If you’re looking for grated ube (purple yam) in the States, you’ve probably found it to be quite difficult. The popular Filipino ingredient is hard to come by in many areas across the country, but there are a few places where you can find it. Here’s a list of places that carry frozen grated ube:
Where To Find Frozen Grated Ube
1. Costco
Costco is a great place to find inexpensive staples for your kitchen, and ube is no exception. For $8.79, you can get a 1 kilogram bag of grated ube from one of the best-known brands in the Philippines, Filipino Foods Online. This would be a great option if you’re looking to make some treats for a large group or if you’d like to freeze some for later use. There are also other options available on Amazon that ship from the same brand. If you don’t have access to a Costco, this is an awesome way to stock up on ube without breaking the bank!
2. Amazon
While shopping online, Amazon offers a few options for frozen grated purple yams. One option is Polvoron Ube Macapuno by Aling Conching. The product comes in one pound bags and contains grated purple yam with coconut strings. This can be used for both desserts and smoothies.
3. Walmart
Walmart is a great place to find a wide variety of products at low prices. Walmart offers many different types of frozen grated ube including unsweetened, artificially sweetened versions and those with sugar added. This store also carries a large selection of other types of frozen grated ube such as shredded coconut flakes, crushed pineapple pieces and dried mangoes for making unique desserts or snacks.
4. Asian markets
The next time you’re at your local Asian market, be sure to take a stroll down the frozen aisle—chances are, you’ll find grated ube there. If you’ve never tried this frozen purple yam before, we’d highly recommend picking up a bag; it’s a sweet and savory treat that makes for beautiful and flavorful desserts. You can also find canned or bottled ube in some markets, but it’s much easier to work with in its frozen state. If you don’t have an Asian market near you, however, don’t worry about missing out: there are plenty of online retailers that sell ube.
How To Use Frozen Grated Ube
Many of us are unfamiliar with ube, but it’s a wonderful and versatile ingredient that you can add to many different dishes. This root vegetable is purple in color and is often used to make ube halaya, a sweet Filipino delicacy. It’s available in frozen grated form at most Asian grocery stores—you can use this as a shortcut to quickly make tasty treats without laboriously grating your own. Ube also adds a welcome burst of flavor and color to many different kinds of desserts.
If you’re looking for some practical inspiration, here are some of our favorite ways to use frozen grated ube:
1. Add it to French toast batter or pancake batter before cooking—the extra moisture from the frozen grated ube will make your pancakes fluffier and more flavorful than ever before!
2. Put it in milkshake or smoothie blends for an exciting new twist—kids especially love the rich purple color that ube gives.
3. Give your ice cream an exotic new flavor by adding a small handful of grated ube during the churning process; mix with other flavors for an even more adventurous treat.
4. Add it to your favorite cookie recipe for a subtle surprise that everyone will enjoy; the lovely purple color will make your cookies irresistible.
5. Add it to your chocolate chip recipe—cookies will have a sweet, juicy flavor that you’ll never forget.
Frozen Vs. Fresh Grated Ube
Frozen ube is the normal purple yam that has been peeled, cooked, and frozen. The advantage of frozen ube is convenience. It’s already peeled and grated for you. You just need to thaw it out, then use it for your recipe. It’s also usually cheaper than fresh ube.
Fresh ube is unpeeled purple yam that has been freshly grated or hand-grated. These are harder to find in the U.S., but if you live near a Filipino grocery store, they might have it in the produce section or freezer section. If you’re buying fresh ube, be sure to peel it first before grating!
How Long Does Frozen Grated Ube Last?
The quick answer: Ube should be frozen as soon as possible, and it can be stored in the freezer for up to two months. But if you’re interested in how to keep ube fresh for longer, there are a few things you can do.
You might be asking this question because you’re planning on buying your ube grated and frozen at the store, or perhaps you’ve harvested your own ube and want to know how long it will last. Whatever the case may be, knowing how long frozen grated ube will last is helpful when planning out your meals. If you plan on having lots of ube over time, then you might consider buying more than one bag so that you can spread out your consumption over a longer period of time.
Even though it’s possible to keep frozen grated ube fresh for two months, it’s generally better to use the ube within one month of freezing. This ensures that quality remains high and that the ube doesn’t lose any flavor or texture during storage.
