The calling card of Armenian cuisine: how long does braided cheese last in the refrigerator and without?
Pigtail cheese comes from Armenia. An alternative name for this product is chechil. In Armenia, local cheesemakers make this product exclusively by hand.
Strands of fresh cheese with a fibrous structure are twisted into a bundle. The cheese braid has a pleasant delicate taste, it is very nutritious and satisfying.
Chechil cheese can remain fresh for up to 2 months. To prevent the braided cheese from spoiling, you need to follow a few simple storage rules.
Content
Chechil shelf life
The traditionally hand-made cheese braid is stored exclusively in brine throughout its shelf life. This liquid is usually poured into a sheepskin or jug.
In or without a refrigerator
It is recommended to store purchased chechil exclusively in the refrigerator.
Already cut cheese braid Best consumed within 72 hours. It is not recommended to stock up too much of this product.
Chechil can be stored in vacuum packaging for up to 2 months. If the vacuum packaging has not been broken, the product will remain fresh for up to 60 days.
Soft varieties of this cheese can be stored for no more than 30 days. Hard braided cheese, unpackaged, can be stored for up to 4 weeks if it has not been pre-cut.
The shelf life of loose chechil does not exceed 30 days. Vacuum packaging doubles the shelf life.
Chechil is recommended to be stored exclusively in the refrigerator. The refrigerator will protect the product from drying out and further spoilage.
Temperature
Maintaining temperature conditions is a must for storing cheese braids. The optimal storage temperature is from 0 °C to 4 °C.
A suitable place to place this product is on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, closer to the rear wall of the refrigerator. You can also place the cheese braid on the vegetable rack.
When storing braided cheese you also need to pay attention to the humidity level in the storage. It should not fall below 80%.
When stored in the refrigerator, chechil should not be exposed to air for long periods of time. Otherwise, the product will dry out faster and deteriorate.
Conditions
The cheese braid will remain fresh and tasty longer if you follow the Basic rules for storing this product:
It is recommended to store Chechil cheese in enamel dishes or glass containers. An alternative option is food paper or foil, or, as a last resort, cling film. It is not recommended to wrap the product in a plastic bag.- The cheese braid should be stored separately from other types of cheese. This way the smell of chechil will not spread to other fermented milk products.
- To ensure that Chechil cheese retains its freshness longer, it can be stored wrapped in a weak solution of table salt. To do this, gauze is pre-soaked in a saline solution and the cheese is wrapped in it.
If Chechil cheese seems too salty, you can soak it in boiled water at room temperature for half an hour.This will remove excess salt from the product, it will become softer and more tender.
How to store smoked?
Shelf life of smoked variety of chechil in vacuum packaging is 75 days. Storage conditions are the same as for the classic version of the product.
Can it be frozen?
Chechil cheese is recommended to be stored at very low temperatures only in extreme cases. It is believed that beneficial microorganisms in the product die when the thermometer is below zero. As a result, the structure of the cheese may be damaged.
But if a large amount of Chechil cheese was prepared, it can be frozen:
- Wrap the cheese in parchment or food paper. It is not recommended to use a plastic bag for wrapping; it is better to use cling film. The prepared bundle can be placed in a hermetically sealed plastic container or in a plastic bag.
- It is recommended to indicate the date of freezing on the packaging in order to more carefully observe storage periods in the future.
- After defrosting, Chechil cheese should be consumed immediately. This product cannot be re-frozen. Even if the power was turned off unscheduled and the Chechil was left without cold for a long time, or was defrosted, the cheese would have to be eaten. Otherwise, when frozen again, the braid will change its structure and lose its taste.
- You need to defrost the braided cheese exclusively in a natural way. To do this, you need to remove the product from the refrigerator and remove the packaging. Next, the product is placed on a plate and placed in the refrigerator for several hours. Before eating, chechil should be left at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.Defrosting the product in the microwave is not recommended.
How can you tell if a product is spoiled?
Chechil cheese is a shelf-stable product due to its high salt content. But at the same time, this product is a kind of “living” product and the processes of development of microorganisms in it do not stop. Therefore, it is important to strictly observe the cheese storage conditions and expiration dates.
If the braided cheese has gone bad, You can track this by the following signs:
- Spoiled cheese loses its elasticity, and a sticky coating or mold may form on the surface.
- An unpleasant, pungent odor emanates from expired chechil. This product tastes bitter.
- The surface of fresh chechil is soft and smooth. The crust of a spoiled product is lumpy, swollen, and dry.
If the color, consistency, smell and taste of the cheese braid are suspicious, the product must be discarded. Eating such a product is unsafe for health. A damaged product may contain harmful bacteria.
Most often, Chechil cheese hits store shelves already ripe. But in some cases you can buy an overripe product. Its taste will be more rancid and pungent.
It is better to avoid buying cheeses with a bright yellow color. This color indicates the presence of chemical dyes. Before purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the composition of the cheese indicated on the packaging.
Conclusion
Pigtail cheese is the hallmark of Armenian cuisine. Pleasant and delicate taste makes this product a favorite snack for adults and children.. Subject to storage rules, this product will delight gourmets with its taste and aroma for a long time.
