Cheese is one of the most common and loved by many food housewives. It is used as food on its own or as part of a wide variety of dishes. And some housewives do not think that this fermented milk product requires special storage conditions. After all, if you do not take into account cheese, this will not only spoil its taste, but can also lead to poisoning. To avoid this, it is necessary to understand how to properly store this product, how long it can remain fresh and whether it is possible to increase the period of its safe use.
Types of cheese
This product is made from milk. And for this it can be used cow's milk, as well as sheep or goat. In accordance with this, as well as with the method of manufacture and the presence of other components, all cheeses can be divided into several types:
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 avoid eating moldy or spoiled food. 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 expiration date 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 alive. And at high temperatures, it can deteriorate. High humidity leads to mold, and low humidity dries. The shelf life of packaged cheese is especially short: if it is cut into pieces, then it is suitable for food for no more than 3 days.
Basic storage conditions for cheese
Do not make large stocks of this product. After all, the shelf life of cheese, even in intact packaging, is 2 months, and a cut piece is stored even less. It's worth knowing that different varieties must be placed separately. After all, they not only require special storage conditions, but also have a special aroma. For example, blue cheese, rare in the refrigerator of our hostesses, must be kept away from other products and in sealed packaging. Brine varieties are stored in a jar or pan, placed in a special brine. And the shelf life of hand-made cheese can be no more than 2-3 days.
It is very important to observe the storage conditions of this product. Cheese must be packaged. At home for storage, it is better to purchase a special ceramic or glass cheesecake with a ventilated lid. You must also follow temperature regime- from 3 to 10 degrees. And it is desirable that the temperature does not fluctuate, since 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 extend the shelf life of cheese in the refrigerator
Housewives usually buy food for several days. But it happens that it is necessary to extend their 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:
How not to store this product
To increase the shelf life of cheese, you need to know what makes it spoil quickly. When storing this product, avoid:
How to store hard varieties
Such cheese retains freshness and taste in the refrigerator much longer than others. But still, the necessary conditions for its storage should be observed. And even with this, 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. To hard cheese preserved longer, the following conditions are needed:
- high humidity - about 90%, so it is better to store it in polyethylene film and not in paper;
- the air temperature should be from 3 to 10 degrees, the cheese does not like extreme cold;
- the storage place should be well ventilated, the neighborhood of strongly smelling products is undesirable.
Sometimes it is recommended that in order to keep hard cheese longer, put a piece of refined sugar or a few pasta in the package next to it. Semi-hard cheese is stored slightly less. It is better suited for sandwiches than hot dishes. Therefore, it is important to consider, for example, the expiration date - a very popular variety.
Storage of soft cheeses
Such a product is best preserved in its original packaging. You can also place it in a resealable container, for example enamel pan. This storage will protect soft cheese from weathering. These varieties can be placed in the freezer, they will not lose palatability. But you can store them like this for no more than 3 days. Also, the cheese in an open package is stored for only a few days. It quickly begins to dry, and in a tightly closed package it can become moldy.
The shelf life of Adyghe cheese is also short, although, unlike other soft varieties, it undergoes pasteurization at high temperatures. But even in its original packaging, it is stored for no more than a month, and at home after opening - only a week. Adyghe cheese in the refrigerator is best put in a glass dish, tightly closed with a lid and placed separately from other products.
Processed cheeses
Many housewives prefer them to hard 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 other varieties. In its original packaging, it can be stored for several months - some varieties up to six months. Processed cheese can be frozen, making it easier to use in many dishes. But after opening the package, you can store it for only a couple of days: it dries quickly. Cheese wrapped in foil is best preserved. And to determine its suitability for eating, you need to carefully examine the cheese for the presence of mold. If dark spots or an unpleasant odor appear, the product should be discarded.
Signs of spoiled cheese
This product is obtained as a result of the vital activity of microorganisms, so they say that it ripens. Usually, cheese is already ripe in stores, but microorganisms can develop in it 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, a 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 are often formed, indicating the appearance of mold. White spots and a putrid smell are a sign of the development of putrefactive microflora. If the packaging is damaged, the cheese begins to dry out, loses weight. After freezing, most varieties of cheese crumble, their taste quality deteriorates.
What to do with spoiled cheese
If you don't know the shelf life of cheese, you can let it go bad. When this happened with, for example, mold appeared, it can be cut off. The remaining piece is suitable for eating. If the cheese is dry, 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.
The shelf life of cheese is an important indicator, because we are talking about a very delicate product, the storage of which requires special conditions. So, in order to avoid spoilage, it must be stored at a stable temperature in the region of 7°C +/-1°C.
If the temperature is too low, then it will “kill” all the useful substances, and too high will lead to its deterioration. Relative humidity should not rise above 90%.
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Classification
There are 4 possible classifications in total:
- According to the method of preparation. Here, cheeses can be made from milk, processed, as well as with the addition of other components.
- By technology. In this case, they are divided into: soft, brine, hard, and curd.
- Based on the type of milk. So, cheeses can be made from cow, goat, and also sheep milk. In addition, there are also combined options when several types of milk are used at once.
- By way of maturation. Here they can be divided into options, to which acid, mold, and also red culture are added.
How to choose quality products
High-quality dairy product does not contain any dyes and additives First of all, quality cheese must be made exclusively from milk, sourdough and a certain amount of salt.
This composition is extremely rare. A good product, without, today it is almost impossible to find.
However, you can strive to acquire the best. It is important to avoid the following additives:
- carrageenan (spelled as K-407);
- arboxymethylcellulose (K-466 may be indicated on the package);
- carotenes (most often written as E-160a,b);
- dye E-110.
Good to know: it is better to give preference to those types of cheeses that were not made according to TU, but exclusively according to GOST.
Storage conditions for types of cheeses
First of all, the shelf life of dairy products is affected by their composition and type. Therefore, it is worth disassembling each separately:
hard and semi-hard
The most common are hard cheeses. Most often these are varieties such as:
- Parmesan;
- Russian;
- Dutch.
