Mochi is a rice-based food quite popular in Japan, which is getting trendier in other locations such as Europe or the United States, and if you are here, it is because you want to know how to store mochi to extend its shelf life.
You can store mochi at room temperature for 1 to 3 days, but if you refrigerate, it could last between 1 and 2 weeks. However, keeping the mochi in the freezer for 1 or 2 months is best.
If you want to know all the tips you should keep in mind to keep mochi, keep reading.
How to store mochi at room temperature
In the West, we usually call mochi one of the sweets prepared in Japan with this dough, the daifuku (buns with sweet filling). Commercially, mochi is sold in rectangular blocks packaged in well-sealed plastic bags.
But, although packaged mochi may give the impression that it lasts a long time, in reality, it is not, so it is advisable to read well the manufacturer’s instructions on how to store your product.
It should be fine at room temperature, but only if you store it inside an airtight container and place it in a moisture-free place, away from heat sources and sunlight.
This way, you can keep the packaged mochi at room temperature as indicated by the expiration date.
If you open the packaging, wrap the mochi with plastic film and put it inside an airtight container or bag. Still, if you have a vacuum sealer machine, better. And as before, place the mochi in a dry, dark, and cool place so the commercial mochi can last three days at room temperature.
If you prepared homemade mochi or some sweets with mochi, here is what you need to do to store them.
- Step 1: Wrap the mochi.
Homemade mochi is exceptionally delicate. It could become moldy in about 24 hours in cold and humid places. But if you live in an area with a warm climate, it should endure a little longer.
So, you should protect it as much as you can. To do this, wrap the sweets or mochi dough in plastic film or put them inside an airtight bag, to which you must remove all the air before sealing it.
You should sprinkle the mochi dough or sweets with potato starch before putting it in the bag or plastic film.
- Step 2: Pack the mochi.
To add an extra layer of protection, place homemade mochi or daifuku, wrapped or bagged, inside an airtight container.
- Step 3: Store the mochi at room temperature.
You must place the mochi in an area away from heat sources, which remains completely dry and dark. The mochi can last between 24 and 36 hours at room temperature.
On the other hand, sweets prepared with mochi can last 3 to 5 days at room temperature since they have a considerable amount of sugar.
How to store mochi in the fridge
Homemade mochi dough should NOT be stored in the refrigerator, as the environment provided by this equipment will dry the dough much faster than at room temperature.
In contrast, packaged mochi and sweets made with mochi resist the fridge environment better.
I advise you to put the unopened packaging of the mochi inside an airtight container and put it in the refrigerator until the expiration date indicates.
But if it is open, or you want to save the dough or some candy made with mochi, you can do the following:
- Step 1: Wrap the mochi.
Wrap the homemade mochi, blocks, or mochi candies with transparent film, or put it inside an airtight bag; just be sure to remove all the air.
But if you have a vacuum sealing machine much better since mochi can stay in the refrigerator longer.
- Step 2: Pack the mochi.
Place the mochi wrapped or inside an airtight container which will protect it in case something falls on it, so it will not deform.
- Step 3: Store the mochi in the fridge.
Place the mochi in the coldest area of your fridge. The opened commercial mochi may be in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 weeks.
On the other hand, homemade mochi can last refrigerated for 3 to 5 days, while sweets made from it can last 5 to 7 days.
How to freeze mochi
Can mochi be frozen? When you think about storing mochi, this should be the first method that comes to mind because it is the only one that guarantees that the mochi is not damaged and can be stored for a long time.
To freeze the mochi, you must do what I tell you below.
- Step 1: Wrap the mochi.
With plastic film, cover every piece of mochi. With homemade mochi, divide the dough into portions to thaw only what you need at a time. Then, put it inside airtight bags or wrap the parts with plastic film.
If you have a vacuum sealing machine, you could use it. By the way, you should wrap each dough or mochi candy individually, so they do not stick to the others.
Uncovered mochi blocks can skip this step and do the next one.
- Step 2: Pack or bag the mochi.
Place the mochi inside a container or bag that is tight to freezer-resistant, protecting it from freeze burns.
