Where is it better, how correctly and how long can cottage cheese be stored in the refrigerator?
Natural fermented milk products have a composition rich in nutrients and have a pleasant taste.
Cottage cheese is one of the popular products that can be used fresh and included in snacks and desserts.
One of its features is its high demands on storage conditions. We'll talk about storing cottage cheese in the refrigerator below.
Content
Can it be stored?
Cottage cheese is a product that is obtained by fermenting milk. It is easily absorbed by the body, and is often used even in children's and dietary nutrition. It contains amino acids, vitamins and minerals (including calcium and phosphorus).
Deadlines
The shelf life of cottage cheese depends on many factors. Including:
- Preliminary processing.
- Presence or absence of packaging.
- Fat percentage.
- Storage.
- Original quality.
- Presence/absence of additives.
Even well-prepared cottage cheese should not be used for food after its shelf life has expired.
Packaged
Packaged cottage cheese purchased in a retail chain has all the necessary information on the packaging.It shows the composition, fat content and expiration date. When closed, the product can be stored in the conditions recommended by the manufacturer. for the entire period indicated on the label.
After opening the sealed package, the storage time of the cottage cheese is sharply reduced. As a rule, the manufacturer indicates how long the cottage cheese can be used. It's always a few days.
After opening
Open factory packaging of cottage cheese allows air access to the product. In this case, oxidation processes are started, and The shelf life of such a product for food is reduced to several days..
If the product will be used more than once, and it is planned to be stored in the refrigerator further, it is necessary to organize all the conditions for this.
Including:
- being under the lid;
- no contact with other products.
It is important not to add additional components (berries, dried fruits, etc.) to the product if it is to be stored.
Cottage cheese intended for a child should not be stored after opening the package; it must be used immediately. If the portion in the package is large, an adult can finish it, or it can be added to baked goods.
Temperature
For the content of fermented milk products, temperature indicators are very important, and they are in a relatively small range. Therefore, it is optimal to store cottage cheese in the refrigerator.
On a shelf in the refrigerator the average temperature is 2-6? C. These conditions are suitable for the product. Room temperature is higher and is not acceptable for long-term storage of cottage cheese.
If there is excess product or it is impossible to use it immediately, it can be frozen.In this form it can lie for up to several months.
Conditions, dishes
Depending on what kind of cottage cheese was prepared or purchased, the appropriate container and storage conditions are selected.
From the shop
Store-bought cottage cheese comes in sealed factory packaging. In this form, it can be kept for the expiration date specified by the manufacturer.. But if the packaging has already been opened, the shelf life will be much shorter, and it should be counted from the moment the container is opened.
Weight
Cottage cheese sold by weight does not have airtight packaging, so the shelf life is much shorter than that of prepackaged cottage cheese. This product should also be stored in a refrigerator. Storage duration is 1-2 days, provided that the exact date of its manufacture is known.
To prevent this from happening, cottage cheese it is better to transfer it to a glass, ceramic or enamel container with a lid. The bottom is covered with a cotton napkin.
Rustic natural
Natural cottage cheese is considered more useful, since it does not undergo additional processing.
It should be taken into account that such cottage cheese has a much shorter shelf life than store-bought, which makes it impossible to purchase it for future use.
At home, it is recommended to transfer it from the bag into an enamel, clay or glass vessel, the bottom of which is best lined with cotton cloth. The top of the container is covered with a lid to prevent air from entering and the exchange of odors with other products.
Duration of stay in the refrigerator is up to 5 days if all rules are followed.But if the cottage cheese is placed in the cold after it has been stale, its shelf life for food is reduced.
With sour cream
Cottage cheese with sour cream, prepared for consumption, cannot be stored fresh for more than a day. Adding any components shortens the shelf life of the product, so it is not advisable to fill it with sour cream in advance.
Homemade
Making cottage cheese yourself allows you to clearly control the quality of the product and know exactly when it was made. After cooking, such a product is sent to the refrigerator, transferred to an enamel, clay or ceramic vessel.
If there is too much cottage cheese, some of it can be frozen.
After defrosting
Frozen cottage cheese Can stay in the freezer for up to several months. When the product is needed, it is first placed to thaw on a shelf in the refrigerator.
The defrosting time depends on how low the temperature was in the freezer and how large a piece the product is frozen in. In any case, it will take several hours (on average from 6 to 10).
It is not advisable to try to speed up the process using an oven or microwave. – the product may, as a result, lose its consistency, taste and some of the nutrients.
When preparing a product for freezing, it is recommended to divide it into separate portions. This will help with defrosting - you won't have to defrost more than necessary. Cottage cheese cannot be re-frozen. The freezing temperature should not be higher than -18? C.
During the thawing process, liquid may be released from the curd mass - this is whey. In order for the consistency of the cottage cheese to remain familiar, it should be placed in a colander and then squeezed out the remaining excess moisture. A convenient way is to use gauze folded in several layers.
Curd
Curd mass in its essence is not pure cottage cheese. It contains various additives, including vegetable or animal fats, sugar, etc.. The shelf life of such a product is determined by the manufacturer. The label indicates not only the time frame for keeping it, but also storage conditions that should not be exceeded.
In most cases, with a tightly closed container, such a mass can last from 5 days to a week. In case of unsealed packaging – no more than 72 hours.
How to extend the shelf life?
Having a very limited shelf life, it is not advisable to buy cottage cheese and prepare it in large quantities. The most effective way is sealed packaging.
Factory vacuum packaging allows such a product to sit for a whole month (subject to temperature conditions). It is sealed and prevents the development of oxidative processes.
If the cottage cheese is printed or purchased by weight, it is recommended to transfer it to a container with a bottom lined with cotton cloth. The product itself is laid out on top and covered with a napkin soaked in salted water.
Only freezing can ensure long-term storage of cottage cheese fresh.
Signs of damage
Being a perishable product, cottage cheese spoils easily. This is influenced by various factors:
correct preparation;- pre-sale conditions;
- duration of lying;
- the quality of the milk used for its preparation;
- storage conditions after purchase;
- presence or absence of packaging;
- contact with other products.
If a product has warning signs that make you doubt its quality, you should not use such cottage cheese as food.
These signs include:
- sour unpleasant odor;
- bitter taste;
- violation of consistency;
- color change uncharacteristic of a fresh product;
- the appearance of foreign inclusions.
Conclusion
Cottage cheese is a healthy product with a rich composition and easy digestibility. Its introduction into the diet allows you to diversify the table with fermented milk products, because a large number of different tasty and healthy dishes can be prepared from the curd mass.
