If you want to eat kimchi outside of the winter season, you can make large amounts in summer and use it all year round.
Kimchi making is a great way for families to spend time together and can also be a good hobby for homemakers or spinsters.
There are many ways to serve kimchi, so you can make it as spicy as you like and use kimchi radishes any way you please.
The important thing is that homemade kimchi tastes better than store-bought ones.
But people worry about how to keep the kimchi without it spoiling.
It is not true that kimchi will go bad if you leave it in a refrigerator or at room temperature for a long time.
There are good bacteria in kimchi that help preserve and prevent spoiling.
Can you freeze kimchi? Preserved kimchi will keep for at least three months or more, but it is better to eat sooner.
You can also freeze kimchi, but it will not taste the same as fresh kimchi.
It is best to make kimchi, eat it and then freeze any leftovers.
Kimchi does not require any special storage equipment, so it is easy to make and store.
You can put kimchi in a jar or a plastic container and cover it with plastic wrap (cling film), aluminum foil or even use a rubber band.
In this article, we will guide you through the process of freezing your kimchi and provide you with a few tips on how to use frozen kimchi.
Varieties of Kimchi
There are countless types of kimchi, but the main ingredients remain the same.
The primary ingredients are seasoned vegetables (cabbage or cucumber) and salt.
In addition to these basic ingredients, there may be other seasonings such as pepper powder, garlic, ginger, scallions, onions, and so on.
The most commonly used vegetables for kimchi are cabbage, Chinese cabbages (napa or bok choy), radishes, and cucumbers.
In the summertime, people also include green onions/scallions in their kimchi.
Vegetables can be made into julienned rings or chunks of any size, depending upon personal preference.
Kimchi is made to taste spicy hot, which gives it a unique flavor and a crisp, tangy bite.
It is usually eaten as a side dish, but some people like to eat other food such as rice and noodles.
On the other hand, some people eat kimchi alone because it has enough flavor on its own.
Does Freezing Affect Kimchi?
When you freeze kimchi, the texture and flavor alter slightly.
Freezing does not have a big impact on kimchi; however, the texture becomes softer and tastes sourer.
The color also changes from dark red to lighter red, and the cabbage becomes wilted.
The taste is still good, with a completely different texture from fresh Kimchi-so.
It does not spoil foods, but the flavor of kimchi is slightly lost over time.
It’s best to eat the kimchi soon after you’ve made it.
However, if you must freeze your kimchi, the best way is to divide it into 1 cup portions and put them in a freezer bag.
If you are using frozen kimchi for a long time, take out as much as you need to use for one meal and leave the rest in the freezer.
If left outside of the freezer, kimchi will not stay fresh for a long time.
How to Freeze Kimchi?
Freezing Kimchi is not difficult.
You can freeze kimchi in the same way you would fresh vegetables, but it might lose some of its nutrients.
Freezing will not spoil kimchi completely, but it will alter the taste and texture slightly.
If you want to freeze kimchi, follow these steps below:
- Make sure the kimchi is still fresh and good enough to eat because frozen kimchi will not taste the same as fresh kimchi when thawed.
- Prepare your freezer with an airtight container. If you plan to use a glass jar or any other type of food storage container, make sure it has an airtight seal.
- For large amounts of kimchi, buy and use a vacuum packing machine. Vacuum bags are available in most well-stocked supermarkets, so this is convenient if you decide to make larger quantities of kimchi.
- Use zip-lock freezer bags if you do not own a vacuum packing machine. Place food in the bag, seal it, suck out as much air as possible, and then immediately place it in the freezer. Freezer bags provide more secure storage because they are thicker than ordinary plastic bags or containers used for freezing food.
- Once everything is ready, put the kimchi in a freezer bag or container. You can freeze kimchi for 1-3 months, depending on the quantity and type of ingredients.
- Make sure you set the date you froze it so you know how long it has been there.
How to Thaw Frozen Kimchi?
Thawing frozen kimchi is very easy.
Put the kimchi back in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, or you can add it to a saucepan with cold water and heat it for 2-3 minutes.
The water should not be heated too high, or the kimchi will begin to cook instead of thawing.
Just make sure the temperature is somewhere just above room temperature.
Depending on the amount of kimchi you want to defrost, it will take a few hours to thaw completely.
During that time, do not open the container or disturb anything to let out any of the cold air.
Once thawed, stir well to mix the vegetables before you eat them.
How to Serve Thawed Kimchi?
After thawing frozen kimchi, you can serve it the same way as fresh kimchi.
You can add it to a bowl of rice and make it spicy, eat with noodles, or even eat alone.
If you eat it without rice, you should mix well to make sure all kimchi is soft enough to be eaten.
Kimchi can be served as a side dish that goes with any meal.
It’s a common ingredient in Korean cooking, but did you know that it’s also used in other Asian and Middle Eastern cuisines?
They serve kimchi with rice at every meal, using it to replace lettuce in their sandwiches and wraps.
Kimchi is also a common ingredient in tacos or burritos served at Mexican restaurants because of its sour flavor.
Popular Asian dishes like sushi and possibly even some Chinese foods are made even more delicious by adding kimchi.
You can also use kimchi to make a spicy topping when cooking fried rice.
How to Tell if Frozen Kimchi is Bad?
The rule of thumb when using any frozen vegetables is that you should check for freshness first.
If it looks like it has gone bad, then it’s time to throw it away and get a bag or container full of new kimchi from the refrigerator.
If the kimchi gives off a bad odor or some growth on it, it may have gone bad.
The kimchi kept in the freezer should come with an expiration date and use by date printed on the packaging.
If you are unsure if it’s bad, take a small portion of the kimchi out to thaw and smell.
If the kimchi you have left is more than six months old, then it’s time to throw it away.
If the kimchi has been in your freezer for a few weeks or a month already, you can still try thawing it and sniffing if there are any bad odors when the container lid is opened.
Can You Freeze Kimchi? Easy Guide to Freeze Kimchi
Ingredients
- Kimchi
- Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
- Labels and markers
Instructions
- Prepare all the mentioned equipment and ingredients in the article.
- Follow the steps for proper freezing.
- Label the container with the date and contents.
- Depending on the recipe, thawing time may vary.