Can faded saffron be used anymore?

Discoloration of saffron is a common phenomenon that can be caused by improper storage. So can faded saffron be used anymore, follow this article to find the answer.

Recently, saffron or Saffron  has become very popular in the Vietnamese market and is gradually being favored by people from urban to rural areas because of its immense uses. Not only is it a miracle drug to improve beauty, saffron is also very useful in boosting immunity , good for the digestive system, improving sleep... However, there are some cases after a while. If saffron is used, this product will fade. So what is the cause of this situation and how to preserve saffron?

Saffron pistil

Why does saffron fade over time?

Saffron's original red color is due to the presence of crocin, the red color of saffron pistil is very dark and beautiful, the new pistil has a smell of hay mixed with the smell of honey, the fibers are dry and brittle. yarn folding. Over time, if stored improperly, saffron pistil becomes tougher, discolored, even turns orange-brown, the fragrance is no longer as fragrant as before. So why does saffron fade?

Hygroscopic properties of saffron pistil

Dry products tend to be hygroscopic when the saturated water vapor pressure on the product surface is lower than the partial pressure of water vapor in the air. Therefore, people often add desiccant packages to saffron products.

However, if you still put saffron in a humid environment with high humidity, it is inevitable that saffron will absorb moisture. Especially unlike in Iran, where the climate is extremely hot and dry with low humidity, in Vietnam the air tends to have high humidity so it is easier to absorb moisture. At this point, the saffron threads will be tougher and have a lighter orange color.

Oxidized saffron

Some nutrients in saffron can be oxidized when exposed to the external environment for a long time. When saffron is exposed to air and light for a long time, the substances will decompose and change the quality, causing saffron to become pale, even have a strange smell.

The saffron pistil is moldy

If left for too long and not stored properly, saffron can become moldy and completely spoiled. Saffron pistil is no longer pale but turns dark brown, has a bad smell and has a moldy layer. In this case, the saffron has been completely damaged and should not be used again.

Saffron can be moldy and completely spoiled

Insect pests like worms and weevils

For some people, saffron pistil is not used for a long time, when taken out to use, it is discovered that saffron pistil has worms and weevils. These insects not only degrade the quality of the product, but also produce toxic substances that are harmful to your health.

Can faded saffron be used anymore?

So can faded saffron be used anymore? You can still use saffron if it's only a lighter, slightly orange color, but not dark brown, black, moldy, or weevil. This is usually due to high air humidity which causes saffron to be hygroscopic and pale in color.

Although it can be used, the quality of this type of saffron has also declined. Because crocin, the most important nutrient in saffron, which gives saffron its many health and beauty benefits and gives saffron its color, has also been somewhat altered. In this case, do the following:

• Put saffron pistil in a hot pan and stir over low heat to let the saffron pistil dry, or you can put saffron pistil in the microwave, dryer, oven...
• Grind saffron into a fine powder and put it in a sealed container with a gasket, then add 1 packet of desiccant.
• Close the lid tightly, store in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight and then use again, should use saffron in a short time, not for too long.

In addition, you also need to consider carefully, saffron usually has a shelf life of 2 years from the date of manufacture, but once opened, it can only be used within 3 months, at this time the quality of saffron pistil. at the best level. If stored for too long, saffron has expired, at this time you should not use them anymore.

Do not use expired saffron

The best way to preserve saffron

How to preserve saffron pistil is very simple, when using saffron pistil, you need to pay attention to some mistakes that can cause saffron pistil to get wet and fade:

• Store saffron away from sunlight: The pistil can be damaged by solar radiation and lose mass, that's why Iranians have to harvest 40 hours before sunrise to keep it. pistil quality at the highest level. Therefore, avoid storing saffron in direct sunlight, where the color and natural aroma of saffron will be changed.
• Store in a cool, dry place: You should not leave saffron in a humid place, but should leave it in a dry place, you can add a desiccant bag to keep saffron from getting wet.
• Remove the saffron from the jar with a clean, dry tool such as a tong, avoiding wet hands as this can degrade the quality of the saffron.

Hopefully the above information has helped you answer the question of whether the faded saffron can be used and how to protect this precious medicinal herb. You should store saffron carefully to avoid waste. Besides, learn carefully how to use saffron properly to take care of your health and comprehensive beauty!