What is the shelf life of packaged cheese and what does it depend on?
Cheese is one of the popular products, which is used as an independent snack, and as an ingredient in the preparation of a large number of dishes.
It comes to the retail chain in packaging - heads, slices, pieces, etc. Packaged cheeses can be in the form of individual pieces, bars or slices.
Polymer films are most often used as packaging material. We'll talk about storing packaged cheese in the article.
Content
Storage period of packaged product
At a retail point of sale, cheese can be purchased in heads (up to 15 kg) or in packaged form. In the latter case, the package can weigh from 25 grams to 1 kg.
Cheeses are perishable products, therefore Quite stringent requirements are imposed on the place of their detention and the conditions of transportation..
Packaging from the manufacturer
If a packaged product is packaged in a polymer film under vacuum or in an inert gas environment, it can be stored on average for up to 60 days. In the case where the cheese is not in a vacuum sealed container, it is kept for up to 8 days.
The expiration date is set from the end of ripening (considered the date of manufacture) taking into account the type of product (pickle, hard, semi-solid, etc.).
For hard and semi-hard varieties this period is up to 30 days, for soft varieties it is less.This rule has exceptions, and some varieties can last up to 120 days (Dutch and a number of others) without losing their qualities, and even up to 180 days (Maasdam, Parmesan, etc.).
The shelf life of the product in a closed package, subject to all conditions, corresponds to the information on the label. Read about freezing Maasdam cheese here, about storing Parmesan - Here.
Packaged in store
In most cases, the cheese product is supplied to retail chains in the form of heads. And it is already packaged on the spot. Manufacturers, as a rule, indicate information about the shelf life of their products after the seal of the original packaging has been broken. If there is no such data, then the period is taken according to SanPin (sanitary standards).
When dividing the head into separate pieces and packaging them, the storage period should be up to 72 hours. The store places a label with this information on each portion. In addition to the date of manufacture and expiration date, the date and time of packaging must also be indicated.
At home
If the cheese is packaged directly in the store in vacuum film, it can last for 5 days. In this case, all rules for finding the product must be observed, taking into account approved sanitary standards.
In sealed factory packaging, the cheese packaged by the manufacturer itself can be kept in the refrigerator at home for the entire expiration date indicated on the label. A piece that is placed in film at home can be stored for only a few days.
Vacuum packaging allows you to extend the shelf life of cheese. You can place fresh cheese product purchased or prepared yourself in it.
How to store after packaging?
The cheese can be packaged and placed in an airtight container. If it is factory-made, then the goods can remain in it for the entire time specified by the manufacturer.
But even in this case All necessary conditions must be met:
- For a sealed vacuum bag – temperature up to +6°C and humidity about 85%.
- For storage in film - temperature from 0 to +5°C and relative humidity about 75%.
If the product's expiration date has expired, it is not advisable to use it for food, including for cooking at high temperatures. It is advisable to find a use for the packaged product before the end date indicated on the packaging. If the integrity of the packaging is compromised, the shelf life is sharply reduced.
Useful tips
When storing packaged cheese It is recommended to adhere to the following expert advice:
- after opening the package, the shelf life of the cheese is reduced;
- do not allow the container to be sealed;
- conditions of detention must be stable - without sudden fluctuations.
Conclusion
Buying already packaged cheese in a retail chain is a convenient and practical option. It allows you to quickly select the volume of product that is needed. In order to be sure of high quality, you should definitely study the label in the store and check the expiration date.
