Does fish sauce contain fish?
The name fish sauce is true to its name. Fish sauce does, in fact, get most of its flavor from the fish. But you don’t just throw a fish around and pick up a bottle. Fish fermented for a period of time can give it a unique flavor. Fish sauce can be made from salted anchovies and other fish that has been fermented for at least 2 years.
Fish sauce is most commonly used in Southeast Asian cuisine. It lends a rich, savory and earthy flavor to many dishes including stir-fries. Thai restaurants often consider themselves vegetarians with shrimp paste, oyster sauce, and fish sauce as common ingredients in Thai cuisine.
Fish sauce and fish oil look similar but are not the same things. But, both come from oily fish. Fish sauce is made from fermenting anchovies, as we have already mentioned. Fish oil is made from the tissue of the fish.
How long does fish sauce last in the fridge? How to store fish sauce?
Unopened fish sauce:
Unopened fish sauce bottles can be kept for up to one year, provided that the label clearly indicates the best-by date. It lasts approximately 3 – 4 years from the date of bottling.
Opened fish sauce:
You can use the fish sauce kept in the fridge up to a year after opening it. Storing in the fridge keeps opened fish sauce long without worrying about its quality. Usually, the fish sauce will stay fresh and flavorful for a long time due to its high salt content and lack of perishable ingredients.
Manufacturers may not include best-by dates, but only the bottling year. Customers prefer to purchase products that have best buy date data. It doesn’t mean that it can’t be used for longer than the label says.
You might not find spoilage in the fish sauce that doesn’t mean it will be perfect forever. It will lose its original taste and flavor over time.
Although no one can predict when this change will occur, you can store an unopened bottle for up to a year without worrying about its quality.
An open bottle of fish sauce should be kept in the refrigerator. It will keep its quality for at least one year. It can also be kept in the pantry but it will lose its quality after a few months.
How to tell if fish sauce is bad?
Usually, it is unlikely that fish sauce will go bad. Let’s begin with some situations where people may think it’s bad.
First is the presence of clear crystals at the bottom of the bottle. Those crystals are made from sea salt and don’t affect the condiment’s quality.
Second, sometimes particles or clouds may be floating in the sauce. These are proteins formed during the process of Protein Precipitation, a natural process that occurs when the fish sauce is exposed to temperature changes. It’s not dangerous and does not affect the quality or safety of the product.
Now, the signs of fish sauce actually going bad.
Throw it, if there are any signs of yeast growth on the sauce or neck of the container, or if you notice any change in color or smell.
