Fans of spicy cuisine cannot deny that Trader Joe’s has one of the best Zhoug sauces on the market. However, even if you do indulge in buying this brand of Zhoug sauce, you may be too busy to enjoy it before the intended date. Rather than run the risk of having to throw it out, you may be asking yourself: Can you freeze Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce?
Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce’s expriation date can be extended by freezing the sauce as long as it is done properly. The Zhoug sauce can last longer than 7 days if it is frozen in to a manageable shape using an ice cube tray and then stored in an airtight container, like a sealing bag, after reaching a solid state. This way, the Zhoug sauce will last for a month rather than a week.
In this article, we will go over how to freeze Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce effectively, how to thaw it once this is accomplished, other ways to maintain the product’s quality, and how best to use it even after freezing it! We will even cover frequently asked questions. Let’s get started!
How to Freeze Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce
Everyone can relate to purchasing something delightful and worthwhile at the grocery store, only to worry that it will expire before your busy schedule allows time to make the most of it. Never fear! There is a way to freeze Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce so that it lasts longer than a week. Check out our step by step guide toward this goal to learn how!
- Pour the Sauce into a Cube Tray – Storing Trader Joe’s herby, spicey sauce is all about having it in a manageable size. It can be very messy, trying to pour the thick liquid into a bag, and limits your possibilities when it comes time to thaw and enjoy. Instead, use an ice cube tray or other form of liquid-shaping mold.
- Allow Time to Freeze – You want your Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce to freeze completely solid before you’re able to transfer it into something more airtight. It is fine to keep the flavorful sauce in an open air vessel like an ice cube tray while it is freezing, but as soon as it is solid, it’s time for the next step!
- Transfer Zhoug Cubes into Airtight Container – We recommend cracking your Zhoug Cubes out and placing them in an airtight freezer bag or Ziploc bag, but any airtight container will do.
After following these steps, you should have an easily-unpacked Zhoug sauce that will last for a month, avoid freezer burn, maintain it’s flavor, and be ready to apply the next time you want to thaw it!
Thawing and Using Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce
When it is time to thaw your Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce, you can go about it in one of a few ways. Just make sure you are thawing the sauce out before your month-long time limit is up, or you’ll be experiencing expired sauce, frozen or not!
- Decide How Much You Want – Sometimes a little goes a long way! Since you followed step 1 of the previous section, you’ll be able to control how much Zhoug sauce you want to use by removing a cube or two at a time rather than having to thaw and re-freeze different portions.
- Remove Sauce and Thaw at Room Temperature – This method takes more time, but it works great for those who have a busy schedule and can’t guarantee being able to enjoy their Zhoug sauce right away.
- Remove Sauce and Thaw Under Warm Water – Transfer however many Zhoug sauce cubes you decided upon into a new plastic, airtight bag. Then leave this bag in a bowl of warm water, or allow hot water to run over the bag until the solid is a liquid and can be used as a sauce again!
Tips For Maintaining the Quality of Frozen Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce
One of the concerns that comes with any leftover food, but especially flavor-augmenting ones like sauces and spices, is that they will lose their quality if frozen.
After all, the whole point of Zhoug sauce is to spice up other dishes. If it packs less of a punch after being frozen, you’ll be disappointed.
There are a few tips to avoid this sensation, however:
- Do Not Refreeze – As previously stated, limit the amount of times you have to thaw and refreeze your Zhoug sauce. Each time, you run the risk of a little more flavor being lost.
- Add fresh Jalapeno to Thawed Sauce – Jalapeno is one of the main ingredients to give Zhoug sauce that kick we all know and love. Chopping a little (while taking care to wash your hands and not touch your face) and adding it to a thawed Zhoug sauce can boost the quality even after being frozen.
- Add Salt – Salt is pretty much a miracle worker when it comes to keeping things tasting fresh and effective. It is one of the ingredients to Zhoug sauce, so after thawing out a portion, add a little salt to give it back some of it’s complimentary flavor.
Alternatives to Freezing Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce
While freezing Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce is the best way to keep it lasting longer, there is one other option. Consider boiling a cup of vinegar and sugar. This should be done for twenty minutes at a rolling boil before pouring your Zhoug sauce in and continuing the boil for another ten minutes.
This may alter the taste of your Zhoug sauce slightly, but it will act as a preservative. You can then store the Zhoug sauce in a cool pantry, away from any sources of heat or light, until you are ready to enjoy it again!
Other Ways to Use Frozen Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce
There are many ways to use Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce after it has been frozen! Because a little flavor may be muted, it is best to pair it with foods that are complimentary to the spice that had a kick.
For example, try adding it to Mediterranean chicken which has been freshly cooked with peppers. On the other hand, using less flavorful foods like pasta or scrambled eggs can help to enhance the dish without you noticing any loss of flavor on the Zhoug sauce’s part.
Frequently Asked Questions
Check out these F.A.Q’s below!
How Long Is Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce Good For?
The sauce is good for at least 7 days, but the time limit can be extended to a month is the sauce is frozen or boiled together with some sugar and vinegar and kept away from the sun.
How Do You Eat Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce?
Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce is great as an additive to anything you want to give a little spice with a touch of herbs to. It makes a great accompaniment to most Mexican-American cuisine, but can also be used as a dip for chips, a spice for eggs, and even a pizza topping!
Is Zhoug the Same as Chimchurri?
Zhoug is very similar to chimchurri: both are spicy and both contain olive oil and citrus. However, their ingredients are different: chimchurri uses green chilis and a few different spices, while zhoug does not.
Final Thoughts
To sum it all up, Trader Joe’s Zhoug sauce can be frozen. This extends the Trader Joe’s Zhoug Sauce’s shelf life from a week to a whole month!
Although this may result in loss of some flavor or spiciness, you can always augment this by adding more salt or jalapenos, as well as limiting your thaw and refreeze time.
To freeze the sauce, we recommend placing it in an ice cube tray for easy use without refreezing, then transferring frozen Zhoug cubes to an airtight bag to avoid freezer burn. When this is accomplished, you’ll have a Zhoug sauce that lasts much longer than the published expiration date! Try it on pizza, eggs, with chicken, or as a dipping sauce!
