Rules and shelf life of Philadelphia cheese
Refined and delicate creamy taste are the distinctive features of Philadelphia cheese. The birthplace of production of this product is the USA.
The cheese owes its appearance to the farmer V. Lawrence, who tried to repeat the production of the popular French cheese.
As a result, he created his own unique product - relatively inexpensive, and did not require time to mature, and therefore immediately gained great popularity.
We'll talk about storing Philadelphia cheese in this article.
Content
What does it represent?
Philadelphia is a creamy, plastic cheese made from cream, milk protein, milk and salt. Also in the manufacture of the product, carob gum is used (plays the role of a stabilizer) and lactic acid bacteria to give the cheese a thick consistency.
Philadelphia cheese produced can be divided into several main groups:
Classical. It can be with a standard composition, including heavy cream, with a light composition based on cream and milk, and also based on skim milk without cream (for dietary nutrition).- Marked "organics". This is the most organic product based on milk obtained from cows that consume only organic feed and live in natural conditions with good ecology.
- Packaged in individual slices for use in sandwiches. It's called a sandwich.
- Minitabs - packaged in individual portions, each of which has individual packaging.
- With additional ingredients - garlic, herbs, etc.
- Packaged together with a snack - as a ready-made dish. This type is called splendips.
Regardless of the type of packaging and the size of individual servings, Philadelphia has a delicate consistency and a mild, pleasant taste.
How long is it stored?
Having a delicate soft taste, Philadelphia cheese is a fairly versatile product, in demand in the preparation of various dishes. Shelf life depends on storage conditions and type of packaging.
In a refrigerator
Being in the refrigerator allows you to preserve the product without loss of quality for up to 4 months provided that the original packaging has not been opened.
At room temperature
Philadelphia is a demanding cheese. It should not be kept warm. At room temperature, such a product can last only a few hours in a sealed original container and no more than an hour in an open container just on the table.
Homemade
Homemade cheese has a very limited shelf life. Even if refrigerated, it cannot be kept for longer than 5 days..
It is normal for Philadelphia to separate liquid during storage and may only indicate that the whey has separated. The solution to the problem is to mix the product.
Conditions
To preserve their quality, cream cheese should be stored in a cool place, protected from sunlight.
The product's production technology is such that Philadelphia does not require long-term aging. (ripening), pressing and some other technological stages that hard cheeses undergo.
Optimal conditions for such a product are temperatures ranging from +2 to +6°C. In order for the delicate cheese to reveal all its richness of taste, it should not be served immediately from the refrigerator, but allowed to stand for 30-40 minutes in a warm place.
Is freezing possible?
If you need to extend the shelf life of products, many of them can be frozen. This is not the best option for Philadelphia. Like other soft cheeses, such a product after defrosting significantly loses quality: the consistency and aroma are disrupted, and the unique taste is partially lost.
Tips for choosing
When purchasing Philadelphia in store You should pay attention to the following points:
- packaging integrity;
- best before date;
- composition of the product.
A natural, healthy product should not contain preservatives, flavor enhancers or other synthetic ingredients.
Conclusion
Delicate cream cheese is a product that can be used both as an independent dish and as a complement to culinary masterpieces. Philadelphia can add a unique flavor to cheesecakes, appetizers, etc.
