A guide to preserving tomato paste and preventing it from rotting
One of the most important ways to store tomato paste for a long time and prevent it from rotting is to put the paste in glass containers, place it in the upper layers of the refrigerator or freezer, and use a dry and clean spoon to remove it. paste.
Housekeeping Service Star - Long-term consumption of moldy paste is harmful to health and, in addition to causing allergies, can be a serious cause of liver cancer. In this article, how to store tomato paste and ways to prevent it from becoming moldy, and the dangers of eating moldy food from the point of view of nutrition experts, are reviewed.
Tips for storing tomato paste for a long time
1. Store the putty in the freezer
The best way to store tomato paste for a long time and to prevent it from getting moldy is to put it in the freezer. In this way, you can safely store tomato paste for several months. The best way to freeze the paste is to freeze the tomato paste in a freezer bag and spread it out. So that the thickness of the dough layer is about one centimeter. This way, you can easily separate a piece of frozen paste for each use and put the rest in the freezer. Ensure that the freezer temperature will keep the tomato paste healthy for several months.
2. Keep the paste in a glass container
The best container for storing tomato paste is a glass container. Therefore, it is better to immediately transfer the contents into a glass container after opening the putty can. Because there is a high probability of interaction between one of the components of the food composition (especially the acidic substance) with the metal wall of the inner wall of the can. It is necessary to use this solution for all cans such as canned fruits, canned corn, etc., which require long storage.
3. Pour a thin layer of oil over the dough
As mentioned, the most important reason for the formation of mold on the surface of tomato paste is its interaction with oxygen in the air. One of the old ways to preserve tomato paste at home is to pour a thin layer of oil over the bowl of the paste. This will stop the oxygen supply to the tomato paste and the paste will no longer form.
4. Put the putty into small bowls
If you have prepared the paste in bulk, be sure to store the paste in small, closed containers and on the top shelves of the refrigerator after opening it in its original container. It is best to use jars specially designed for storing paste that have a ring and seal around them to keep out as much air as possible. Also, do not pour the tomato paste into the bowl all at once, instead, no matter how many spoonfuls you pour, move the spoon several times in a line in the bowl so that there is no bubble or air space under the paste, which will cause mold and damage to the paste in the future.
5. Clean and dry the spoon
The old recommendation for storing tomato paste for a long time and preventing it from rotting is to use a clean, dry spoon to remove the paste; Therefore, it is recommended that you never put a greasy or wet spatula into the putty container.
It is forbidden to use moldy paste!
Eating any kind of moldy food is harmful to health, and even removing the moldy part and eating the rest that looks healthy is not recommended. When a food item gets moldy, it indicates the presence of fungus in it, so even if you remove the moldy part of the paste, there is a chance that mold spores and toxins from the rest of the paste will still be there. Since the spores of the fungus cannot be seen with the naked eye, and the toxin can only be detected by chemical tests, it is a mistake to think that since the mold is no longer visible inside the container, it is okay to ingest it.
As it grows, molds produce a substance called mycotoxin, which is harmful to human health. The results of experts' research showed that mycotoxins cause long-term chronic diseases, and some types of them may also cause liver cancer. Molds thrive in warm, moist environments, so the first step to preventing food from rotting is to store it in a cool, dry environment.
