Seitan is a food prepared from wheat gluten and is often called vegetable meat because it looks similar to meat after cooking. Now, if you have it at home, you may wonder how to store seitan.
You can store the seitan in its broth for ten days in the fridge, but if it is dry, it will only last about four days. Frozen could last you about six months.
You must continue reading to know how to preserve seitan properly.
How to store seitan in the fridge
You can store seitan in two ways: in its cooking broth or inside a marinade, or keep the seitan dry in case you have baked it.
How to preserve seitan in your broth
To store the seitan in its broth or liquid marinade, you will have to use a container with a good airtight lid, which prevents the passage of air, so that the seitan cannot absorb the smell of other foods.
Make sure that the seitan is wholly submerged in the liquid before covering it and place the container away from foods that give off a strong odor.
You also must put it in the coldest part of your fridge (the bottom); that way, the seitan can be kept refrigerated for 7 to 10 days.
I recommend sticking a label with the storage date on the container, and every 3 or 4 days, reheat the seitan with its liquid to prevent the proliferation of bacteria.
How to store dry seitan
If you prepared dry seitan, you could store it as follows:
- Step 1: Wrap the dried seitan.
Dried seitan is much more likely to absorb odor from other foods, so to prevent its taste from being altered, wrap it, double-layered, with plastic film.
- Step 2: Put the seitan wrapped inside an airtight container.
Place the seitan inside an airtight container or bag to seal it better and not absorb the smell of other foods.
- Step 3: Store the seitan in the fridge.
Please place it in a cold area, away from foods that give off a strong smell, such as fish, so that the dry seitan can last 3 to 4 days inside the refrigerator.
How to freeze seitan
Can seitan be frozen? Indeed, you can also freeze it with or without broth. However, they will continue to have the same useful life.
How to freeze seitan with its broth
Seitan can be frozen in its broth or marinated, but the consistency could be affected due to the ice crystals that will form when frozen.
But if its consistency matters little to you, use a container suitable for freezing and do not fill it with liquid at its maximum capacity because when it freezes, it will need space to expand.
Or you could put the seitan with its liquid in a bag with good airtight sealing and put it to freeze first in a tray, in case of leaks occur.
Put a label with the date before putting it in the freezer. That way, the seitan in its broth can be frozen for six months. You could also freeze the seitan and its broth separately.
To thaw the seitan with its broth, transfer it to the refrigerator the night before, or leave it for an hour at room temperature. Unfortunately, this type of seitan cannot be refrozen or stored in the fridge.
How to freeze dry seitan
To be able to freeze the seitan dried or that has been in a broth or marinade, but you want to freeze it separately, you must follow these instructions:
- Step 1: Wrap the seitan.
It would be best if you also made a double wrapper, although in this case, I recommend putting a layer of plastic film and another of aluminum foil, this way, you will not have to worry about freezer burns.
In the case of seitan in a broth, I recommend drying it with absorbent paper first.
A tip to consider is that, if the piece of seitan is huge, divide it into portions so that only thaw what you will use.
- Step 2: Place the wrapped seitan inside a sturdy container.
Put the seitan inside an airtight container or bag inside the freezer for a long time. This adds an extra layer of protection and will help you keep everything tidy.
- Step 3: Write down the storage date of the seitan.
Please put the date on a label or paper and then stick it on the bag or container. With the paper, cover it with adhesive tape so that it does not break. However, you could attach the adhesive tape to the container and write the date with a marker.
- Step 4: Store the seitan in the freezer.
In this way, the seitan can be frozen for six months.
You can leave it for 2 to 3 hours inside the fridge to defrost it. After that, you cannot refreeze it, but it can be in the refrigerator for three more days.
How to preserve seitan raw
Raw seitan is a dough of wheat gluten; therefore, it is highly delicate, so the only way to store it is by freezing it. For this, you will need to do the following:
- Step 1: Divide the raw seitan.
Divide the dough into different portions since raw seitan cannot be refrozen once thawed.
- Step 2: Wrap the portions of raw seitan.
Use plastic for wrapping. Give it a flattened shape so that it then thaws uniformly.
- Step 3: Place the portions in a freezer bag.
Put wrapped portions of raw seitan in an airtight freezer bag or container to avoid frostbite burns.
- Step 4: Set the storage date of the raw seitan.
Write on the bag or a label you will attach to the container.
- Step 5: Store the raw seitan in the freezer.
Raw seitan can be in the freezer for 4 to 6 months. To defrost it, pass it a day before to the fridge.
How to store commercial seitan
This seitan is already vacuum-packed and sealed; you must follow the manufacturer’s instructions to maintain it. If it was in the frozen section, logically, you should keep it in the freezer.
You can keep the sealed seitan until its expiration date is indicated. Then, once opened, you can follow the guidelines in the previous points on keeping homemade seitan.
Commercial seitan can be kept for five days if dry or two weeks in a broth inside the refrigerator. If you freeze it, it can last about 6 or 8 months.
How do you know if the seitan spoiled?
The seitan will spoil when it smells awfully bad or rotten. In this case, discard it immediately.
It is also not a good sign that the seitan will get black or white spots or lint because those are mold signs, and it will not be safe to eat.
If seitan has a rancid or bitter taste, that is, it does not have the flavor it should have, it has already been spoiled, and you will have to throw it away.
Why is the seitan spoiled?
Seitan is a food with an enormous amount of protein and moisture, making it the ideal environment for the development and proliferation of bacteria and fungi.
If you leave the seitan at room temperature, it can develop a lot of microorganisms in a brief time. That is why it is advisable to boil seitan in its broth when kept refrigerated to eliminate bacteria that may appear.
While in dry environments, seitan can lose moisture and, therefore, the nutrients that compose it.
How long does seitan last?
| Product | Duration |
| Refrigerated seitan in its broth | 3 – 4 days |
| Refrigerated dry seitan | 10 days |
| Frozen seitan (dried or in broth) | 6 months |
| Dried seitan in the fridge once thawed | 3 days |
| Raw seitan in the freezer | 4 – 6 months |
| Seitan sealed packaging | Until the expiration date |
| Frozen commercial seitan (opened) | 6 – 8 months |
What is the best way to preserve the seitan?
If you do not want to store it for a long time, then the best way to preserve the seitan would be in its broth since it will remain for several days, although you must boil it occasionally.
You can also store the seitan dry in the fridge, but it will reduce the shelf life to a little less than half.
To preserve it long-term, you should freeze it dry to maintain its consistency better. In addition, you can store seitan raw, but only inside the freezer.
The seitan of commercial sale, if kept sealed, can last a long time, following the supplier’s instructions, but once opened, it only lasts a little longer than the homemade version.
If you are interested in knowing how to preserve another food, check on the website using the search bar or by navigating the following posts.
