Tahini storage

[withm]

I made hummus tonight and got quite a workout trying to stir up the tahini. Should I keep it in the fridge or in the cupboard? I've always kept it in the fridge but just noticed that the label does not say to refrigerate after opening. Since I don't use it that often, figured fridge was better?

It seems to separate if at room temperature, but it turns to sludge in the fridge with lots of solids at the bottom. I need a skinnier whisk for my hand held blender to stir that up.

Where do you keep yours?

[Owlie]

My instinct would be to store it in the fridge, and then let it warm up to room temperature when you're ready to use it. It's what I do with sesame oil.

[malkin]

The cooler temp in the fridge will delay the oil getting rancid--although I guess it depends on the temp in your house.

[OakLeaf]

Frig. I haven't had an issue with it getting sludgey. Still, I wouldn't dare try to stir any nut butter with a stick blender, even at room temperature - I've burned up way too many full-sized blender motors in my lifetime, blending things that were not nearly as thick.

I rarely even buy tahini any more, I just make it up as needed from hulled sesame seeds (which I also store in the frig). But what I do with peanut or almond butter when I bring it home is turn the jar upside down for a day or two - if it's been on the store shelves for a while and is really hard at the bottom, I might do that once or twice more - then stir it thoroughly with a butter knife before putting it in the frig.

[margo49]

We here in The Middle East don't keep it in the frig.
As to separation - this is a sign that it is good stuff. To "re-integrate" it's best not to try to stir round-and-round but to use an up-and-down motion (eg of a whisk or a fork).

[This up-and-down wave generates liquifaction in an earthquake by the way - but that's the New Zealander in me talking!]

[Trek420]

This up-and-down wave generates liquifaction in an earthquake by the way - but that's the New Zealander in me talking!

Margo! Thanks for reminding me, ah, living on or near tahiniland

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/qmap/