Cheese is one of the most common and beloved by many housewives food. It is used as food alone or as part of a wide variety of dishes. And some housewives do not think about the fact that this dairy product requires special storage conditions. Indeed, if you do not take into account the shelf life of the cheese, this will not only spoil its taste, but can also lead to poisoning. To avoid this, it is necessary to imagine how to properly store this product, for how long it can remain fresh and whether it is possible to increase its safe use.
Types of Cheeses
This product is made from milk. And for this, cow's milk, as well as sheep or goat’s, can be used. In accordance with this, as well as with the manufacturing method and the presence of other components, all cheeses can be divided into several types:
- Hard cheese has a very dense structure. There are no large holes in them, usually they are almost invisible. This is due to the fact that the hard cheeses in the manufacture are under pressure for about 6 months. These are such varieties as Parmesan, Gouda, Vityaz, Dutch and others.
- Semi-hard cheeses are characterized by a soft texture, but still they are quite dense. Their holes can be small, medium and even very large, as, for example, in Maasdam cheese.
- Soft cheese has a short ripening period. Often, in these varieties, the consistency resembles cottage cheese or a soft cream. They usually do not have a crust, and they are immediately ready for use. These are cheeses such as Adyghe, mascarpone, ricotta, mozzarella and others.
- Brine varieties ripen and are stored in brine. They may have different densities, but are usually very salty. The most famous pickled cheeses are feta cheese, suluguni, chechil.
- In addition to cottage cheese and cream butter, the processed ones also have various other components. It can be cream, vegetable fats, flavors. To give this cheese a soft consistency, special melting salts are used. There are a lot of processed cheeses, for example: "Friendship", "Amber", "Viola", "Hohland" and others.
What determines the shelf life of cheese
This dairy product has special storage conditions. They largely depend on the type of cheese. But there are other factors to keep it fresh and not to eat moldy or spoiled product. Before buying it in a store you need to know the features of this type of cheese. It is undesirable to eat a product whose shelf life is coming to an end. To preserve cheese at home, it is very important to observe certain conditions of temperature, humidity and other parameters.
Low temperatures are detrimental to this product. After all, cheese is "living." And at high temperatures, it can go bad. High humidity leads to mold, and at low it dries. The shelf life of packaged cheese is especially small: if it is cut into pieces, then it is suitable for food for no more than 3 days.
Basic conditions for storing cheese
Do not make large stocks of this product. After all, the shelf life of cheese even in intact packaging is 2 months, and the cut piece is stored even less. It is worth knowing that different varieties need to be placed separately. After all, they not only require special storage conditions, but also have a special aroma. For example, such a rare cheese with mold must be kept away from other products and in airtight packaging. Brine varieties are stored in a jar or pan, placed in a special brine. And the shelf life of cheese made with your own hands can be no more than 2-3 days.
It is very important to observe the storage conditions of this product. Cheese must be packed. It is better to buy a special cottage cheese bowl made of ceramic or glass with a ventilated lid for storage houses. It is also necessary to observe the temperature regime - from 3 to 10 degrees. And it is desirable that the temperature does not fluctuate, as the cheese does not like this. But you can save this product even without a refrigerator. To do this, it is wrapped in a cloth soaked in salt water, and placed in a ventilated place, away from sunlight.
How to increase the shelf life of cheese in the refrigerator
Usually housewives buy products for several days. But it so happens that it is necessary to extend the shelf life. There are certain rules on how you can store cheese in the refrigerator for more than a few days so that it does not deteriorate:
- place it in a sealed package or vacuum container;
- put a cube of sugar in the package and replace it every day;
- store brine cheese in milk or a special brine;
- if there is no special capacity for storing cheese, you can wrap it in foil or plastic film, but best of all - in parchment;
- place it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or on the door;
- store all varieties separately from each other.
How to store this product
To increase the shelf life of cheese, you need to know why it quickly deteriorates. When storing this product, avoid:
- too low temperatures, only soft cheeses can withstand freezing for several days;
- sudden changes in temperature;
- tightly closed plastic bags;
- dividing it into small pieces that will quickly weather and dry even under the conditions of storage;
- don't wrap the cheese in paper.
How to store hard grades
Such cheese keeps the freshness and taste in the refrigerator much longer than others. But all the same, the necessary storage conditions must be observed. And even so, the shelf life of hard cheese is no more than a month. And you need to regularly check it for mold spots or damaged places. For hard cheese to survive longer, the following conditions are needed:
- high air humidity - about 90%, therefore it is better to store it in a plastic film, and not in paper;
- air temperature should be from 3 to 10 degrees, the cheese does not like a strong cold;
- the storage area should be well ventilated, the proximity of strongly smelling products is undesirable.
It is sometimes recommended that in order to preserve hard cheese for longer, put a piece of refined sugar or several pasta in the package next to it. Semi-hard cheese is stored a little less. It is better suited for sandwiches than for cooking hot dishes. Therefore, it is important to consider, for example, the expiration date of Lambert cheese - a very popular variety.
Soft Cheese Storage
Such a product is best stored in its original packaging. You can also place it in a resealable container, such as an enamel pan. Such storage will protect soft cheese from chapping. These varieties can be placed in the freezer, they will not lose their taste. But you can store them this way for no more than 3 days. Also, only a few days is stored and cheese in an open package. It quickly begins to dry, and in tightly closed packaging it may become moldy.
The shelf life of Adyghe cheese is also small, although, unlike other soft varieties, it undergoes pasteurization at high temperatures. But even in the original packaging, it is stored for no more than a month, and at home after opening it is only a week. It is better to put Adyghe cheese in the refrigerator in a glass dish, close it tightly with a lid and place it separately from other products.
Processed cheese
Many housewives prefer their solid varieties. Their advantages include better absorption by the body, as well as a wide variety of tastes. In addition, the shelf life of processed cheese is slightly longer than that of other varieties. It can be stored in the factory packaging for several months - some varieties up to six months. Cream cheese can be frozen, so it will be easier to use for cooking many dishes. But after opening the package, you can store it only a couple of days: it dries quickly. Cheese packed in foil is best preserved. And in order to determine its suitability for eating, you need to carefully consider the cheese for mold. If dark spots or an unpleasant odor appear, the product should be discarded.
Signs of cheese spoilage
This product is obtained as a result of the vital activity of microorganisms, therefore they say that it is ripening. Typically, matured cheese is sold in stores, but microorganisms can develop during storage. As a result of the accumulation of protein breakdown products, a rancid taste or excessive pungency may appear. In some varieties during storage, milk stone is formed in the form of white dots. It precipitates calcium salts. In addition, pink spots may form on the surface of the cheese - this is a sign of the development of yeast microflora. Dark spots often form, indicating mold. White spots and putrefactive odor are a sign of the development of putrefactive microflora. If the packaging is damaged, the cheese begins to dry, loses weight. After freezing, most varieties of cheese crumble, they taste worse.
What to do with spoiled cheese
If you do not know what the shelf life of the cheese is, you can let it go bad. When this happened with hard cheese, for example, mold appeared, it can be cut. The remaining piece is edible. If the cheese has dried, it must be placed in a container with milk for several hours. Such spoiled cheese is best used in food after heat treatment, for example, bake vegetables or meat, make hot sandwiches or pizza.