The period of sale of these products from the moment of packaging in retail chains is no more than 15 days in accordance with the current legislation, subject to the rules of storage.
Such dairy products should be stored on average at a temperature of at least 2 ºС and not more than 6 ºС. At the same time, the humidity level cannot exceed 85%. Under such conditions, the shelf life will be 4 months, that is, 120 days. And if we talk about Parmesan, then its shelf life is about 6 months.
Pickled
Pickled cheeses such as Brynza, Feta, and Chechil are also popular.
The shelf life of such dairy products varies.
At the same time, most often the reason for these differences is the container, where the final product is located.
Take into account: packaging (aka packaging), made of polymeric materials, allows you to store such dairy products for up to 30 days from the date of packaging. At home, after purchase, products are recommended to be removed from such containers. The longest cheeses are stored in glass containers - 75 days.
Fused
Processed cheeses are a popular dessert product today.
The modern dairy regulation describes them as a product that was created through thermomechanical processing.
The main raw material for the creation of this dairy product are fast-maturing cheeses, whose shelf life is already coming to an end.
It is worth noting: the shelf life of this type of product depends on how high quality the components are. This is usually a fairly long period of time.
At home, such cheeses must be stored at a temperature of at least 0 and not higher than 4ºС. On average, it can be kept open for no more than a week.
Store shelf life
Read the information on the label carefully After opening the manufacturer's packaging at the point of sale, the shelf life of such a product should be a period not exceeding that specified by the manufacturer.
In other words, the shelf life of sliced cheese is indicated on its label.
If there were no such designations on the packaging, then cut and packaged cheese cannot be stored for more than 12 hours after the container has been opened.
Often this period is indicated by retail stores on various packaged products. However, with the availability of special equipment and good packaging materials, retail chains can, after conducting special laboratory studies, justify an extended shelf life of cut pieces of cheese and sliced cheese.
Shelf life in the refrigerator
Refrigerator is the best storage place for cheese Just like any other dairy products, cheeses should also be stored in the refrigerator.
The fact is that the best temperature conditions are created there. This will allow at home to keep a head of cheese without harm to quality for almost 2 months, and a soft one for 15 days.
When hard cheese options are cut into pieces, their shelf life will be no more than 1 month. But for this it will need to be tightly wrapped in any plastic bag.
If we talk about cheese or suluguni, then their storage time in refrigerators varies from 25 days and sometimes up to 75 days, subject to ideal conditions. Sausage, as well as chunky options, can be stored for up to 3 months, and pasty or sweet options for no more than 1 month.
Signs of product spoilage
To determine that the cheese is spoiled, you need to know certain subtleties of the check.
So, this can be evidenced by:
- A crust that has a white coating, or if the crust swells or a subcortical layer appears.
- The appearance of defects that will indicate the age of the product. These include: cracks, bumps, loose consistency, as well as wrinkles.
- The appearance of an uneven color is a sign that a bad dye has been added to the product.
- Signs of spoilage include rancidity and moldiness.
It's important to know: the formation of moisture, as well as greasiness on the surface of the product, may indicate the presence of palm oil in its composition.
If you bought an expired product
When buying, be sure to take the receipt and keep it First of all, it is important not to throw away the receipt after the purchase. You may need this document in the future to prove the purchase in this store. Therefore, having a check and a damaged product in hand, you must contact the store administration directly.
You should immediately threaten to contact the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station upon the sale of low-quality products. Shops are usually very afraid of their checks.
When the administration does not make contact, it is necessary to fulfill your threat and apply with documents and spoiled cheese to the appropriate supervisory structure. There you will need to write a statement where everything is accurately described. A receipt for the purchase and the goods themselves are attached to it. After that, wait for the test results.
choose quality product, trust trusted retail outlets and manufacturers, observe storage conditions, carefully study the label, monitor the condition of the product and its shelf life in the refrigerator, and then your health and the health of your family will be safe.
Watch a video that explains how to choose a quality cheese:
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Cheese is one of the most revered and loved dairy products. You can hardly find another product that is both extremely tasty, nutritious and very beneficial to the body. It is perfectly balanced minerals and vitamins, it is a source of calcium and phosphorus. The nutrients contained in cheese are absorbed by the body almost completely (98-99%). Cheese contains vitamins A, D, E, B1, B2, B12, PP, C, pantothenic acid...
All that is required of you is to wrap the cheese in a napkin, place it in a plastic container, close the lid and put it in the refrigerator.
In this case, it is not at all necessary to set a special temperature in the refrigerator or look for a special shelf. You can not even wrap, but simply put a napkin in a container with cheese.
Every time you take out cheese to eat - wipe the container dry or replace it with a clean one, also be sure to change the napkin to a new one. H the more often you do it, the better - cheese is a living product and you need to walk it, let it breathe. Well, of course, the napkin should be white, no dyes.
In fairness, it must be said that instead of paper it is better to use linen napkin, but special efforts must already be made to this: buy it somewhere and not one, and each time send it to the wash. And who wants to do this in our time, even with washing machines? That's right, nobody. That's why white disposable paper napkin is the most practical and sure way to save cheese. Moreover, they are made from environmentally friendly raw materials (100% cellulose is used) with strict quality control at all stages of production, which I would like to believe.
This method is only suitable for hard and semi-hard cheeses., which are most often used in Russian kitchens. Soft pickled cheeses such as suluguni, brynza and feta require special storage conditions, and in general they are not stored for a long time.
Cheese shelf life
Hard cheeses Parmesan, Pecorino in vacuum packaging can be stored for a long time - up to 4 months, and sometimes more. Opened package should be used within 10-15 days.
Semi-hard cheeses type Russian - have a shelf life of 7 to 15 days. Whole can lie much longer than cut into pieces.
