Sunita Williams took samosas to space: How long can you store this snack?

Williams took Indian snacks and fish curry on her space mission, showing a deep connection to her roots

By: Lifestyle Desk
New Delhi | Updated: June 8, 2024 03:22 PM IST

3 min read

NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Sunita Williams walk at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, ahead of Boeing's Starliner-1 Crew Flight Test (CFT) mission. (Sources: Reuters and Freepik)

Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams made history as the first woman to pilot a spacecraft on its inaugural test flight. During her third journey to space aboard the Boeing Starliner maiden crew mission, she reportedly carried samosas, marking a unique culinary connection to her Indian roots. As this popular Indian snack transcends into the space realm, let’s explore various ways to store samosas and extend their shelf life.

Samosas typically consist of a crispy outer layer made from all-purpose flour and a savory filling of boiled potatoes and Indian spices. Deep-fried in cooking oil, these snacks are traditionally served hot with chutney and tomato ketchup. A favourite snack in northern and eastern India, samosas have gained popularity across the country, inspiring fusion variations to cater to diverse tastes and globalize this beloved treat.

How long can you store samosas?

Clinical nutritionist Lovneet Batra said cooked samosas can last up to three days before they start to spoil. “Samosas, with their filling of boiled potatoes, tend to become soggy and prone to spoilage due to moisture content. Therefore, it’s better to cook samosas and then freeze them for extended storage,” she said.

“The outer space has a cooler temperature, but the space shuttle would have temperatures conducive to living conditions. Therefore, samosas would survive 3 days there as well, unless they are semi-cooked and deep frozen,” shared nutritionist Arooshi Aggarwal.

Deep freezing them ensures the longevity of samosas- increasing its lifespan by 2 to 3 weeks, she added.

Batra advised cooking samosas at medium heat and draining excess oil after deep frying. “Allow samosas to cool to room temperature before storing them in insulated airtight containers to maintain their freshness and crispiness,” she said. For those considering meal prepping samosas, she suggested freezing the deep-fried end product instead.

Believe it or not, samosas can last in the freezer for up to six months. (Source: Freepik)

“Just let your snack cool down and then store it inside a freezer. It’s important to ensure that there is minimal moisture content inside the container to prevent the food from spoiling,” said Batra.

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“However, once frozen, do not thaw the samosas again as it may pose food safety hazards,” she advised.

“This Indian snack is rich in trans fats, and thus should not be encouraged as a healthy habit,” mentioned Aggarwal.

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