Why Maangchi puts her red pepper flakes in the freezer – my tale of woe!

Home Forums Korean food discussion Why Maangchi puts her red pepper flakes in the freezer – my tale of woe!

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    • #50632
      Vibey
      Participant

      I finally learned – the hard way – my Maangchi stores her red pepper flakes in the freezer. This is my sad story.

      There was my 1kg bag of pepper flakes in my pantry: a dark, dry place and ideal for storage. I had the flakes double-bagged in Zip-loc bags. No problem, I thought. WRONG.

      After a couple of months of not using said flakes, I went to the pantry, and lo and behold: the beautiful red of the peppers had gone and instead I had these pale coral-coloured flakes. I opened the bags, and ugh – they were musty, damp, and clumpy. Completely off. I had to toss it away. Almost a whole 1kg bag! *sob!*

      So I opened up my back-up bag, and this time I have done as Maangchi does: put it straight in the freezer!

      I’m not sure how or why my flakes went off like this, particularly since dried chilies and chili flakes keep for such a long time, but I’m guessing Korean red pepper flakes are far more delicate and possibly have a higher water content after drying. (It wouldn’t take much water, by the way.)

      So if you’re wondering why you should store your flakes in the freezer, wonder no more, and learn from me!

    • #55437
      Maangchi
      Keymaster

      Thank you for sharing the story about your hot pepper flakes! yes, it should be stored in the freezer.

    • #55438
      unchienne
      Participant

      My mom also stores red pepper in the freezer, but I found my lesson the hard way as well. Kept mine in a cute little non-airtight crock. It was o.k. for a couple of weeks until I found what looked like little cobwebs in it. Turns out that despite thinking hot peppers are a hostile environment, there are still pests that will happily munch on the stuff. Now I have the bulk in the freezer and keep a few cups in an airtight container in the fridge for everyday use.

    • #55439
      Vibey
      Participant

      That’s a great idea, Unchienne! I’ll do that too, I think. It’s a bit of a hassle going to my big freezer in the laundry just to get a couple of tablespoons of pepper flakes out.

      And now that you mention it, I think mine may have had cobwebby things in it, too. Urgh.

    • #55440

      Mine went moldy but I wonder if it could be used as it is red pepper flakes?

    • #55441

      My mother kept red pepper flakes in the freezer, and she also would save the canisters from Kraft Parmesan cheese, wash them out and use them for red pepper flakes or toasted sesame seeds. Most of the recipes I wrote down from my mom include a number of “shakes” of red pepper or sesame seeds. I keep the large bag of red pepper in the freezer, and I also keep one of the shaker bottles of red pepper in the freezer door so it is still handy.

    • #78653
      arzelia
      Participant

      I wasn’t aware that it should be kept in the freezer. I bought mine in a shaker bottle when visiting Seoul and kept it outside with the rest of the condiments. It went all mouldy before it’s expiry date :(

      Now I know! :O

    • #78678
      wilsondavis
      Participant

      My also mother kept flakes of red pepper in the freezer and kept bowls of Kraft Parmesan, washed them and used them for red pepper flakes or roasted sesame seeds. Most of the recipes I wrote from my mother contain a number of smoothies of red pepper or sesame seeds. I hold the big bag of peppers in the freezer and also keep one of the red stirrers on the freezer door, so it’s always useful.

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