Fufu is a very popular food in West and Central African countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leona and Liberia. They actually treat it as their staple food and it’s very delicious especially when paired with their traditional soups or stews. Fufu is commonly prepared and served the same day. This is because it tastes better on the day that it is made. However, if you find yourself with leftover cooked fufu, it doesn’t mean that you should throw it away. There are actually a few methods that you can use to store leftover cooked fufu. The article below will help you with some of the methods that you can use.
Contents
What is fufu?
Fufu is a staple food that is commonly eaten in West and Central Africa. It is made using ground cassava roots. The other name for fufu is akpu and some people spell fufu as foo-foo or foufou. The texture of fufu is gummy and a bit stretchy. It is commonly served with soups or stews. The taste of fufu is somehow bland but when you dip it into a stew or sauce it tastes really nice.
How to store cooked fufu
Store cooked fufu in the refrigerator
NB: this method preserved cooked fufu for a couple of days. Therefore, you should store cooked fufu in the refrigerator when you are certain that you will consume it within a few days.
In order to store cooked fufu in the fridge you need to have plastic wrap. Take the cooked fufu and place it on the centre of your plastic wrap and wrap it tightly such that air and moisture do not get inside. This will actually help to preserve your cooked fufu. After wrapping it place it in an air tight container or freezer bag. The next thing is to store the cooked fufu in the fridge. It can last for about a week or so in the fridge. Therefore, you need to eat it before it turns bad.
Store cooked fufu at room temperature
NB: this method is only ideal if you are going to eat fufu on the same day. This is because if you leave food at room temperature for a long time you will actually be exposing it to bacteria.
When storing cooked fufu at room temperature you have to start by wrapping it with plastic wrap. This will help to ensure that air does not get inside as it can affect the texture of the cooked fufu. Once the fufu is wrapped place it in an air tight container and make sure it is completely sealed. Store cooked fufu at room temperature for a few hours in order to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
How to reheat cooked fufu
Reheat cooked fufu in the microwave
NB: this is actually the best method of reheating cooked fufu.
Simply take cooked fufu and remove the plastic wrap. Place it inside a microwave safe dish and add about 3 tablespoons of water to the cooked fufu. Cover the dish with wet paper clothes or towels. This will help to protect the cooked fufu from drying out. Microwave the cooked fufu for 30 seconds and use a spoon to just turn it around. If you are not satisfied with the temperature of your cooked fufu reheat it for an additional 30 seconds. Serve the cooked fufu with your favourite stew.
NB: if you do not have a microwave you can always take the cooked fufu out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Then you can serve and enjoy it with your favourite stew or soup.
How to make your own fufu at home
Instead of buying the pre-made version of fufu at your local grocery store you can always try out something new and make it on your own. In order to make the fufu from scratch you need 3 cassava roots that are large and a teaspoon of baking soda.
Preparation
Step 1
Start by peeling the cassava root. They will be a bit hard to peel but you should make sure you remove all the outer skin. Cut the cassava root into chunks then wash it thoroughly using water.
Step 2
Take a container then place the cassava root inside. Add water to the container such that the cassava roots will be submerged in water. The next thing is to add baking soda to the cassava root. This will help to ferment the cassava roots.
Step 3
Close the container and let the cassava roots ferment for 3 to 5 days or until they become soft. When you notice that the cassava root is now soft simply drain the excess water.
Step 4
Place the cassava in a blender and blend until it has a puree like texture. Once it is done take a cheesecloth then pour the ground cassava inside. Squeeze out any excess water. When the excess water has been removed it will be time to turn the cassava into fufu.
How to cook the fufu
Step 1
Start by finding a pot and placing it on a stove that is turned on to medium heat. Add a little bit of water and your fufu to the pot. Use your hands to break any excess lumps in the fufu.
Step 2
Mix the fufu using a wooden spoon then cover it with a lid for about 2 minutes. Continue this process making sure you break any lumps that form when you are cooking the fufu.
Step 3
Add more water to the fufu. This will help to ensure that it is not too hard and also it helps it to cook all the way through. Mix the fufu until it starts changing its colour. It should achieve an off white colour.
Step 4
Remove the fufu from the stove and mould it into balls. Serve it with your favourite stew or soup.
Conclusion
The best method for storing cooked fufu is in the refrigerator. This is because it really preserves it for some time. It is worth noting that some people enjoy their cooked fufu hot and others while cold so you can always choose how you would love to have yours.
