A popular but perishable product, or what is the shelf life of curd cheese

Curd cheese is one of the popular products that is often used to make snacks.

It not only tastes good, but also contains quite a lot of useful substances. To prevent such cheese from spoiling, it is important to store it properly at home.

We'll talk about storing cottage cheese later.

What does it represent?

The production of this product is based on the processing of natural milk. Carefully selected and pre-tested, it turns into cream after passing through the separator. Next, whey, milk, starter culture, and rennet are added.

In accordance with standard technology, ripening is carried out to form a curd curd, which is salted and packaged. A distinctive feature of the product is its high content of protein, calcium, B vitamins and phosphorus.

Its consistency should be soft and its color should be light.. Compared to other types of cheese, curd cheese has a higher amino acid content.

How long is it stored?

Curd cheese is a perishable product. The duration of its storage largely depends on the storage conditions and packaging.

Closed packaging

The closed, airtight container in which the product is sold allows it to be stored for the entire expiration date indicated on the packaging by the manufacturer.

This is only possible if:

• the integrity of the container is not compromised;
• Storage conditions correspond to those recommended on the product packaging.

On average, curd cheese can be stored in unopened sealed packaging for up to 90 days, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. But, if the container is not airtight, it can remain for up to 7 days. Once the package is opened, the shelf life of the cheese is reduced.

After opening

After the package has been opened, The product must be used within a week. During this time, you need to keep the cheese in the refrigerator, covered.

Fridge

The refrigerator has all the necessary conditions for storing dairy products. In an airtight container, it can remain for the entire expiration date indicated on the label.

In an open container – up to 7 days. Cheese can be placed on a shelf or in a compartment intended for vegetables and fruits.

Room temperature

Room temperature is too high to store cream cheese. In such conditions, he can remain for no more than 4 hours, provided he is away from heating devices and sunlight.

If you need to leave the product for a longer time, immediately after use, the leftovers should be placed in the refrigerator.

How to store?

For curd cheese optimal conditions are:

• temperature from +4 to +8? C;
• humidity – from 80 to 90%;
• protection from sunlight and contact with other products.

An ordinary refrigerator satisfies these requirements. It should also be taken into account that the type of cheese product affects the shelf life.

Curd cheese should not be stored in an open container.Violation of this rule can lead to rapid spoilage of the product.

If the package has already been opened, the contents must be transferred to a glass or enamel container with a lidso that the contents do not ventilate and do not absorb odors. If you don't have a lid on hand, you can use cling film to cover the container.

Freezing

Freezing helps extend the shelf life of the product. This method also has its drawbacks. These include the loss of some taste and a possible violation of consistency.

Freezing rules:

1. If there is liquid in the cheese container, it must be drained in advance.
2. Large quantities of product should be divided into individual portions, which will be frozen separately. This will avoid unjustified defrosting of a larger volume of product than is necessary at one time.
3. The best container options for the freezer are plastic containers with a lid and vacuum bags.
4. It is advisable to place a label on each container that goes into the freezer indicating the date of freezing.
5. To better preserve the nutrients and consistency of the product, it is practical to use blast freezing, in which the processing is carried out quickly at very low temperatures.
6. Different types of cheese must be packaged separately.

After defrosting, the soft curd product does not fully restore its characteristics. Therefore, it is not recommended to be used for serving, and only used for baking. Once thawed, cheese cannot be frozen again.

8 recommendations

In order for curd cheese to bring only benefits, It is important to take into account the following tips from cheesemakers:

1. When purchasing, be sure to pay attention to the composition of the product and the expiration date on the packaging.
2. The packaging must be free of defects.
3. Expired goods should not be eaten.
4. Significant changes in temperature and humidity should not be allowed where the product is stored.
5. High-quality packaging is an important requirement, since curd cheese easily absorbs foreign odors.
6. The use of additives in the composition reduces shelf life. If the product will not be used immediately, then herbs, garlic and other ingredients do not need to be added in advance.
7. An unpleasant odor, rancid taste and altered appearance of the curd product indicate its spoilage. Such food cannot be used. Even if the changes are minor, it is better to throw the product away.
8. Freezing is not the best option for preserving dairy products. If there is no urgent need, it is recommended not to buy cheese in large quantities for future use, and use it for food before the expiration date without freezing.

Natural curd cheese can only be white.

Conclusion

Curd natural cheese has a natural creamy taste, which allows you to expand its use by combining it with various products. Plastic and soft, it is suitable for decorating tartlets, sandwiches and all kinds of canapés.

In addition, such cheese can be used when creating desserts as fillings and as part of cream. For any of your culinary ideas it is necessary to choose only high-quality product, which does not contain artificial components, and was stored according to all rules.