and other spices have a longer shelf life than other food products, but the way they are preserved is also very important. Typically, shelf life is very high and rest assured that the saffron will never be unusable, but if the saffron is kept for a very long time in an irregular way, it will lose some quality. So always keep in mind that ” saffron shelf life depends on environmental conditions and if maintained in proper environmental conditions, saffron shelf life will be extended and will have the same quality and appearance as the day you have bought.”

Suitable environmental conditions for extending saffron shelf life

First, you should know that saffron essential oil is instable and if stored in an inappropriate place, it loses both its essence and taste and the medicinal effects of saffron. As a result, as you mentioned above, if you are one of those people who buy and store a lot of saffron at home, you need to increase the saffron shelf life. Make sure to observe the following points.

• Storage of saffron in glass and metal containers, extending saffron shelf life

Saffron should be stored in metal containers and glass containers in a dry, dark place. Transparent containers can also be wrapped in aluminum foil to stay away from light. In general, the principle of saffron storage is to avoid light and moisture for a longer shelf life, the ideal temperature is below 2°C, and the humidity should be less than 2%. The reason metal and glass containers are suitable for saffron storage is that in plastic and other containers faster the properties, aroma and color of saffron are lost and plastic containers play a large role in this regard.

extend saffron shelf life through not powdering saffron

• Extend saffron shelf life through not powdering saffron

You might think that it is better to powder the saffron to always have it ready, but this is completely wrong because the powdered saffron loses its properties and essence very quickly, so always powder it before using.

• Extend saffron shelf life through keeping the saffron dried

Some people think that saffron is just like vegetables and can be frozen fresh, but I have to tell you this is the worst possible way to store saffron. The saffron should be dried in the oven and stored. If you want to keep it in the refrigerator, you should dry it in the oven, then powder it and soak it.

saffron shelf life in the refrigerator

• Do not powder saffron with sugar to extend saffron shelf life

In the past our mothers used to powder the saffron with sugar. The sugar in the saffron after a while causes the saffron to completely lose its color. As a result, the sugar reduces the saffron shelf life and should not be used. If the above mentioned points are observed saffron shelf life can be extended for many years, but it is recommended to use the saffron in the house for two years because the saffron over time will significantly lose its aroma, taste and properties.