- Step 3: Set the storage date.
Place a label with the date of storage or write it with a marker on the bag or container.
- Step 4: Store the mochi in the freezer.
The blocks or mochi candy can be frozen for 1 or 2 months, while homemade mochi will only last a month in the freezer.
When you want to defrost it, pass the mochi to the fridge for about 12 hours, then leave it at room temperature to recover its consistency.
How to preserve mochi with ice cream
There is another variant where you can fill the mochi with different flavors of ice cream (ice cream storage guide here), but there is only one way to preserve it: by keeping it in the freezer by repeating the following:
- Step 1: Put the mochis with ice cream in a bowl.
Place the mochis with ice cream in a freezer-resistant container, side by side, without putting them together too much to prevent sticking. Optionally, you could previously wrap these mochis with potato starch.
- Step 2: Enter the storage date.
Write the date on a label and stick it to the container, or attach adhesive tape and on top, with a marker, write the date.
- Step 3: Store the mochi with ice cream in the freezer.
The mochi with ice cream will keep for a week inside the freezer. Before eating it, advise or leave it a few minutes at room temperature to soften.
How to soften mochi?
In case homemade mochi dough or mochi sweets have hardened and do not soften
after leaving them at room temperature for a while, you can try to ease them in the following ways:
- Soften the mochi in the microwave.
First, with a moistened paper, wet the entire surface of the mochi. Then wrap the mochi with another wet and hot paper in the microwave for one minute at medium or low power.
Check its condition, and if it is not at the right point, heat it for 30 more seconds. But be careful not to melt the mochi.
- Soften mochi steaming.
If you do not have a steamer, boil water in a pot and place an oak strainer, then parchment paper, on top, you can put the mochi. Let it cook for about 5 minutes to soften. This is the best method, in my opinion.
How to know if the mochi got bad?
One of the main signs that the mochi has spoiled is the presence of mold, so when you notice spots or lint, black, soft, or greenish, discard the mochi.
Another sign that mochi is terrible is when it gets very dry and hard, that it does not soften either steamed or in the microwave, but cracks.
The mochi is also not in good condition if some liquid has fallen and is damp.
Another bad sign is if the mochi has a foul smell and taste, so throw them away if that is the case.
Why does mochi spoil?
Mochi is a dough prepared by mashing a specific type of rice. Therefore, it has a high amount of water and makes mochi stay moist all the time.
This humidity makes the mochi a nest of microorganisms, where its development and reproduction are accelerated. Therefore, freezing is presented as a perfect option for storage.
And since the mochi should be malleable, losing moisture is also a problem because the dough would harden or break too much.
How long does mochi last?
| Product | Duration |
| Commercial mochi at room temperature (sealed) | Until the expiration date |
| Commercial mochi at room temperature (opened) | 3 days |
| Homemade mochi at room temperature (wet and cold weather) | 24 hours |
| Homemade mochi at room temperature (hot and dry weather) | 24 – 36 hours |
| Mochi candy at room temperature | 3 – 5 days |
| Commercial mochi in the fridge (sealed) | Until the expiration date |
| Commercial mochi in the fridge (opened) | 1 – 2 weeks |
| Homemade mochi in the fridge | 3 days |
| Mochi candy in the fridge | 5 – 7 days |
| Commercial mochi in the freezer | 1 – 2 months |
| Mochi candy in the freezer | 1 – 2 months |
| Frozen homemade mochi | 1 month |
| Mochi with ice cream | 1 week |
What is the best way to preserve mochi?
In short, the best way to preserve mochi is to keep it frozen for a couple of months since the other methods must consider many factors.
You should consider the climate and humidity at room temperature because they would quickly damage the mochi in cold and humid climates, especially if it is homemade.
But mochi might hold up a little longer in hot, dry climates if stored correctly.
In the fridge, there is a risk that the mochi will dry faster than keeping it at room temperature, especially if it is not sealed well.
If you want to know how to store some other product, remember that here you have an extensive list of topics that deal with this point, so you have to navigate through any of the following posts that catch your attention or use the search bar.
