Yogurt is a type of dairy products. A variety of flavors, the presence of beneficial bacteria that restore the work of the gastrointestinal tract and improve the intestinal microflora, make this product popular. In pursuit of brands that are full of TV screens, people rarely think about the shelf life of yogurt. What determines the lifespan of a fermented milk product? What is the shelf life of the yogurt indicated on the package that will reveal the secrets of its quality? The information in the article will help answer these and other questions.
Composition of Yogurt
The basis of the fermented milk product is milk or cream, to which the yeast enriched with beneficial bacteria is added. The technology for the production of yogurt is based on several types of microorganisms. The composition includes thermophilic streptococcus, Bulgarian and acidophilus bacilli, bifidobacteria, which give the future drink useful properties. Bacteria turn lactose into lactic acid, which gives the final product a mild flavor. After the expiration date of the yogurt, the number of beneficial bacteria decreases. Manufacturers are trying to extend the life of microorganisms using preservatives.
Varieties
When buying a fermented milk product in a store, people often analyze the expiration date of yogurt. Time intervals come across different. Some varieties of sour-milk products are stored for no more than 5 days, while others can stand on a shelf in the refrigerator for a month. What determines the shelf life of drinking yogurt? How not to make a mistake with the choice and not fall into the tricks of manufacturers? The answer is simple: determine the type of product.
Dairy production in our country does not stand still. It is constantly evolving. Manufacturers produce new types of sour-milk drinks. Among those distinguish natural, fruit and flavored. Each has a special composition that affects the life of the product.
Natural
As raw materials for the preparation of this type of sour-milk drink, natural cow's milk and sourdough are used. By production additives, flavorings and thickeners are not used. The absence of these components affects the storage conditions of the drink. The shelf life of natural yogurt according to GOST does not exceed 7 days. But manufacturers usually indicate on the packaging a time interval of 14 days. There is no need to talk about the benefits of such a natural product, because at the end of the term the number of beneficial microorganisms decreases.
Fruit
This type of yogurt, in addition to the main ingredients, includes pieces of canned fruits or berries. They give a sour-milk drink a rich taste. According to GOST, the fruit and berry filler should not make up more than 30% of the total product. This type of drink enriched with beneficial bacteria can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 10 days, and in the freezer for 2 months.
Flavored
Unlike the previous brother, this species does not contain natural fruits and berries. Their presence is simulated by manufacturers using flavorings. There are identical and natural flavor enhancers. The composition of the finished product includes thickeners (pectin, gelatin, starch), granulated sugar, emulsifiers and preservatives that prolong the life of beneficial bacteria. The shelf life of a fermented milk flavored drink varies from 10 days to several months. Nutritionists argue about the benefits of such yogurt for human health, it all depends on the particular representative.
The popularity of Miracle yogurt
Wimm-Bill-Dann products appeared on the Russian market in 1998. The assortment included not only yoghurts, but also other dairy products, as well as natural juices. Two Russian entrepreneurs, Sergei Plastilin and Mikhail Dubinin, successfully picked up a change in the taste preferences of their compatriots. Until the 1990s, the market was oriented toward a western manufacturer, but the fashion for everything European gradually passed. Consumer demand began to fall on natural and domestic fermented milk drinks without dyes and additives. The new brand “Miracle” came in handy. The growth in popularity was promoted by the stable high quality of dairy products, an assortment of tastes, and affordability for customers.
"Miracle" composition
Miracle drinking yogurt is based on milk, pasteurized fruit filler, sugar, stabilizer, acidophilus bacillus yeast and pure cultures of lactic acid bacteria. Reading the list of ingredients indicated on the package, customers often come across E-1442, which is part of the filler. This food supplement is the frightening name for hydroxypropylene starch phosphate. In fact, it is a regular stabilizer that is used in the production of many dairy products. Its action helps to extend the life of a fermented milk drink and ensures the preservation of a number of useful substances.
Storage of the "Miracle" of yoghurts
Shelf life directly depends on temperature conditions. In a hot room, the fermented milk product spoils quickly. The optimal range is considered to be from + 4 ± 2 ° C. Under such conditions, the drink is stored for up to 20 days.
Home or shop?
Consumers of fermented milk product argue about the benefits of homemade yogurt. The controversy is built around the composition and manufacturing technology of the product. Homemade preparation of the drink is based on milk and sourdough, as well as the addition of natural fruits and berries. The absence of preservatives, dyes, stabilizers indicates the benefits of the finished product. But can you call it yogurt?
The industrial production technology of yogurt is based on pasteurization of milk, which helps to preserve the number of serum bacteria. For these purposes, manufacturers use raw materials enriched with calcium, vitamins, and protein. Dairies create optimal conditions for the growth of starter culture.
The prepared home-made drink is more like yogurt. In the process of boiling milk, the amount of nutrients is gradually reduced, and not all creators can ensure that a constant temperature of raw materials is maintained at 40 degrees. It is worth using the finished fermented milk product immediately after preparation. The shelf life of homemade yogurt in the refrigerator does not exceed 3 days.
Recommendations for the storage of fermented milk product
A number of tips will help extend the shelf life of yogurt:
- Natural product is recommended to be stored only in the refrigerator.
- Thawing and re-freezing yogurt should be avoided. Such temperature fluctuations affect the texture and taste.
- When choosing yogurt, preference is given to glass packaging. Sour-milk product in plastic or cardboard boxes deteriorates faster.
- The presence of preservatives in the drink indicates the possibility of storage at room temperature, but in the absence of nearby heat sources.
- The expiration date of the yogurt indicated on the labels is valid only if the packaging is intact. An open product is stored for a day.
Surely these tips will help you use only a quality product.