Young pickled cheeses Brynza, Mozzarella, Suluguni - are stored in the refrigerator for several months in a closed container, completely covered with brine (200 grams of salt per liter of boiled water). If you regularly change the brine, you can significantly extend the life of the product.
If you bought a young cheese, the taste of which does not quite suit you, this can be corrected. To get softer creamy taste, place the cheese for a few days in milk. To give the cheese a more piquant salty taste, dilute 400 grams of salt in a liter of boiled water and pour the resulting brine for a day. Check the taste and either leave it for a few more days, or change the brine to a softer one, diluted in the proportion of 200 grams of salt per liter of boiled water. In the same brine, it is worth storing cheese soaked in milk before.
Cheeses with mold Camembert, Roquefort, Dor Blue, Gorgonzola, Brie - you need to wrap it tightly, otherwise the mold can move to neighboring products. A tightly closed container also helps us. You can put a paper napkin in it, but so that it does not come into contact with the cheese. You can store such cheeses in the refrigerator for 15 days from the date of opening the package,
What to do with spoiled cheese
If mold has appeared on hard cheese, it can be cut off. The remaining piece is suitable for eating. If the cheese is dry, it must be placed in a container with milk for several hours. Such spoiled cheese is best used for food after heat treatment, for example, bake vegetables or meat, make hot sandwiches,
Although earlier this dairy product was created exclusively for the elite and privileged persons who enjoyed the unique taste of cheese. Over time, many types of cheeses began to appear, significantly different from each other. Many people love to eat cheese sandwiches in the morning, as it is not only very tasty, but also high in calories and nutritious. In addition, cheese is used in many dishes around the world.
Cheese is very popular all over the world. This delicacy appeared more than seven thousand years ago in the countries of the Middle East and won respect from the ancient Greeks and Romans. A little later, the product gained popularity in Europe and subsequently spread throughout the world.
Cheese is a food that is easily digestible by the human body. Thanks to rennet, milk coagulates and thus cheese is obtained. In its composition, it is very similar to cottage cheese, but the cheese has a little more vitamins, minerals, proteins and fats.
Cheese varieties
Over time, technologies for the production of cheese products improved and newer varieties of cheese appeared. Thanks to the monks who made cheeses in holy places, blue cheeses, spicy, smoked and salty cheeses appeared. It was the monks who created a solid foundation for cheese gourmets, who gradually introduced new types of cheese.
Free legal advice:
They are called hard cheeses. dairy products with a very dense texture, covered with a natural crust on top. Such a product ripens for a long time, from three months to three years. Cheeses of this category are distinguished by a special and pronounced taste, as well as a strong aroma. In these varieties, the humidity is relatively low - it does not even reach 55%.
Other well-known varieties are Swiss (50% fat with spicy taste) and Dutch (45% fat and spicy taste) cheeses, Parmesan (32% fat).
Characteristics of cheeses
Based on GOST R6 “Cheese. General Specifications” cheeses are classified into groups and have technical requirements for their manufacture:
1. Depending on the mass fraction of moisture in the fat-free substance:
2. Depending on the mass fraction of fat (MJ) in dry matter:
Cheese composition
Cheese is very rich in health benefits nutrients. This dairy product contains methionine, tryptophan, lysine and other amino acids. It also contains a lot of protein. Some examples made from high-fat milk contain great amount lipids. These cheeses have a higher calorie content than other types.
Hard cheeses contain many minerals and vitamins, such as C, A, D, E and B vitamins. This dairy product is also rich in macro- and microelements. The most common of these are: phosphorus (550 mg), calcium (1010 mg), iron, potassium, sodium (870 mg), magnesium, zinc, copper and manganese.
Useful properties of cheese
Cheese products are famous not only for their taste, but also for their enormous health benefits. This is due to the composition of the delicacy.
The use of cheese delicacies contributes to the normalization of metabolism. With the help of them, you can noticeably lose weight by eating only low-fat varieties. Cheese is good to give to children, as it helps them grow faster. For those suffering from low blood pressure, this dairy product will be very useful, as it helps to increase blood pressure, as well as increase hemoglobin in the blood.
Frequent eating of cheese will help get rid of depression and restore restful sleep, since this product has a positive effect on the nervous system.
In general, cheese is an accumulator of substances useful for the human body. And, remember that the higher the fat content of the cheese, the greater the benefit of eating this product.
Cheese harm
Sometimes cheeses are fraught with serious dangers to our health. Fans of high-fat cheeses face hypertension and high cholesterol, as well as problems with obesity. It is necessary to be careful when eating cheese, as headaches and even nightmares can appear from excessive consumption.
With caution, cheese products should be consumed by pregnant women, since in some varieties of cheese, mainly with mold, harmful organisms live that cause miscarriages and fading of pregnancy.
Spicy types of cheese delicacies are contraindicated for those with problems with the gastrointestinal tract, in particular gastritis and pancreatitis.
Cheese storage
Since cheese is a product created from milk, storage must be approached with all responsibility. The shelf life of cheese is largely dependent on air temperature and humidity.
At the same time, temperature fluctuations are highly undesirable. As for the humidity of the air, it should be around 90%. All this will help the cheese not to go bad before it should.
If the cheese has somehow dried up, then you should not rush to throw it in the trash can. Such dried cheese can be grated and eaten. Especially shabby cheese is suitable for seasoning pasta dishes, as well as many other culinary delights.
Like most dairy products, cheese is recommended to be stored in the refrigerator, where good temperature conditions are created. In this case, a whole head of hard cheese can be stored at home for 2 months. A soft head of cheese is stored much less - 15 days. But the shelf life of cheese (hard) in pieces is 1 month. However, before placing the cheese in the refrigerator, it is required to properly wrap it in a bag or cling film.
