Tips and tricks on how and where to store goat's curd
Goat milk is characterized by a high content of proteins, fats and other beneficial substances. It is well suited for the production of cottage cheese.
When making it at home, no preservatives are used, so its shelf life is short. If you follow certain rules, you can preserve this product for as long as possible.
We’ll talk about storing goat’s milk cottage cheese in the article.
Storage rules
The best place to store cottage cheese from goat milk, is considered to be a refrigerating chamber where the temperature is constantly maintained at +3°C..+6°C. It is necessary to ensure that the product is not exposed to sudden temperature changes.
Availability of oxygen also affects safety.. If it is minimal, this will help slow down oxidative processes. You need to select storage containers with this in mind.
In addition, it is worth considering that the high humidity of the cottage cheese and the presence of whey at the bottom contribute to rapid spoilage. If the product is watery, it should be placed on cheesecloth and allowed to dry a little. This will help preserve its freshness for a longer time.
Should not be placed in the refrigerator cottage cheese next to foods that emit a strong aroma, including:
Deadlines
The shelf life of cottage cheese is greatly influenced by the chosen container and preliminary preparation. The average storage time is 48 hours.
Below are the expiration dates depending on the type of container:
- Plastic container – up to 72 hours.
- Enameled pan with lid – 48 hours.
- Special vacuum packaging – 5-6 days.
- A simple plastic bag – up to 36 days.
Pasteurization allows you to increase the shelf life to 30 days.
Can it be frozen?
If there is a need for long-term storage of goat cottage cheese, it can be frozen. The optimal temperature is below -18°C. There are some subtleties to freezing. The drier the product, the better it will retain its taste after defrosting.
Thus, first you need to dry it out as much as possible. To do this, just lay it on clean, dry gauze for 1-2 hours. All excess liquid will be absorbed into the material.
After this, divide the product into small portions so that in the future you do not need to defrost the entire volume. It should then be distributed into ziplock bags or small plastic containers with a lid.
It is worth considering that freezing can negatively affect the taste characteristics. cottage cheese, so it can only be used for preparing different dishes.
To avoid this, it is recommended to defrost as slowly as possible. To do this, place the portion on the middle shelf of the refrigerator. The defrosting process takes on average 5-6 hours.
How can you tell if a product has gone bad?
Goat cottage cheese is a perishable product. If the slightest signs of spoilage appear, you should stop using it.
To assess product freshness you should pay attention to:
- consistency,
- color,
- taste and smell.
These are the main criteria that allow you to accurately determine the freshness of the product. First of all, you need to inspect the cottage cheese. If there is a buildup at the bottom of the container serum, this may indicate damage.
Normally the product is milky white with a slight yellowish tint.. If it has turned deep yellow or acquired a grayish tint, there is a high probability that it is not fresh. In addition, it is necessary to evaluate the smell. Normally, it has a pleasant, slightly sour aroma.
An overly sour, rotten or moldy odor indicates spoilage. The consistency should be grainy and crumbly. If the consistency becomes too soft or sticky, this indicates that the product is spoiled.
Conclusion
Homemade goat curd is characterized by a high protein content, as well as a number of vitamins and minerals. It's better to eat it fresh, because Long-term storage will negatively affect not only the taste characteristics, but also the nutritional value.
All storage requirements must be observed to avoid premature spoilage of the product.
