If You Have Leftover Garaetteok from Making Tteokguk, Freeze It After 3 Days

Shelf Life Varies Depending on Ingredients and Packaging, Verification Needed

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyun-jung] Leftover garaetteok (Korean rice cake) from the Lunar New Year holiday can be stored at room temperature for up to 3 days, after which it should be kept frozen.

According to the "Report on Setting Consumption Periods by Food Type" on the Food Safety Korea website of the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) on the 21st, the consumption period for generally packaged garaetteok is 3 days. This reference value was derived from observing changes in bacterial count, E. coli, and moisture over time when generally packaged garaetteok (without preservatives), which is intended for room temperature storage between 1 and 35 degrees Celsius, was kept at 25 and 35 degrees Celsius.

The consumption period refers to the duration during which the product is considered safe if consumers follow the recommended storage conditions.

If garaetteok is purchased a day before Lunar New Year, it is best to consume it by the day after the holiday at the latest. If garaetteok remains after 3 days, it should be stored frozen. The consumption period for mugwort rice cakes (ssukjeolpyeon), which are also commonly eaten during the holiday, is also 3 days at room temperature.

[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

The reference consumption period for refrigerated dumplings (when stored in the refrigerator) was found to be 9 to 11 days. The refrigerated dumpling wrappers had a consumption period of 16 days, one day longer than their 15-day shelf life.

The consumption period for tofu, often used as a dumpling filling, was found to be 5 to 35 days, and for ham products used in jeon (Korean pancakes), the reference consumption period ranged from 11 to 61 days. These periods may vary depending on the ingredients and packaging conditions, so verification is necessary.

Meanwhile, starting this year, consumption periods will be displayed on food products instead of expiration dates. Accordingly, the MFDS provides reference consumption periods by food type. Currently, consumption periods for 430 items across 34 food types have been disclosed through experiments, and the number of items will be expanded by 2025.

The MFDS stated, "Since products labeled with either consumption periods or expiration dates will be sold concurrently for the time being, consumers must check and follow the displayed dates and storage instructions when purchasing products," and added, "Products past their consumption period should preferably not be consumed."