Such types of cheese as brynza and suluguni have a shelf life of 25 to 75 days, and they should be placed in the warmest place in the refrigerator. The refrigerator is perfect for storing processed cheese. The shelf life of sausage and slice cheese in the refrigerator is about 3 months. Cheeses such as spreadable and sweet have a shelf life of 1 month.
When choosing a place to store cheese in the refrigerator, remember the following:
Shelf life of cheese in the freezer
If you plan to continue to use cheese in its original form, do not freeze it. When frozen, the product loses its main characteristics.
The dairy product can be frozen if it is used as a dressing for main dishes. You can store cheese in the freezer for no more than 2-3 months.
To store cheese without a refrigerator, it must first be wrapped with a linen napkin soaked in a salted solution. A cool and dark place would be ideal for storage.
You can store cheese in such conditions for no more than 7 days.
Shelf life of cheese in the refrigerator
Shelf life of cheese in the freezer
Shelf life of cheese at room temperature
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And why in stores on a check for loose cheeses is 72 hours?
Roman is right! 72 hours. maybe the above terms are prescribed for cheeses with integrity! those not cut, stored in the manufacturer's packaging. sliced cheese, stored no more than 72 hours. if the store is marked when it was cut, this is great, as long as they do not repackage and do not change the date to fresh.
I bought Goya cheese in Pyaterochka. Made in Argentina on 07/15/15. Packed in Russia 05/17/16. Valid until 08/15/16. By the time it expires, it will be over a year old.
Your comments are welcome!
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Malinka, yes, indeed, you are right! good cognac only gets better with time =)
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Saule, cognac does not spoil 🙂
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Shelf life of various types of cheese according to GOST
Cheese has been known to people since the time of Homer. But despite its venerable age, it still remains a favorite delicacy of people all over the world.
There are a huge number of varieties of cheese, and its production has long been put on an industrial basis. The state, taking care of the health of its citizens, controls the activities of dairies and private cheese factories. About the expiration dates of cheeses different varieties let's talk further.
You can learn about liability for the lack of a book of complaints and proposals under the consumer protection law from our article.
Legislation and GOST
In the Russian Federation, GOST was developed for cheese products and cheeses.
Its principles were established by the Federal Law in 2002, and it was put into effect by the order of the Federal Agency for Technical Regulation and Metrology in 2006.
GOST must ensure the safety of cheeses. Its sections give a classification of cheeses, indicate the requirements for quality, labeling, safety, transportation and storage of the product.
The ninth paragraph (“Transportation and storage”) states:
- Cheeses and cheese products should be stored at a temperature of -4 to 0 degrees and an air humidity of 85% to 90%, or at a temperature of 0 to +6 degrees and an air humidity of 80% to 85%.
- The expiration date of any kind of cheese is established and agreed upon by the manufacturer.
What does it depend on?
It is brought to the distribution network ready for use, but the ripening process does not stop for a minute.
The taste and safety for buyers ultimately depends on the conditions under which and for how long the cheese will be stored.
To determine the expiration date, consider some important factors:
- the presence of a shell on the head of cheese;
- composition;
- the amount of salt in the product;
- humidity percentage.
Does vodka have an expiration date and what is it? Find out the answer right now.
By type
Different types of cheeses have different shelf life:
- Processed cheeses at a temperature of 0 to + 4 can be stored for three months.
- Pasty processed cheeses are stored for up to 30 days.
- Sausage (processed) cheeses in a paraffin shell are stored for 2 months, in a polymer film - 4 months.
- Homemade (homemade) cheese is stored for only a few days.
- Chechil cheese ("pigtail") is stored for about two months, the smoked version - about three months.
- Curd cheeses in polymer containers can be stored for up to three months, an opened shell will reduce this period to three days.
Solid and semi-solid (packaged) are stored for 15 days at a temperature of +2 to +8 and at a humidity of 90%, but there are exceptions:
- Maasdam, Russian, Gouda, Lambert - up to 120 days;
- Parmesan - up to 6 months;
- Dutch - up to 120 days.
Paraffin coating keeps hard cheeses up to a month longer than polymer coating.
Pickled cheeses are stored from 30 days to 75 days:
The shelf life depends on the packaging of the product:
- in polymer packaging– 30 days;
- in glass (in brine) - 75 days.
Soft with mold can be stored for no more than one month at a temperature of less than 0 degrees, at temperatures from 0 to +10 such cheese will be suitable for eating for only a week:
Read about the expiration dates of different varieties of champagne here.
Optimal mode
When it comes to ideal storage conditions for cheese, the following factors should be taken into account:
A cellar could become such a place: the air temperature there is constant - from 6 to 10 degrees, the humidity is constant - 85-95%, there is ventilation.
How to store?
But such conditions are not possible in city apartments, and therefore the cheese can become supercooled, overheated, dry out or “suffocate”:
- To prevent packaged cheese from drying out, it is best to keep it wrapped in a damp cloth or cling film. You can lay it on a wooden board and cover with a lid.
- When storing in the refrigerator, you need to choose the bottom shelf or even the shelf for fruits (usually it is the lowest), the temperature is kept there from about +4 to +8 degrees. Lower temperatures will simply spoil the flavor of the cheese.
- Only dry cheeses can withstand high temperatures. Cheeses with a high percentage of moisture will spoil very quickly.
- Cheese is a ready-to-eat product, but the aging process continues all the time, so there is no need to store the product in an airtight container. Wooden or ceramic dishes are suitable for storage.
- It is better to store cheese in a large piece, so it will be better preserved. But if the sliced cheese is not eaten, then it should be left covered on a plate and, of course, consumed as soon as possible.
- If you opened the sealed package, then it is better to shift the cheese into foil. So the product does not dry out, does not weather, does not absorb foreign odors.
You can find out if the food additive E 476 is harmful from our article.
How long can you keep in the refrigerator?
