How shelf-stable is Oaxacan mole paste?

May 17, 2015 10:36 AM

My brother bought me two ziplock bags full of Oaxacan mole paste from a vacation in Mexico about two months ago. I asked him how to store it and he said to just toss it in my pantry. I totally forgot about it until today. I'm making dinner for him and his lady tonight (as well as my husband and toddler) and was thinking of using it for enchiladas. It still smells fine. Would you eat it?
posted by macrowave to Food & Drink (3 answers total)

If it's the thick pasty stuff that you have to add water to to make sauce, then yes probably. If it's sauce already, then probably no.
posted by aimedwander at 11:12 AM on May 17, 2015

Sauce should be frozen, and it should last MONTHS.

http://cooking.stackexchange.com/questions/23624/how-long-can-i-store-mole

Paste... As long as the packaging is airtight, it may survive on the pantry for months, according to this Chowhound post. it's safer to freeze it though. Shouldn't affect the flavor.

http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/814801
posted by kschang at 1:16 PM on May 17, 2015

If it smells fine, I'd taste a little bit to make sure it doesn't taste rancid, remember mole has a lot of nuts and seeds in it. If it looks, smells and tastes fine, I'd eat it but I'd make small batches of the rest of the paste to freeze it for later use.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 9:33 PM on May 17, 2015