The nuances of storing tofu cheese
Tofu cheese is a soy product used in cooking. It has a neutral taste, which makes it quite versatile and allows it to be included in various dishes.
Tofu has its own storage characteristics, knowing which you can preserve the beneficial qualities of the cheese to the maximum.
Content
Best before date
Tofu is a product made by curdling soy milk when heated. To give firmness, the cheese is pressed after rolling.
After opening the package, the cheese can remain in the refrigerator for several days.. When frozen, the shelf life is no more than 5 months. Tofu is popular in a variety of cuisines, but it has been consumed longest in China—more than 2,000 years.
Conditions
Tofu is usually sold in sealed packaging, which contains all the important information. It is advisable to store soy cheese in a cool place, protected from sunlight. These conditions are maintained in the refrigerator.
Closed packaging
Cheese in sealed vacuum packaging may be kept for the time indicated on the packaging.
As a rule, there is liquid inside, which is necessary to maintain the freshness of the product. It is better to keep cheese in a cool place.
The packaging should only be opened before using the product.. This should not be done in advance.
After opening
After opening the original packaging, the cheese should be used for food within 3-5 days, and kept in the refrigerator during this time. Cooked tofu can also be stored for no more than 5 days, but it is recommended to use it as quickly as possible.
To ensure storage for even several days, should proceed as follows:
- transfer cheese to an airtight container;
- fill with purified water;
- place the container in the refrigerator.
The water in the container should be replaced with fresh water every day.
Temperature
Among the mandatory rules for storing tofu is maintaining a cool air temperature. The necessary conditions are available in a regular household refrigerator. For opened and unopened packaging, this range is from +2 to +6? C.
Freezing Features
If you don't plan to use soy cheese for cooking within the next few days, you can freeze it. A feature of the product is the change in qualities after defrosting. This point should be taken into account when planning the preparation of dishes.
After defrosting, the product will acquire a yellowish tint.. The color and consistency of this tofu are suitable for frying with vegetables, on its own or with meat. After freezing, the cheese becomes denser and more porous.
The vacuum packaging in which the tofu was purchased contains liquid natural to the cheese product. Soy cheese can be frozen in this form, but it will crack when defrosted.
If the cheese has already been removed from the vacuum packaging, it is better to freeze it in a dry state. You need to proceed as follows:
Using a paper towel, pat the tofu pieces dry.- Place a paper towel over and under the cheese. Place a weight on top, for example, a cutting board. This will allow you to squeeze out excess water. As the towels get wet, they need to be replaced with dry ones.
- Wrap each bar in cling film or place in a zip-lock bag, making sure that there is practically no air left inside.
- Attach a label indicating the date the supplies were placed in the freezer.
- Place the package in the freezer.
The frozen shelf life is 3-5 months. Tofu cannot be re-frozen.
Defrosting
Thawing of cheese should take place gradually, without sudden heating.. To do this, it is best to transfer the product to the refrigerator shelf in the same packaging in which it was in the freezer, and let it slowly thaw. It is not advisable to speed up the process, as this can lead to a change in consistency and deterioration in taste.
Signs that the product is spoiled
Tofu is a perishable product that is demanding in terms of storage conditions and timing. You can recognize spoilage of cheese by the following signs:
- Unpleasant odor (rancid or sour). The fresh product has practically no pronounced aroma.
- The appearance of mold is a reason to throw away the cheese.
- A change in texture (increased dryness or, conversely, turning into cottage cheese) indicates the beginning of tofu deterioration.
- Uncharacteristic color clearly indicates that the product has become unusable.
- Expired date.Expired cheese cannot be used for food even after heat treatment.
For various reasons, a product may disappear even if the shelf life has not yet expired.
Video on the topic of the article
This video will tell you about storing and preparing tofu:
Conclusion
Tofu is a healthy product that can be used in the preparation of vegetarian or meat dishes and masterpieces of Asian cuisine. It has a low calorie content - about 73 kcal per 100 grams.
Proper storage of soy cheese means organizing meals without harming health, reducing the cost of purchasing products to replace spoiled ones, and protecting the environment by reducing the amount of waste.
