How To Store Kimbap

Store Kimbap

Learning how to store kimbap is an important thing considering that it is made using complex ingredients that are hard to store at room temperature. The article below tries to explain how you can store kimbap the right way so that you do not totally sacrifice the texture and the flavours.

Contents

What is kimbap?

Kimbap is a Korean dish that is also referred to as gimbap. It has the same appearance as sushi but in actual fact it is not sushi. It is made using seaweed, meat, rice and vegetables. When making kimbap the meat, rice and vegetables are cooked and placed on top of the seaweed which is then rolled to form a cylindrical shape. It is then cut into small pieces which are referred to as kimbap. Although kimbap is confused with sushi, it is also often confused with maki, a Japanese dish which is made using seaweed that is wrapped and usually served alongside sushi. Kimbap is a popular street food item in Korea and if you go there you are normally going to come across it.

How to store kimbap

Storing kimbap is not an easy task because the rice tends to dry out within 2 to 3 hours after preparation which also causes the seaweed to become soggy. The most valid explanation of why this happens it that, when making kimbap short grain rice is used, this is because it contains a lot of starch so the rice easily sticks together and this helps to actually keep the kimbap intact. However, even though the rice has a lot of starch it tends to dry out very fast and the seaweed absorbs all that moisture which causes it to turn soggy. The kimbap will not be able to hold together if the rice starts turning dry and the seaweed becomes soggy, thus it is advised to eat kimbap within a day.

NB: Naturally kimbap was designed to be eaten within a day however, if you find yourself with kimbap leftovers here are a few tips on how you can store them.

Step 1

If you had already sliced your kimbap simply double wrap the kimbap using saran wrap or alternatively you can place them in air tight containers so that they are not exposed to moisture or any air. If you had not yet sliced the kimbap into small pieces simply wrap it so that air and moisture do not get inside.

Step 2

Place the kimbap in the refrigerator and they can last for about 2 to 3 days. If you want to extend their shelf life then store them in the freezer, however the freezer tends to compromise the taste as well as the texture of the kimbap so you should treat this as your last option.

NB: store kimbap 2 to 3 hours after preparing them this is because storing them at room temperatures exposes them to bacteria.

How to reheat kimbap

NB: in most homes kimbap is eaten whilst cold however if you had placed the kimbap in the fridge or freezer you need to reheat it using a specific method.

Step 1

If you had placed your kimbap in the freezer take them out and place them in the refrigerator so that they can thaw. You can also place them at room temperature for about 30 minutes. If you had stored your kimbap without cutting it then you need to cut it into small bite size pieces.

Step 2

The next thing is to crack an egg or 2 into a bowl. This is because when reheating kimbap you need to use an egg, this helps to disguise the dryness of the rice and it also helps the rice to fluff up without having to spill out of the seaweed casing.

Step 3

Lightly beat the egg in the bowl and add a little bit of salt for seasoning. Then take your sliced kimbap from the fridge and place them inside the egg mixture. Allow the egg mixture to really sink into the rice on both sides of the kimbap. You can use a spoon or fork to turn the kimbap in the bowl.

Step 4

Take a medium sized pan and place it on a stove that is switched on to medium heat. Add a few tablespoons of oil to the pan and when the oil is hot enough carefully place your coated kimbap inside. Let them cook on each side for 2 to 3 minutes or until the outsides have a nice golden brown colour.

Step 5

Remove the reheated kimbap from the stove and serve. You can either eat them while hot or let them cool down a little bit. Your kimbap will be soft and the egg helps to cover up the dryness of the rice. It actually revives the texture of the rice in a way.

NB: Avoid using the microwave to thaw or reheat kimbap it causes the rice to become dry

Shelf life of kimbap

Kimbap that is kept in the refrigerator can last for about 2 to 3 days and should be eaten within that time frame so that you do not get sick. If you are storing your kimbap in the freezer it can last for a longer period of time. However, you should know that when you eat it, the flavours and texture of the rice may be compromised considering it would have undergone the thawing stage which tends to compromise the kimbap.

Conclusion

Kimbap is a complicated dish to store considering that once it is stored the original flavours and texture would have been compromised. In order to avoid disappointment always eat your kimbap the same day. If you store your kimbap using the methods highlighted in the article above make sure that you reheat them using the method given in this article. This is because you can never reheat a kimbap without coating it with an egg. The rice will separate from the seaweed and it won’t be eating a kimbap anymore.

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