The favorite snack of many is jelly. However, not always cooked dish is eaten in one sitting. We have to clean the snack in a cold place until better times. Many housewives are interested in this question: how much jelly is stored in the refrigerator? Let's talk about this in our publication.
Depending on the method of preparation and storage conditions
In fact, this question is difficult to answer unambiguously. If you buy a ready-made snack in a supermarket, the packaging always shows the release dates and storage periods. Home jelly is more complicated. Additional factors, such as various additives, cooking techniques, and storage conditions may interfere with the storage duration.
Temperature
So, how long is homemade jelly stored in the refrigerator? Experts say that at a standard temperature (not more than +8 degrees), the snack will be usable for three days. But this is only if, in addition to meat, salt and spices during cooking, you have not added anything else.
In the event that you supplement the dish with carrots, herbs or other ingredients, the shelf life of the finished dish is reduced to 36 hours. Despite this, many housewives note that their home jelly calmly stays in the refrigerator for a week. We hasten to warn: if you do not want to risk the health of your household (especially children), it is better to freeze the product. So you will extend its service life even more.
Shock freeze
We already learned how many days jelly is kept in the refrigerator. Now let's talk about more radical measures - about shock freezing. If you want to extend the shelf life of the jelly from two months to six months, just freeze the snack. When sending a dish to the freezer, use the method of shock (instant) freezing.
This will allow the jelly to freeze more evenly. In the future, when consumed, you will be able to avoid such a nuisance as crystallization. When you get the jelly out of the freezer and thaw it, do not rush to immediately use it, since the taste of the dish can noticeably worsen. Tip: boil the aspic again and let it thicken again. Or use the dish as an ingredient when cooking soup.
Storage conditions
At room temperature, the jelly that remains after the festive party spoils quickly, and also loses its unique jelly-like consistency. Are you interested in how much jelly is stored in the refrigerator? We gave you a definite answer to this question - three days. Is it possible to extend the shelf life? It turns out that it all depends on the conditions, as well as the storage method. Next, we will give you some more valuable tips.
Store the appetizer only in glass or ceramic containers with tight lids. Air and odors must not enter. Do not put the jelly in storage together with other snacks and salads left from the festive table. Interaction with foreign products can only reduce the shelf life.
Natural preservative
It turns out that not all additives negatively affect the safety of the snack. If you go to the trick - finely chop the horseradish root and spread the seasoning on the surface of the jellied meat before being sent for storage - this will extend the shelf life of the dish. For better sealing, you can additionally pack the surface of the snack with cling film or foil.
How much jelly is stored in the refrigerator? Determine Freshness
As we already said, sometimes the hostesses notice that even after three days in a cold place nothing happens with the jelly. We advised you not to risk the health of households. Moreover, visually or by smell, you can determine the signs of damage to the product. So, your jelly has already deteriorated if it has an unpleasant odor. And sometimes your own organs of smell let you down. So, in one second it seems to you that the dish smells bad, and in another you are sure of the opposite. In this case, you can do a simple trick: leave the snack removed from the refrigerator on the table at room temperature for a couple of minutes. Now you can safely sniff.
If you see your home jelly change from a pleasant color to a cloudy dark shade, throw it away immediately. Eating such a dish is categorically not recommended. The same applies to gray plaque or mold that has formed on the surface. In this case, it is better not to experiment with your own stomach. Even if you remove the top layer from the snack, it will not help, since the bacteria have already penetrated the entire dish.
Can fresh onions or garlic be added to jellied meat?
Asking ourselves the question: “How long is the jelly stored in the refrigerator?”, We decided to find preservatives that help extend the shelf life. It turns out, except for horseradish, such products do not exist. If you add fresh garlic or onion, cut into half rings, before sending to a cold place, you will only spoil everything.
Do not forget about sterility
Do not forget about the freshness of the meat that you use to make jelly. Experts recommend disassembling the meat into fibers with sterile medical gloves and pasteurizing the dishes in which the appetizer will be stored. If the guests have already dispersed, or you are serving dessert to the table, it is better to immediately remove the aspic. Remember that every extra hour spent at room temperature reduces shelf life. That is why do not serve it to the table ahead of time.
Conclusion
In our publication today, we covered in detail the question: “How long is jelly stored in the refrigerator?” We also talked about various additives that reduce and extend the life of a favorite snack, and gave our readers valuable tips and advice.