How to freeze natto, expiration date, baby food and carefully selected recipes [Explanation with photos! ]

Did you know that natto can be frozen without killing the bacteria?

Some people may have wondered why there is an expiry date even though it is made from fermented soybeans.

Even if you think, ``It's because it's already spoiled,'' the expiration date is about a week, so you still feel like you have to eat it within the expiration date.

Natto is cheap and nutritious, and although some people don't like it, it's a food you'll want to eat every day.

I think there are many people who stock up on a lot of things when they are on sale at the supermarket.

However, depending on the mood of the family, there may be times when they stay.

In such cases, freezing is recommended.

You can avoid wasting natto by buying a lot when it's cheap and storing it in the freezer if you don't think you'll be able to eat it all.

We will introduce how to freeze natto and recommended recipes and baby food recipes to make with frozen natto.

Advantages of freezing natto

Freezing natto allows for long-term storage.

According to the National Federation of Natto Cooperatives, frozen natto can be stored for about one to three months.

Freezing will only cause the bacteria to go into hibernation, but will not kill them.

Once thawed and the temperature rises to around 20℃, fermentation will begin again.

Even if you buy too much natto and accidentally forget about it and leave it in the freezer, you can rest assured that it will last for six months.

How to freeze natto

When freezing raw food

Step 1) Place the package in an airtight container such as a ziplock bag and store it in the freezer.

Step 2) Remove the natto from the package, wrap it in plastic wrap, put it in a ziplock bag, and store it in the freezer.

*You can store it in the freezer in the pack you bought, but please seal it tightly to prevent drying and odor transfer.

How to freeze and preserve baby food

1) Remove the natto from the package and drain it into a colander.

2) Sprinkle boiling water over it to reduce the stickiness.

If the baby food is in the later stages of weaning and can be eaten even if it is sticky, there is no need to add hot water to the food.
3) Crush it to a size that matches the age of the month.

For babies who don't like grains, grind them with a pestle. If you want to preserve the texture, we recommend mashing it with a fork.
4) Divide into individual servings into ice cube trays, place in plastic bags or ziplock bags, and freeze to avoid exposure to air as much as possible.

How to thaw frozen natto and storage period (best before date)

How to thaw natto

Thaw frozen natto by moving it to the refrigerator half a day before you want to eat it.

When using it for cooking such as tempura, it is easier to handle it when it is frozen as it does not become sticky.

If you really want to eat it right away, heat it in the microwave for about 20 seconds until it is partially defrosted. After that, you can easily thaw it by adding the included sauce and mixing well.

However, please be careful as the nutritional ingredient nattokinase contained in natto is sensitive to heat.

If you are looking for nattokinase's anti-thrombotic effects, thaw it slowly and consume it without heating it.

There are many delicious dishes such as tempura, miso soup, and fried rice, and even if you cook them, you can still get protein.

Storage period of natto (best before date)

The shelf life of frozen natto is about 1 to 3 months.

There is quite a range, but it depends on storage conditions such as the number of times the refrigerator is opened and closed and the temperature of the room.

Since it is a fermented food, it may be difficult to tell when it has gone bad.

Originally, Bacillus natto accounts for most of the bacteria and fights off other bacteria.

When the storage conditions are poor and the number of bacteria is greater than that of natto bacteria, it is said to be spoiled.

Also, it is best not to eat food that has dried water and is sticky, does not have strings, is clearly moldy, or has a strange odor.

On the other hand, those with a rough texture like white dots are likely to be amino acid crystals, and if you don't mind the texture, there is no problem in eating them.

If you want to enjoy the food even more deliciously or are concerned about how well it will be stored, please eat it as soon as possible.

>> [What is the expiry date of frozen foods? ] Ready-to-use frozen bean knowledge

5 easy recipes using frozen natto

Easy with frozen natto! Fried Isobe

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/2131569

☑〈材料〉
・冷凍納豆　2パック
・小麦粉　適量
・青のり　適量

<How to make>
1) Let the frozen natto stand at room temperature for a while to make it easier to remove from the package.
2) After taking it out of the package, use a knife to cut it into 4 equal parts.
3) Make the batter using flour, water, and green seaweed.
4) Coat with batter, fry in oil and it's done.
Instead of coating it with batter, we also recommend wrapping it in seaweed and frying it.

Perfect for snacks! Cold cream cheese IN

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/1725105

☑〈材料〉
・冷凍納豆　1パック
・クリームチーズ　4.5個
・わさび、梅肉、からしなど　お好みで

<How to make>
1) Bring the frozen natto to room temperature to make it easier to remove, then cut it into 9 equal pieces with a knife.
2) Use about half of the cream cheese to wrap one portion.
It will be easier to wrap if your hands are slightly wet.
3) Pour the included sauce over it, then top with wasabi, plum meat, mustard, etc. as you like, and it's done.
If you don't want to wrap it, you can just put it on top of cream cheese.
It is recommended to serve it frozen and enjoy it until crispy.