If you follow the optimal mode of storage of the product and store it correctly, then in the refrigerator the cheese can retain its taste and quality for quite a long time:
- hard and semi hard varieties will last 10 days;
- brine, soft and with mold will “live” for about three to four days;
- there are cheeses (Brie, Roquefort), which must be taken out of the refrigerator for a short time every two or three days to “breathe”. Then they will keep for a week.
What are the terms for returning money to the buyer's bank card when returning goods? You will find the answer on our website.
Is it possible to freeze?
It happens that there was a lot of cheese, and for 10 days allowed for storage, it simply cannot be eaten. It can be frozen in the freezer in several ways:
- Can be frozen in bulk. To do this, wrap it in foil.
- You can grate the cheese, then use it for casseroles and pizza. And so that the crumbs do not stick together, they must be sprinkled with flour and shaken several times during the freezing process.
- If you plan to use frozen cheese for hot sandwiches, then cheese slices (each separately) must be wrapped in foil.
Only hard and semi-hard cheeses can be frozen. Such a product can be stored in the freezer for only six months, after which it will dry out.
How to determine the delay?
Is it possible to determine that the retention period has expired?
When the product is stale on the shelf, unscrupulous sellers try to disguise the expired product.
If you have a suspicion, then it would be useful to carefully consider both the packaging and the product itself:
- There should be only one expiration date label on the package. If there are several of them, and they are glued one on top of the other, then you have an expired product;
- carefully examine the cheese: it should not have white bloom and mold;
- you can press your finger on a piece of cheese. If water appears, the product is expired.
The Consumer Rights Protection Law says that cheese must have an expiration date or a shelf life (they are one and the same), after this period the sale of goods is impossible.
But if you still bought a damaged product, then the seller is obliged to compensate you for the loss.
You can learn how to choose high-quality cheese in a store from the video:
How to choose cheese in the store and what is its shelf life
The shelf life of cheese is an important indicator, because we are talking about a very delicate product, the storage of which requires special conditions. So, in order to avoid spoilage, it must be stored at a stable temperature in the region of 7°C +/-1°C.
If the temperature is too low, then it will “kill” all the useful substances, and too high will lead to its deterioration. Relative humidity should not rise above 90%.
Classification
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There are 4 possible classifications in total:
- According to the method of preparation. Here, cheeses can be made from milk, processed, as well as with the addition of other components.
- By technology. In this case, they are divided into: soft, brine, hard, and curd.
- Based on the type of milk. So, cheeses can be made from cow's, goat's, and also sheep's milk. In addition, there are also combined options when several types of milk are used at once.
- By way of maturation. Here they can be divided into options, to which acid, mold, and also red culture are added.
How to choose quality products
High-quality dairy product does not contain any dyes and additives
First of all, quality cheese must be made exclusively from milk, sourdough and a certain amount of salt.
This composition is extremely rare. Good product, not having food additives are almost impossible to find today.
However, you can strive to acquire the best. It is important to avoid the following additives:
- carrageenan (spelled as K-407);
- arboxymethylcellulose (K-466 may be indicated on the package);
- carotenes (most often written as E-160a,b);
- dye E-110.
Storage conditions for types of cheeses
First of all, the shelf life of dairy products is affected by their composition and type. Therefore, it is worth disassembling each separately:
hard and semi-hard
The most common are hard cheeses. Most often these are varieties such as:
The period of sale of these products from the moment of packaging in retail chains is no more than 15 days in accordance with the current legislation, subject to the rules of storage.
Such dairy products should be stored on average at a temperature of at least 2 ºС and not more than 6 ºС. At the same time, the humidity level cannot exceed 85%. Under such conditions, the shelf life will be 4 months, that is, 120 days. And if we talk about Parmesan, then its shelf life is about 6 months.
Pickled
Pickled cheeses such as Brynza, Feta, and Chechil are also popular.
The shelf life of such dairy products varies.
At the same time, most often the reason for these differences is the container, where the final product is located.
Fused
Processed cheeses are a popular dessert product today.
The modern dairy regulation describes them as a product that was created through thermomechanical processing.
The main raw materials for the creation of this dairy product are fast-ripening cheeses, whose shelf life is already coming to an end.
At home, such cheeses must be stored at a temperature of at least 0 and not higher than 4ºС. On average, it can be kept open for no more than a week.
Store shelf life
Read the information on the label carefully
After opening the manufacturer's packaging at the point of sale, the shelf life of such a product should be a period not exceeding that specified by the manufacturer.
In other words, the shelf life of sliced cheese is indicated on its label.
If there were no such designations on the packaging, then cut and packaged cheese cannot be stored for more than 12 hours after the container has been opened.
Often this period is indicated by retail stores on various packaged products. However, with the availability of special equipment and good packaging materials, retail chains can, after conducting special laboratory studies, justify an extended shelf life of cut pieces of cheese and sliced cheese.
Shelf life in the refrigerator
Refrigerator is the best storage place for cheese
Just like any other dairy products, cheeses should also be stored in the refrigerator.
The fact is that the best temperature conditions are created there. This will allow at home to keep a head of cheese without harm to quality for almost 2 months, and a soft one for 15 days.
When hard cheese options are cut into pieces, their shelf life will be no more than 1 month. But for this it will need to be tightly wrapped in any plastic bag.
If we talk about cheese or suluguni, then their storage time in refrigerators varies from 25 days and sometimes up to 75 days, under ideal conditions. Sausage, as well as chunky options, can be stored for up to 3 months, and pasty or sweet options for no more than 1 month.
Signs of product spoilage
To determine that the cheese is spoiled, you need to know certain subtleties of the check.
So, this can be evidenced by:
- A crust that has a white coating, or if the crust swells or a subcortical layer appears.
- The appearance of defects that will indicate the age of the product. These include: cracks, bumps, loose consistency, as well as wrinkles.
- The appearance of an uneven color is a sign that a bad dye has been added to the product.
- Signs of spoilage include rancidity and moldiness.
