Greek Market FAQs

Understanding Product State and Temperature:

• Solid Gel Packs: The presence of solid gel packs is a good sign. It indicates that the internal temperature of the packaging has likely been maintained well below the freezing point throughout transit. This helps in keeping the products at a safe temperature.
• Soft to the Touch: Products feeling soft to the touch does not necessarily mean they have fully defrosted. Meat and other frozen foods can begin to soften before they actually enter the “danger zone” (8°C to 63°C according to the UK’s Food Standards Agency or 4°C to 60°C according to USDA), where bacterial growth becomes a concern. Softening can occur at temperatures that are still safe, such as just below freezing.

Safety and Refreezing:

• Refreezing Guidelines: If the gel packs are mostly solid and the product has remained chilled (even if soft), it is generally safe to refreeze the product without cooking it first. The solid state of the gel packs suggests the product was kept out of the danger zone.
• Quality Consideration: Although safe, refreezing may affect the texture and quality of the product due to ice crystals that may have formed and then partially melted. This is more noticeable in delicate items like fish or finely sliced meats.

Best Practices for Handling Deliveries:

1. Immediate Inspection: Upon delivery, immediately check the state of the gel packs.
2. Feel the Package: If the product feels cold to the touch, similar to how it would feel in your refrigerator, it is likely that it has been kept at a safe temperature.
3. Refreezing: If the product is soft but cold, and the gel packs are solid, it is safe to refreeze.

Refreezing thawed food is safe if the food has been handled properly and kept at a safe temperature (below 8°C according to the UK’s Food Standards Agency) before refreezing. However, there may be a slight loss in flavour due to moisture lost during the thawing process, especially in delicate items like seafood or ready-to-eat foods.

Although you see to thaw and to defrost used almost interchangeably, there is a difference. To defrost means simply to release from the frozen state, while to thaw as a transitive verb means to cause to become free from the effects of cold (hardness, stiffness, numbness) through exposure to warmth. A frozen product soft to the touch does not necessarily mean it’s been fully defrosted.

Every product that appears on the Greek Market platform is identified by its product batch number, therefore the Best Before date is displayed on the product page.

A Best-before date is not to be confused with the Use-by date that you find on products such as fresh milk, yogurt, and raw meat.

Learn more about our support for the Fight Food Waste initiative and the differences between Use-by and Best-before dates here: Fight Food Waste | Greek Market

Please note that Best-before dates are not Expiry dates, products do not expire!

In the unlikely event of a product recall, please click here Product Recalls | Greek Market for the latest information.

Vinegar never expires, the date printed on the bottle is the date it was bottled.

Why your Greek honey get crystallised

Pollen and the natural sugars in honey such as glucose and fructose will bind together and begin to form little crystals, which can start making your honey harder. Non-processed, 100% pure natural honey of top quality will crystallise faster than others. While it might mean less shelf appeal because the honey looks solid, keeping pollen in honey means you’re getting a real product made by bees.

Crystallised honey is still honey! It’s perfectly safe to eat and doesn’t mean that your honey has gone bad. In fact, it’s just the opposite! It means that your honey is pure and natural with its flavour, quality and health benefits 100% preserved. You can still eat and cook with crystallised honey exactly as you normally would. It will melt into your hot drinks and into your baked dishes, just like liquid honey.

How to turn your honey back to liquid

If you prefer not to mess with your favourite sweet treat and want to keep your honey dripping, simply give it a bath. Take a large bowl, fill it with warm water and let your honey sit until the crystals melt away.

All our EU electrical appliances come with a FREE compliant adapter, so they can be used in the UK safely.
Since this adapter is not fixed to the appliance, you can also use it for other EU electrical appliances.

Olive oil starts to get naturally solidified when exposed to cold temperatures, usually between 1-4° Celsius.

The solidification of olive oil is a slow and gradual process and starts by it looking cloudy or crystalised. As the olive oil gets even colder, it turns into the same consistency as butter. When completely frozen, it becomes a very hard butter.

Again, this process doesn’t affect the quality — it will be the same Extra Virgin Olive Oil when you bring it back down to room temperature and it becomes liquid again. Some even suggest keeping it at this extra cool temperature to extend the shelf life.

Thawing Olive Oil At Home

•You can put the container into a “warm room”.
Move it to a warmer spot in your house before you use it. Make sure to give it enough time to turn back into a liquid — the larger the packaging, the more time it will need. This process can take anywhere from 1 day to 1 week, so make sure to plan ahead.

•If you are looking to bring your retail bottle of olive oil back to a liquid state, this process is quite simple. Just fill a sink with warm water, and place your olive oil bottle in it. Your olive oil will slowing come back to a full liquid form so that you can use it just like normal — just give it 10 or 20 minutes in the warm water.

•You may find that there are small particles that are floating in the oil after defrosting — these are small, natural molecules of the olive that tend to separate and settle when the olive oil solidifies. Don’t worry, your oil is still good and you can use it like normal.

No, you cannot remove items. We recommend you place a new order.

Pastitsio is a classic Greek dish that is often described as a Greek version of lasagne. It consists of layered pasta, typically long tubular pasta like bucatini or penne, a meat sauce usually made from minced beef or lamb, and a creamy béchamel sauce. The dish is seasoned with various herbs and spices, including cinnamon and nutmeg, which add a distinctively Greek flavour.

To prepare pastitsio, the pasta is first boiled until it’s al dente and often mixed with a bit of cheese and egg to help the layers stick together. The meat sauce, similar to a Bolognese, is prepared by cooking minced meat with onions, garlic, and tomatoes, and it’s usually seasoned with cinnamon, salt, and pepper. The béchamel sauce is made from butter, flour, and milk, and is seasoned with nutmeg.

Once all the components are ready, the dish is assembled in a deep baking dish. A layer of pasta is placed at the bottom, followed by the meat sauce, another layer of pasta, and finally, the béchamel sauce on top. The dish is then baked in the oven until the top layer becomes golden and slightly crispy.

Pastitsio is a hearty dish that’s often served at family gatherings, celebrations, and festive occasions in Greece. It’s beloved for its rich, comforting layers and the blend of flavours that make it uniquely Greek.

Given its popularity and representation of Greek culinary traditions, pastitsio has been included in our offerings at GreekMarket.co.uk, serving as a hearty meal that encapsulates the warmth and richness of Greek cuisine.

Tahini is a paste made from ground sesame seeds, and it’s a staple ingredient in various cuisines, particularly in Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and North African cooking. While not exclusively Greek, tahini is also commonly used in Greek cuisine, often appearing in sauces, spreads, and desserts. The paste has a creamy texture and a nutty, slightly bitter taste.

To make tahini, sesame seeds are usually hulled, toasted, and then ground into a paste. The end product can vary in consistency from quite thick to somewhat runny, depending on the grinding process and the addition of any oils. Pure tahini consists solely of sesame seeds, but some commercial varieties may contain added oil or salt.

In Greek cuisine, tahini is often mixed with honey or sugar to create a sweet spread, and it can be used as a filling for various pastries. It is also used in savory dishes and sauces, often combined with lemon juice, garlic, and herbs. For example, it may be used in dips or as a dressing for grilled vegetables and salads.

Tahini is rich in nutrients, including healthy fats, protein, and various vitamins and minerals. It’s also a good source of antioxidants and has been associated with various health benefits, such as improving heart health and reducing inflammation.

Given its versatility and nutritional benefits, tahini has always been a wonderful addition to the GreekMarket.co.uk selection of Greek and Mediterranean products.