Add nutrition with frozen natto! Lettuce fried rice

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4062321

☑〈材料2人分〉
・冷ごはん　茶碗1杯半程度
・冷凍納豆　1パック
・レタス　適量
・卵　1個
・ウインナー　4本
・油　大さじ1
✩鶏がらスープの素　小さじ3
✩醤油　小さじ1程度
✩付属のタレとからし　1パック分
✩塩コショウ　適量

<How to make>
1) Move the frozen natto to the refrigerator about half a day in advance to thaw it.
If you want to make it right away, you can thaw it while washing it in water.
2) Wash natto with water to remove stickiness.
3) Tear the lettuce into pieces that are easy to eat.
4) Cut the sausage into 2-3mm thick pieces.
5) Fry the sausages in a frying pan with oil, crack the eggs, then add the rice and stir-fry.
6) Once everything is cooked, add the natto and ingredients ✩ and stir-fry to mix evenly.
7) Finally, add the lettuce and stir-fry it until done.
You can choose the toppings of your choice; green onions, kimchi, etc. are also delicious.

Cool with frozen natto! Nutritious meal companion

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/4480532

☑〈材料2～3人分〉
・冷凍納豆　2パック
・たまご　1個
・釜揚げシラス　大さじ2
・オクラ　3本
・大葉　3枚
・ネギ　適量
・かつお節　1/2パック
・海苔　大1/4枚
・お酢　少々

<How to make>
1) Transfer frozen natto to the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours in advance to thaw it, then bring it to room temperature before cooking and remove the lid and plastic wrap.
If you want to use it immediately, heat it in a 600W microwave for about 20 seconds to partially defrost it.
2) Wash and remove the stems from the okra, wrap it in plastic wrap, heat it in a 600W microwave for about 30 to 40 seconds, and cut it into 5mm pieces.
3) Cut the green onions into small pieces, shred the perilla leaves, and tear the seaweed.
4) Place all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
5) Add just one portion of the included sauce, add vinegar to your liking, and it's done.
Taste it and if it's too thin, add the rest of the sauce little by little to adjust.
You can enjoy it with rice, on top of cold tofu, or with udon or pasta.

Refreshing with frozen natto! Cold pasta with tomato and shiso

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/1844579

☑〈材料1人分〉
・パスタ　100ℊ
・トマト（中）　1個
・冷凍納豆　1パック
・ゆかり　小さじ1
・大葉　2～3枚

<How to make>
1) First, remove the frozen natto from the freezer and remove the lid and plastic wrap.
2) Cut the tomatoes into cubes and shred the perilla leaves and set aside a small amount for garnishing.
3) Put the natto in a bowl, add the sauce and mix, then add the ingredients other than the pasta and mix.
4) Boil the pasta on time.
5) Once the pasta is boiled, soak it in ice water and drain well.
6) Add the pasta to the bowl from step 3), mix well, serve in a bowl, and garnish with shiso leaves on top.

Baby food recipes using frozen natto

Natto can be used from the middle of the baby's weaning period, but please make sure that there are no allergies before using it.

From the middle of baby food! Komatsuna simmered with frozen natto in soup stock

Source: https://recipe.rakuten.co.jp/recipe/1110002882/?scid=af_pc_etc

☑〈材料1人分〉
・小松菜　2枚
・冷凍納豆　小さじ1
・お麩　小5個
・出し汁　大さじ1

<How to make>
1) Cut the komatsuna into small pieces and heat in the microwave for 1 minute.
2) Soak the wheat gluten in water to soften it, then cut it into small pieces.
3) Put all the ingredients in a small pot, heat, bring to a boil, and it's ready.

The whole family can eat it! nattofu hamburger

Source: https://cookpad.com/recipe/868808

☑〈材料2人分〉
・冷凍納豆　2パック
・付属のタレ　2つ
・豆腐　1/4丁
・鶏ひき肉　100ℊ
・片栗粉　大さじ1.5～2
・青のり　お好みで

<How to make>
1) Move the natto to the refrigerator about half a day in advance to thaw it.
2) Put all the ingredients in a bowl and knead thoroughly until it becomes sticky.
There is no need to drain the tofu.
3) Heat oil in a frying pan, then add the seeds and fry while adjusting the shape with a spoon.
4) When browned, turn over, reduce heat to low, cover and steam.
5) It is done when both sides are browned.
For adults, please drizzle with a sauce such as mentsuyu, ponzu sauce, or ketchup.

Conclusion

How do you freeze natto and what are some recommended recipes?

It's surprising that natto, an excellent, inexpensive and nutritious food ingredient, can last up to six months in the freezer.

You can feel free to buy a lot when it's on sale at the supermarket.

If you don't think you'll be able to eat all of it, put it in a ziplock bag and freeze it so it won't go to waste.

It is also convenient to prepare and freeze baby food.

When defrosting it, it is best to move it to the refrigerator about half a day in advance, but you can defrost it immediately by heating it in the microwave for 30 seconds and then pouring the sauce over it.

>> Click here for how to freeze meat

>> Click here for how to freeze fish

>> [Freezing for a long time] 3 points to keep in mind when preserving vegetables