If you bought an expired product
When buying, be sure to take the receipt and keep it
First of all, it is important not to throw away the receipt after the purchase. You may need this document in the future to prove the purchase in this store. Therefore, having a check and a damaged product in hand, you must contact the store administration directly.
You should immediately threaten to contact the Sanitary and Epidemiological Station upon the sale of low-quality products. Shops are usually very afraid of their checks.
When the administration does not make contact, it is necessary to fulfill your threat and apply with documents and spoiled cheese to the appropriate supervisory structure. There you will need to write a statement where everything is accurately described. A receipt for the purchase and the goods themselves are attached to it. After that, wait for the test results.
Choose a quality product, trust trusted retail outlets and manufacturers, observe storage conditions, carefully study the label, monitor the condition of the product and its shelf life in the refrigerator, and then your health and the health of your family will be safe.
Watch a video that explains how to choose a quality cheese:
What you need to know about the shelf life and storage of cheese of different varieties?
Cheeses have long occupied an honorable place in the human diet, and the culinary potential of this product is inexhaustible.
It is ubiquitous, and from the abundance of assortment on the counter, you can get confused - which variety or type to give preference to.
Any buyer seeks to buy fresh, high-quality and tasty cheese.
To find one, you need to “get acquainted” with the desired product, and it is advisable to do this at the selection stage, so as not to miscalculate the purchase.
When choosing cheese on the counter, first of all, you should pay attention to how fresh it is and how much time it has left to “live”, i.e. for its expiration date.
What does the law say?
Large enterprises of the modern dairy industry, private cheese dairies are working at full strength to satisfy consumer demand and saturate this market segment with their products.
The state stands guard over the interests of the consumer and controls the production of dairy products, thus acting as a guarantor of the entry of quality products to the market.
According to the legislation of the Russian Federation manufacturing process cheese is regulated by Federal Law No. 88-FZ, which established the technical regulations for the production, storage, transportation and sale of cheese and other dairy products.
The Law of the Russian Federation "On Protection of Consumer Rights" imposes an obligation on producers (manufacturers) of cheese to establish an expiration date for this type of product and place this information for the buyer in an appropriate way.
- For a product (work) intended for long-term use, the manufacturer (executor) has the right to establish a service life - the period during which the manufacturer (executor) undertakes to provide the consumer with the opportunity to use the product (work) for its intended purpose and be liable for significant shortcomings arising from its fault.
- The manufacturer (executor) is obliged to establish the service life of a durable product (work), including components (parts, assemblies, assemblies), which, after a certain period, may pose a danger to the life, health of the consumer, cause harm to his property or environment. The list of such goods (works) is approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.
- The service life of a product (work) can be calculated in units of time, as well as other units of measurement (kilometers, meters and other units of measurement based on the functional purpose of the product (result of work)). (as amended by Federal Law No. 212-FZ of December 17, 1999)
- For food, perfumery and cosmetic products, medicines, household chemicals and other similar goods (works), the manufacturer (executor) is obliged to establish an expiration date - the period after which the goods (work) are considered unsuitable for their intended use. The list of such goods (works) is approved by the Government of the Russian Federation.
- The sale of goods (performance of work) after the expiration of the established expiration date, as well as goods (performance of work) for which an expiration date should be set, but it is not set, is prohibited. (as amended by Federal Law No. 212-FZ of December 17, 1999)
- The manufacturer (executor) has the right to establish a warranty period for the product (work) - the period during which, in the event of a defect in the product (work), the manufacturer (executor, seller) is obliged to satisfy the requirements of the consumer established by Articles 18 and 29 of this Law.
- The seller has the right to establish a warranty period for the goods, if it is not established by the manufacturer. If the warranty period is set by the manufacturer, the seller is entitled to establish a longer warranty period than the warranty period set by the manufacturer. (Clause 7 as amended by the Federal Law of December 17, 1999 N 212-FZ)
If the buyer, for any reason, nevertheless purchased an expired product in the store, or the purchased cheese turned out to be of poor quality, you can demand from the store at your discretion:
- exchange expired cheese for goods with a normal shelf life;
- replace a low-quality product with an analogue from another manufacturer, and, if necessary, recalculate the amount paid for it;
- return the money for the purchase;
- to make a discount.
The seller is obliged to accept the buyer's claim with the relevant requirements, regardless of whether the receipt for the purchased goods is kept. To avoid unpleasant surprises with expired cheese, you can determine its expiration date:
- according to the factory label, which contains the relevant information;
- by plastic or casein numbers pressed into the body of the cheese;
- according to the information printed on the head of cheese with a stamp with indelible paint or laser and other marking methods.
This information is indicated on bulk products.
Often on the label of cheese you can find an indication not of the expiration date, but of the shelf life. For this type of food product, the expiration date and shelf life are the same.
It is necessary to sell the product from the moment it is packaged no later than 20 days, while storage should take place at t not higher than +10 ° C and a relative humidity limit of 80%.
How to save?
Cheese is a unique, living product, it is constantly in the process of development, but it gets to the trade counter already ripe, and sometimes even overripe.
This, first of all, is reflected in its taste - the cheese becomes too sharp, and sometimes acquires a rancid taste.
In addition, this delicacy "likes" to absorb odors, so it is better to store it separately, wrapped in foil or, in extreme cases, in cling film.
Terms and conditions of storage different types cheeses are different, but absolutely all of them suffer from temperature fluctuations and changes in relative humidity.
Storage temperature
At lower temperatures and during freezing, the cheese loses its shape or begins to crumble, delaminate. In addition, its specific taste properties are distorted.
At temperatures above 10-15 ° C, the consistency (structure) and taste change dairy product and the progressive growth of pathogenic microorganisms begins.
Humidity indicators
For cheeses, it is recommended to maintain humidity in the keeping rooms at the level of 85-92%. Extremes of indicators negatively affect the quality of cheese. So, very low humidity leads to drying, and high humidity contributes to the deterioration of taste, rotting and spoilage.
