You’re going to love the convenience of having a store nearby that provides all of the Asian food essentials. Whether you’re an Asian restaurant owner who wants to offer unique flavor combinations or simply want to enjoy authentic Asian food at home, this article will teach you about how long the popular Asian fish sauce lasts when used in various recipes.
The Benefits Of Asian Fish Sauce
To start, Asian fish sauce is a versatile element that can be used in a variety of ways. It can be added to soups, stews, and marinades for a unique taste that doesn’t require a lot of prep work. Many people enjoy it as a dipping sauce for their noodle and rice dishes.
As previously mentioned, this is an essential element for any kitchen that provides Asian cuisine, but it can also be used as a glaze or a marinade for meats and fish. The great thing about Asian fish sauce is that it doesn’t break down during cooking like regular fish sauce does, so the flavor is preserved and doesn’t deteriorate.
How Long Does Fish Sauce Last In General
The key to having long-living fish sauce is to keep it refrigerated and to use it as soon as possible. When kept refrigerated, fish sauce will last a lot longer than if stored outside of the fridge. Using it within a couple of days will ensure that the flavor is preserved, and putting it on the menu will encourage customers to consume it sooner than later.
For those who are less familiar with the taste of fish sauce, it can be a little overwhelming at first. Once you try it, you’ll understand why it’s become so popular, and you’ll want to include it in your weekly menu plan!
How Long Does Fish Sauce Last In Dips
When used in dips, the flavor of this sauce quickly dissipates, so the shorter the interval between preparation and serving, the better. If you have a restaurant menu with a lot of appetizers, you might want to consider using a different flavor of fish sauce for those items and the main course. The great thing about this variant is that it doesn’t need to be refrigerated, so it can be kept at room temperature and will stay potent for a longer period of time.
How Long Does Fish Sauce Last In Stir-Fry
If you’re cooking something with a lot of vegetables, the flavor of the vegetables will dominate the food, so the need for additional ingredients in the form of spices or other types of sauces is minimized. Stir-fried or griddled foods are great vehicles for fish sauce, as it combines well with the high heat used during the preparation method. The high temperatures destroy most of the food’s water content, which makes the food dry and concentrated.
Since the overall goal is to keep the food light and crispy, any additional moisture that normally would’ve been drawn out of the food by the addition of more liquid is preserved, ensuring that the food remains moist and tender. As always, the key to having succulent stir-fry foods is to keep the ingredients very fresh, so in that vein, you should try to use market-fresh produce wherever possible.
How Long Does Fish Sauce Last In Marinades
Marinades are probably the most popular way to enjoy fish sauce, as its flavor combines well with the taste of the food it’s marinating in. Marinades can be applied for a short interval of time before the food is served, meaning they don’t need to be kept in the fridge for the entire duration. They’re usually made with a combination of liquids and spices that form a sort of brine, which is used to tenderize and moisten the food being marinated in it. If you want to try a different marinade for your next meal, then go for it! But if you think that this one might be a little bit too strong for your liking, then you might want to swap it for a different one.
Why Should You Avoid Tinned Fish Sauce?
Just like any other type of sauce or spices, when stored in a tin, the flavor can start to diminish. Even worse, the metal can actually start to affect the flavor of the product, so if you have a choice, then it’s best to avoid canned fish sauce and to purchase it fresh whenever possible.
Aside from that, other types of food can stain the tin. The good news is you don’t need to worry about that with fresh fish sauce, so even if a tiny bit gets onto some food, then it’ll be obvious and it won’t look messy.
When Is It Best To Use Fish Sauce?
As a general rule of thumb, when you’re cooking something that’s already been floured (like seitan or tofu), then it’s best to salt it first, otherwise, the additional moisture from the salted food will make it appear more liquid-like than usual, which can cause the flour to become soggy.
When you cook ground meat with an acidic ingredient like tomatoes or vinegar, then it’s best to follow suit and use both salt and pepper, as they go well together while maintaining the integrity of the dish. Avoid using too much salt though, as it will make the dish taste salty.
Aside from that, when you’re using this ingredient as a dipping sauce, then don’t go overboard with the seasoning, otherwise, you’ll overpower the taste of the food.
The same principle applies to curry pastes, as well. When cut into smaller pieces, the cubes can rapidly absorb the liquid they’re in, so it’s best to use them in small amounts and let the food speak for itself. This way, the distinct fragrance of the spices used will remain intact.
If you’re using the paste to make curried seitan, then go easy on the salt, as the protein in the food will already be seasoned.
Overall Review: How Long Does Asian Fish Sauce Last?
Overall, Asian fish sauce lasts a relatively long time when used in a variety of ways. As a general rule of thumb, keep it refrigerated and use it as soon as possible. Storing it in a can or other types of containers deteriorates its flavor and makes it last less than half as long.
As with any other type of sauce or spice, the shorter the interval between preparation and serving, the better. When used in a marinade or a stir-fry, the flavor infuses into the food quickly, so you can taste it as you go.
When used in dips or as a glaze for meats and fish, the longer the pre-soak time, the better. A little bit of fish sauce goes a long way, so a couple of tablespoons should be sufficient for most anyone’s needs.