What is the shelf life of whey in the refrigerator and what happens if you don’t stick to it?
Whey is a natural food product obtained in the production of curd products.
It contains vitamins and minerals, the preservation of which is impossible without observing all the conditions for proper maintenance.
We will tell you in the article what is the shelf life of whey in the refrigerator, freezer, or at room temperature.
Content
What is this product?
Whey is a milk drink that is a by-product during the production of cottage cheese and cottage cheese. During their production, a liquid is formed, which is decanted and used for food.
This drink consists of 93% water. The rest of it is often made up of:
- calcium;
- protein;
- carbohydrates;
- lactobacilli;
- milk sugar;
- vitamins, etc.
In addition to being used as a food product, whey can be used as a cosmetic product – to strengthen hair, whiten skin and treat sunburn.
How long is it stored?
Whey can be made at home or purchased in a store.
Manufactured industrially, it has sealed packaging indicating storage periods under appropriate conditions.
Regardless of the production method, the product must be protected from direct sunlight. The shelf life of whey made at home directly depends on its quality.
Even if properly prepared, it can be used within 3-4 days if refrigerated., and a few more days after this period - as a cosmetic product. But after two weeks after preparation, if the whey has not been used, it is poured out.
In a refrigerator
Maximum shelf life – up to 72 hours in unopened packaging. After opening, the product can be refrigerated for no more than three days at a temperature of +5? C. On the shelf in the refrigerator there are optimal conditions - low temperature and lack of sunlight.
In the cellar, on the balcony
The product can also be stored in the cellar if the air temperature is kept cool. A balcony is also suitable for storage if the air temperature on it does not exceed +10? C, does not fall below 0? C, and it is possible to place the container with the serum in a closed box or in a cabinet with closing doors.
Isolation from sunlight is a must. Subject to these rules, the shelf life of the product cannot be more than 3 days.
In the cold season, when there is a threat of frost, you should not store whey on the balcony, as the liquid can turn into ice and lose its value as a food product.
In room conditions
The serum should not be stored warmly, at room temperature.The lactic bacteria contained in it are a favorable environment for the development of pathogenic microorganisms, especially during long-term storage or exposure to heat.
The product can remain in a cool pantry in the apartment for up to a couple of days.. But this is only possible if there is reliable protection from light.
In a warm room, fermentation processes immediately begin in the whey, and the product becomes unfit for consumption in a matter of hours.
Can it be frozen?
If the product is not intended to be used within the next few days, it should be can be frozen and stored in the freezer. It should be borne in mind that exposure to low temperatures leads to a significant reduction in the amount of vitamins and other beneficial substances contained in the liquid.
This leads to a decrease in the nutritional value and usefulness of the product. After defrosting, it is advisable to use frozen whey only for cosmetic purposes or for preparing dishes that are subject to heat treatment, for example, in the production of dough.
Do not use glass containers for freezing as they may break. The optimal container for freezing is a plastic container, which should be no more than 4/5 full.
This could be one of the options:
- ice trays;
- plastic bottles.
For easy storage, frozen cubes can be placed in a ziplock bag. The shelf life of the product is up to 6 months.
The resulting ice should not be defrosted in advance.. They do this only when the product is needed. To do this, the frozen whey is moved from the freezer to the main compartment of the refrigerator.
Suitable container
If the serum was purchased in a store in a sealed package, then it does not need to be opened until use. After opening, it is better to pour the product into a glass jar or enamel container and keep it in the cold under a tightly closed lid.
Storing in an open container is not advisable., since the product will deteriorate faster and absorb foreign odors. It is also not advisable to keep serum in plastic bottles that are not intended for this purpose.
The container selected for storing whey must be clean and dry.
The video will show you how to store whey in glass bottles:
How to increase the shelf life?
According to the rules, serum must be stored at a temperature of +5? C. You can extend the shelf life by freezing, but this will reduce the nutritional value of the product.
When making whey at home A measure to extend its shelf life may be the following procedure:
- Bring the container with yogurt almost to a boil.
- Pour in freshly squeezed lemon juice based on the proportion: per liter of yogurt - 1 tablespoon.
- Remove from stove.
- Allow the product to cool.
- Squeeze out the curd.
- Pour the resulting whey into a glass jar or enamel can.
This type of processing has several advantages:
- enrichment of the drink with vitamin C;
- extending the shelf life of whey.
For preparation, only fresh juice should be used, not canned.
Dry concentrate
In addition to fresh, liquid whey, a dry product obtained by evaporation is also produced. In this form, the product retains all its beneficial qualities..
A similar concentrate is used in sports nutrition, for the production of animal feed, food additives, and cosmetics.
Industrially Produced Dry Whey Powder must be stored according to the manufacturer's directions.
Even in its dry concentrated state, whey has a limited shelf life. It is regulated by the manufacturer, and cannot be more than one year.
Recommendations
When using whey It is advisable to adhere to the following recommendations:
- When purchasing a finished product, you should check the expiration date and look at the composition, which should not contain any additional ingredients - only whey. A counterfeit dairy product will not benefit the body.
- Store packaging must not be damaged.
- After the expiration date, the product should not be used for food.
- When storing goods, it is important to adhere to the manufacturer's recommendations.
- Excessive consumption of lactic acid can be harmful to health.
Conclusion
Whey is a food product that requires compliance with storage conditions and shelf life. If you adhere to the rules of content, this drink can serve as a useful addition to the diet, be part of complex therapy for weight loss, metabolic disorders, and be used for problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