Terms by type
The following factors influence the determination of the shelf life of cheese:
- composition of the product;
- humidity of the product itself;
- the amount of salt it contains;
- the presence or absence of a shell on it.
hard and semi-hard
The most popular among cheeses are its hard and semi-hard types: Parmesan, Cheddar, Dutch, Gouda, Russian, Kostroma, Poshekhonsky, Latvian, Maasdam, Oltermani, King Arthur, Dor Blue, etc.
However, each type of cheese has its own, individual, storage characteristics. Maasdam and Russian, for example, at t from +2 to +6 ºС at a humidity of 85% can lie up to 120 days, and Parmesan even more - up to six months (well-made - in general, up to 10 years).
Dutch cheese loves temperatures from +6 to +8 ºС and air humidity of 90%. Under such conditions, he lives in the package up to 120 days.
Dor Blue is also stored for about three months, but it likes a low temperature - from 0 to + 2ºС, and you need to keep it wrapped away from other products so that the noble mold of this delicacy does not get over to them. As for other types of hard cheeses, their shelf life varies and can be up to six months.
At home, hard / semi-hard types of cheeses are not recommended to be stored in plastic packaging, since this packaging blocks their ability to breathe and they deteriorate from this: different kinds molds, putrefactive bacteria, yeast.
The presence of yeast in cheese is indicated by the appearance of pink spots, and the presence of white inclusions indicates the emergence of putrefactive microflora in the product. Therefore, it is better to use parchment or foil for storage.
In addition, hard / semi-hard types of cheeses, as well as cottage cheese, will be perfectly preserved in a closed enamel or glass dish with a piece of sugar that will absorb excess moisture.
It is impossible to leave these cheeses open for a long time, as this makes them spoil faster.
The maximum shelf life in the refrigerator for packaged hard / semi-hard cheese brought from the store is 8 days. In the absence of a refrigerator, cheese wrapped in a cloth soaked in salt water can be stored for up to 5 days in a cool place, preferably dark.
Paraffin-coated hard/semi-hard cheeses have a shelf life of 1 month longer than their resin-wrapped counterparts. In the latter, the packaging often does not adhere tightly to the cheese, which contributes to the formation of mold on its surface. The shelf life of cheeses of this type is reduced by another month if they are placed in refrigerators, where t is from 0 to +4 ºС.
Pickled
Pickled cheeses are no less popular among the people - Suluguni, Brynza, Feta, Mozzarella, Chanakh, Adygei Tushinsky, Lori, Chechil, etc. The expiration dates of these cheeses vary, and often the packaging (container) in which it falls is the reason for differences in setting expiration dates. finished product.
Suluguni, for example, after purchase, it is advisable to immediately put it in a container or glass jar and store in brine at t not more than +6 ºС. The life of this product can be extended by placing it in fresh milk, and then pour the prepared solution of water and salt (400 g of salt per 1 liter of boiled water at room temperature), stand for a day and replace with a more gentle solution (200 g of salt per 1 liter of water).
One of the varieties of Suluguni is Chechil cheese, or in the common people “pigtail” cheese. It is braided into a pigtail at the final stage industrial production. Factory packaging allows this cheese to be stored for about two months. In loose form, it can be only a month. The smoked version of the pigtail retains its properties for 3 months. It is recommended to store Chechil in the refrigerator.
Adyghe, as well as Suluguni, is better stored in glass containers in cold conditions (at t from +2 to +6 ºС), freezing is contraindicated for it, as well as a long stay at room temperature.
In the refrigerator, he can lie for a couple of weeks, but his beneficial features disappear in a few days.
In a vacuum, Adyghe cheese will be able to live longer - about a month. Smoked Adyghe cheese stored much longer. Provided that the manufacturing technology is observed, "exemplary" smoked cheese does not lose its qualities up to two years.
Pickled cheeses, however, like all others, are best purchased in such quantities that they can be eaten in 1-2 days, and it is preferable to store them in their usual humid environment - whey, brine or in sealed industrial packaging, preferably in a dark shelter at t not higher than +6 ºС. Cheeses are not stored in whey for a long time, but in saline solution - up to several months.
Fused
Processed cheeses are no less in demand among consumers. The new dairy regulation defines them as a dairy product made by the method of "thermomechanical processing of cheese of one or more names and / or cottage cheese."
The raw materials for the processed product are fast-ripening or mature hard / semi-hard cheeses with expiration dates, defective packaging, as well as cheeses intended for melting, brine products, milk, cottage cheese with different fat content, biologically active additives, etc.
Processed cheeses are not divided by grade, but there are many types of this dairy product. Processed sliced cheeses include: Nevsky, Soviet, Russian, Dutch, Kostroma, Slivochny, Table, Baltic, etc. The name of the cheese, as a rule, is explained by the presence of the corresponding source cheese added to it.
At home, they are stored at a temperature of 0 to +4 ºС and a humidity of 85% for no more than three months from the date of packaging, and chunky cheese with smoked meats for 30 days.
Another kind processed cheese– fused sausage cheeses.
Representatives of this species are: Smoked sausage, Tourist, Special, etc.
The shelf life of this dairy product depends on the casing in which they are placed.
It can be paraffinic and polymeric.
Paraffin is the most environmentally friendly, but the shelf life in it is not long - no more than two months. In a polymer film, cheese is stored twice as long, since this material has strength and high protective insulating properties.
It is necessary to store sausage cheeses only in the refrigerator at a low temperature - no more than +4 ºС.
Another type of processed cheese is spreadable cheese. On the counter they can be found with the following names: Hochland (creamy or assorted), Viola, President, Friendship, Amber, Wave, Moscow, etc.
They are stored at t up to +4 ºС and humidity not higher than 85% for up to 30 days, and after opening the package - no more than 5 days. Hochland cream cheese is stored longer - 6 months at t from +2 to +8 ºС.
