Sweet little tapioca balls, referred to as Boba, can be found in a variety of beverages, including bubble tea, milk tea, smoothies, and even iced coffee.
Tapioca pearls are jelly-like balls made from tapioca starch, which comes from the cassava root. A drink with a gummy texture and a burst of flavor is a lot of fun, and you can get creative with the flavors you use.
If you want to prepare your own tapioca pearls, you can buy them uncooked and cook them in your own kitchen. Tapioca pearls lose their chewy texture and great taste if they are not stored properly.
How Long Can You Keep Uncooked Tapioca Pearls In Their Original Package? For the longest shelf life, store uncooked tapioca pearls away from moisture and heat. As a result, they cook up the gummy little balls their fans know and love while retaining their texture and flavor.
Here’s everything you need to know about how to store uncooked tapioca pearls so that none of them go to waste. Enjoy!
Proper Storage For Uncooked Tapioca Pearls
To store uncooked tapioca pearls, simply take the necessary precautions to keep them in a safe environment where they will retain their flavor and texture.
Tapioca pearls are usually sold in sealed bags, so you can either keep them unopened for storage or repackage them if you open them.
Unopened tapioca pearls should be stored in the following manner:
Unopened Tapioca Pearls
As long as the uncooked tapioca pearls are still sealed in their original packaging, you can keep them in your refrigerator.
It’s possible to seal the unopened packet in a plastic bag for extra security, but this isn’t required if the packaging is strong enough to keep the tapioca pearls safe until you cook them and doesn’t let any air or moisture in.
Opened Tapioca Pearls
It is necessary to transfer opened uncooked tapioca pearls (or unopened pearls in subpar packaging) to a suitable container or packaging in order to keep them fresh.
- Tapioca pearls should be taken out of the opened packaging and placed in a new, airtight container before they are eaten.
- When storing in a plastic bag, be sure to remove as much air as possible before closing the bag.
- Keep track of when you should use the tapioca pearls by writing the date of packing on the container’s lid or the plastic seal bag.
- Store the packaging away from direct sunlight in a cool, dry place.
What’s The Best Container For Uncooked Tapioca Pearls?
Keep uncooked tapioca pearls in their original packaging if possible when storing them.
Tapioca that has been opened should be stored in an airtight container to prevent it from becoming contaminated with moisture and other contaminants. A plastic container with a lid seals well, so that’s what I’d recommend.
To keep the tapioca pearls as safe as possible, use a sealable plastic bag to remove any excess air from the packaging before sealing it tightly.
The tapioca pearls can be placed in an airtight plastic container if you do not have a plastic-sealable bag. Check to see that it’s sealed tightly and won’t let any moisture or air in.
Avoid using a too-large container by using a container that is just the right size.
Where To Store Tapioca Pearls
Tapioca pearls should be stored away from direct sunlight, dry, and cool.
However, if you don’t store them in these conditions, the uncooked pearls will lose their great quality due to heat, air, or moisture.
If you live in a humid area, a kitchen cupboard or pantry is the best option.
Should I Put Uncooked Tapioca Pearls In The Fridge?
When storing uncooked tapioca pearls, do not place them in the refrigerator. Only when buying tapioca balls from the refrigerated section of the supermarket will you have to store them in the fridge.
Uncooked tapioca pearls should not be stored in the refrigerator because they may become spoiled. They could absorb moisture from the fridge’s condensation and become ruined before you’ve even had a chance to prepare them for cooking.
To keep them safe from moisture and air, store them in a cool, dry place like a kitchen cupboard or plastic bag.
Can You Freeze Uncooked Tapioca Pearls?
Uncooked tapioca pearls can be frozen, which comes as no surprise given that you can also freeze tapioca pudding.
As a result, they will stay fresher longer, especially if you don’t intend to use them right away.
Uncooked tapioca pearls can be frozen in the following way:
- Spread the tapioca pearls out on a baking sheet, making sure they don’t touch.
- Plastic wrap the serving tray and the tapioca pearls to keep them fresh.
- Place the baking sheet in the freezer and wait for the tapioca pearls to solidify, about an hour or so.
- Squeeze out any air before sealing a plastic bag with tapioca pearls and a sealable baking tray that has been frozen. A plastic container with a tight-fitting lid would work well for the tapioca pearls.
Before putting the frozen tapioca pearls in a container, they can be stored separately by first freezing them on a baking sheet.
This prevents the pearls from sticking together as they freeze, allowing you to remove as many as you need for cooking without having to defrost the entire batch.
If you don’t have a food saver machine, you can use a vacuum bag to seal the uncooked tapioca pearls. You can freeze this vacuum bag after it’s been used.
Tapioca pearls will keep for up to 6 months in the freezer. After this, they may still be safe to use, but their quality will deteriorate, and they will lose their original flavor and texture.
How Long Do Uncooked Tapioca Pearls Last?
Tapioca pearls’ shelf life is determined by how fresh they are when first purchased and whether the packaging has been opened.
Tapioca pearls can be stored in the cupboard for months without being opened. Leaving them in their original packaging will keep them dehydrated and safe from moisture and air.
The leftover tapioca pearls should be used within three days of being opened. After that, the quality will start to deteriorate, and you will be disappointed with the results when you cook them and add them to your preferred tea.
Make sure to check the expiration date on the tapioca pearls package to determine when to use the tapioca pearls.
Tapioca pearls are at their best if purchased within a specific time period indicated by a “best-by” date on the package. Even if they’re still safe to eat after that, the quality will have dipped.
How Can You Tell If Tapioca Pearls Are Spoiled?
Uncooked tapioca pearls in their original packaging can last months if properly stored. As time passes, you may begin to wonder whether the tapioca pearls are still edible.
After opening the packaging, you’ll be able to tell if the tapioca pearls are bad or good.
Keep an eye out for any discoloration of the dried tapioca pearls. Look for mold by looking for white spots on surfaces.
If the tapioca pearls have an unpleasant odor, move on to the next step. The fact that they’ve spoiled you yet again is a good indication of that.
It’s best to throw away tapioca pearls if they’ve become discolored or odorous. It’s not worth it to cook them and then discover they’re stale.
Related Questions
Do I Need to Soak Uncooked Tapioca Pearls Before Cooking?
Do not soak, rinse, or wash the tapioca pearls before using them in the recipe!
The pearls must be boiled immediately after they are removed from their packaging. Tapioca pearls absorb a lot of water when dehydrated or raw, so be prepared to use a lot of it when you cook them.
Without enough water, they’ll turn starchy and sticky, and that’s not at all appealing!
Can You Keep Bubble Tea in the Fridge?
When kept in the fridge, bubble tea will last a few days, at most a week.
When refrigerated, the tea will keep for 1 to 2 days, but the pearls will lose their wonderful texture after 6 hours. They’ll degrade and become soggy if you leave them there for too long.
Are Tapioca Pearls Unhealthy?
In terms of sugar content, tapioca pearls are on par with regular candy when it comes to being bad for you. Regardless of how dependent you are on them, moderation should always be used when consuming them.
Gummy-like pearls in bubble tea should only be enjoyed on rare occasions; they should not be consumed on a regular basis.
What is the Difference between Boba and Tapioca Pearls?
Tapioca pearls and boba are both boba. Tapioca pearls are referred to as boba in Chinese. Brown sugar and caramel color the black Boba, which is the most popular variety.