Processed for dinner - another type of processed cheese. In retail chains, they are presented under the names: “With onions for soup”; "With mushrooms for soup"; "With porcini mushrooms for soup." Their expiration dates are unified - up to 4 months. Conditions of detention: temperature - from 0 to +4 ºС at a humidity of 85%.
Processed canned cheeses are cheeses with a fat content of 50%:
- sterilized;
- pasteurized;
- pasteurized with ham;
- in powder.
Curd cheeses (Ricotta, Mascarpone, Philadelphia, Almette, Bonjour, etc.) packed in polymer containers are stored for up to three months at a temperature of +2 to +4ºС. The opened package guarantees the freshness of the delicacy for only three days.
Results
To get maximum satisfaction from the purchase, you need to be careful and always choose only high-quality, fresh products.
To do this, at a minimum, the product must be examined, and sometimes smelled, and carefully studied its label.
Information about the expiration dates placed on the product is extremely important for the consumer and helps him navigate the choice of a particular product.
The absence of such information or the presence of expired products on the counter indicates a violation by the seller of trade rules, which entails appropriate legal consequences.
(St. Petersburg)
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Who doesn't love cheese? This natural product with a salty and very piquant taste does not leave anyone indifferent. It is eaten at home, in restaurants, at parties. Appetizers, salads, main courses and desserts are prepared with it. They are fed to babies from a very young age, as tender soft cheese brings a lot of benefits to a growing body.
Due to the fact that cheese is a "living" product, it is very important to carefully observe all the conditions for its storage. If the cheese is stored incorrectly, it quickly deteriorates, dries out, loses appearance and becomes unusable. The main cause of spoilage is the incorrect storage temperature of cheese, as well as its sharp fluctuations. If the temperature is too low, beneficial bacteria begin to die in the cheese, and if the temperature is too high, the structure of the cheese deteriorates. No less important is the humidity at which the cheese is stored. If the air is not humid enough, the cheese dries and deforms. And if the humidity is too high, it starts to deteriorate.
How to store cheese so that it stays fresh and tasty for as long as possible? Ideal storage conditions for cheese are considered to be at a constant temperature of about 6-7 ° C. Cheese is also recommended to be stored at a constant level of air humidity of about 90%. The room in which the cheese is located must be well ventilated. In France, Germany and Switzerland, large cheese producers store it in special cellars with a special microclimate. We store cheese in the refrigerator, where the conditions are not as ideal as we would like. Therefore, the first advice is not to buy too much cheese, so that you don’t have to think about how to save it later.
How to store cheese in the refrigerator
When placing cheese in the refrigerator, you need to choose the shelves that are the most distant from freezer. The compartments for vegetables and fruits are best suited in this regard. Keeping cheese on the door is not worth it because of the constant temperature changes every time it is opened. Before storing cheese in the refrigerator, it must be properly packaged. We want to immediately refute the erroneous judgment that the best packaging for cheese is store-bought. This is far from true. Cheese can be left in store packaging only if it is a closed vacuum bag. If the package has already been cut, the cheese must be removed and repacked in cling film, foil or parchment, so that the piece of cheese is closed on all sides.
Often, even in the most expensive stores, cheese is wrapped in paper. If such a package does not have a layer of cling film on the back, it will not be suitable for further storage cheese. In paper, the cheese will quickly dry out, become stale and lose its shape. The humidity in the refrigerator is not very high, so it will be just perfect if you put the wrapped cheese in an additional plastic bag or in a cheesecake made of glass, ceramic or even plastic. The main thing is that it is hermetically sealed.
How long can cheese be stored? It all depends on the type of cheese and storage conditions. With careful observance of all the rules in the warehouses of manufacturers, moldy cheeses are stored for about a month, pickled cheeses - 2 months, and hard cheeses can lie up to 10 months. But at home, when the cheese is cut, brought home, put in the refrigerator and periodically taken out to cut off a piece, it quickly loses its qualities. Therefore, the hardest varieties of cheese are not recommended to be stored for more than 7-8 days, and soft cheese and cottage cheese are best eaten 2-3 days in advance.
How to store cheese
Despite the wide variety of cheese in stores, figuring out how to properly store cheese at home is not so difficult. To do this, it is necessary to distinguish between the main types of cheese, in accordance with which the conditions for their storage are determined.
- how to store hard cheese
Hard and semi-hard cheese keeps the longest. The most suitable temperature for its storage is the range from -4 to 0 ° C. If french cheese carefully wrapped in cling film, then, for example, less fragrant Swiss cheese can be stored simply in a well-closed enamel or glass container, putting a sugar cube there, which will absorb excess moisture. If you need to store your cheese outside of the fridge, wrap it in a cloth soaked in salt water and store it in a cool place out of direct sunlight.
- how to store blue cheese
- how to store homemade cheese
Homemade homemade cheese and cottage cheese is stored for only a few days. At the same time, it is impossible to keep cheese in a plastic bag, in which it is often sold. be sure to transfer to a glass or enameled dish with a lid. And it will also be useful for you to know that cottage cheese, just like hard cheese, can be frozen. In this case, it is best to place it in a wooden bowl. Frozen cheese is stored for months and, according to experts, does not lose its properties at all.
- how to store pickled cheese
Brynza, suluguni and other pickled cheeses, of course, are best stored in brine or whey. And before use, to remove the salt, they can be cut and soaked in boiled water or milk for about 8-10 hours. It is important to remember that if salted cheese is stored long enough, then everyone's favorite suluguni cheese deteriorates very quickly. That's why you need to eat it right away.
If you have not stored the cheese properly and it has dried out, try soaking it in milk. This will bring the cheese back to its appetizing shape and taste. If mold appears on a piece of cheese, it is not at all necessary to throw it away, the mold can be cut off, and the cheese can be used for or other hot dishes. Store cheese properly and enjoy the wonderful taste of this healthy natural product.
