All natural dairy and sour-milk products spoil rather quickly. But each product has its own shelf life. How much and how can you store cottage cheese?

Despite careful processing with the use of one or another type of preservatives, the process of so-called fermentation (reproduction of starter bacteria) does not stop. You can't stop it, you can only slow it down. In addition, these bacteria are different types. Some are present in the product initially, others are introduced from the outside during processing and storage.

Shelf life of cottage cheese

Natural cottage cheese is a perishable fermented milk product. The periods of storage are regulated sanitary norms. Cottage cheese is stored in the refrigerator from 2 to 14 days, depending on the packaging and pre-treatment.

Pasteurized (closed) cottage cheese can be kept in the refrigerator for 5-7 days at a temperature of 0 °C to + 6 °C. If the package is opened - only 1 day.

Homemade cottage cheese can be stored for no more than 2 days at temperatures from 0 °C to + 3 °C.

There is a long-term storage product, sold in sealed packaging, its shelf life is about 14 days at temperatures from 0 °C to + 6 °C. This is if you do not open the package.

Before placing homemade cottage cheese in the refrigerator, it should be transferred to an enameled container with a tight-fitting lid. It is recommended to place several pieces of sugar together with the product in such a container.

If the cottage cheese has been stored for more than 1 day, it is best to heat it and use it for dumplings, casseroles, cheesecakes, etc. However, its taste may still be quite acceptable.

How to save useful properties?

If cottage cheese is purchased by weight, especially not homemade, then a number of important things should be taken immediately. It is necessary to transfer the product from its original packaging to a plate or bowl. The container for storing the product must be enameled or plastic. It is very important that the dishes in which the product will be stored can be tightly closed with a lid. Before shifting, you need to put a cloth napkin on the bottom of the plate.

Advice from culinary experts: if there is no lid that will tightly close the container, you can use the well-known cling film. If there is a lot of cottage cheese, then it is worth dividing it into small portions.

Of great importance is the fat content of the product. If we compare cottage cheese with a minimum amount of fat and a maximum one, then low-fat cottage cheese will be stored much longer than fatty one.

For long-term storage of fatty cottage cheese, you need to put a piece of sugar on the bottom of the container. Thus, it is possible not only to increase the duration of storage, but also to improve the taste of the product.

Is it possible to freeze cottage cheese?

Freezing dairy products as a way to store them for a long time was known long before the invention of refrigerators. In the Far North, this method of storage is still practiced in specially equipped glaciers. The preservation of almost all nutritional properties in food after defrosting has been proven theoretically and in practice.

It is possible and necessary to freeze cottage cheese if it is not planned to be used in the near future, but this must be done correctly. At a freezing temperature below -12 degrees, its shelf life will reach a month. However, sometimes they keep it longer. When defrosting the product, the taste will remain the same, but there is a high probability of a change in consistency. Frozen cottage cheese will already be curd mass.

How to freeze cottage cheese?

Properly freezing cottage cheese in the freezer is not difficult. But after that, it is important to observe a constant temperature regime- Do not defrost and freeze again. Before cooling, homemade cottage cheese should be divided into portions for single use. Portions can be packaged in freezer containers or cling film bags.

Preference for freezing should be given to granular cottage cheese, and not pasty.

The cottage cheese bought in the package is frozen as is, without opening the package - this way it will be stored longer.

Before eating, you need to take out the portion that will be used and put it on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator. There is a minimum temperature in the entire refrigeration system. This is necessary in order not to expose the protein to sudden changes in temperature, because in this case its original properties are lost.

If you plan to fry cheesecakes or bake a pie from the frozen cottage cheese of the product, then you can defrost immediately at room temperature. After defrosting the product, it is best to use it immediately. The maximum shelf life after defrosting is one day.

It should be understood that the longer the product is stored in the freezer, the worse its taste and texture will be when defrosted. But, as said earlier, it loses its texture and crumbles when it is thawed.

Subject to the above rules, the cottage cheese will remain fresh for a long time. It will not change its properties if stored fresh and of high quality.

• Shelf life: 4 days
• Best before date: 4 days
• Shelf life in the refrigerator: 4 days
• Freezer time: 14 days

Delicate and healthy cottage cheese is a fermented milk product that is produced using fresh milk and special lactic bacteria. Cottage cheese is absolutely indispensable for a variety of diets and when you want to keep the body in good shape. Due to the excellent ratio of proteins, mineral salts, fats and essential vitamins, cottage cheese is a valuable product for human health. Therefore, cottage cheese is often recommended to be eaten by both sick people and quite healthy people.

It is known that in historical references there were mentions of cottage cheese in ancient Rome.

In Russia, cottage cheese was known as. And so the dish "" appeared, which is made from cottage cheese.

In those days, cottage cheese was made at home, as it was a daily favorite delicacy among the peasants. poured into a clay container and sent to a warm oven. Then the contents were poured into a cloth bag and decanted, and the curd was placed under a press.

Homemade cottage cheese did not have a long shelf life. Then the Slavs tried to figure out how to keep it fresh for a long time. This is how the preservation method appeared - the pressed cottage cheese was again sent to the oven, and then again under the press. Such manipulations were carried out 2-3 times. As a result, the cottage cheese turned out to be dry, then it was transferred to containers and poured with ghee. In cold cellars, cottage cheese remained fresh for several months.

Characteristics of cottage cheese

The production of cottage cheese and its main characteristics are regulated by GOST 31453-2013 “Cottage cheese. Specifications". Based on this, the finished product must meet the following requirements:

The benefits of cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is easily absorbed by the body and contains from 13 to 19% of balanced proteins. It is also rich in various vitamins and amino acids, fluorine, copper, sodium, phosphorus, zinc, iron and folic acid, which is necessary for pregnant women and girls planning a pregnancy.

Cottage cheese reduces cholesterol and body fat. It is necessary to use cottage cheese for people suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular and nervous systems, diseases of the musculoskeletal system, and the gastrointestinal tract.

Harm of cottage cheese

Cottage cheese is contraindicated for people with kidney problems. It is not recommended to use this product for people with individual intolerance to its components.

High-fat cottage cheese increases cholesterol levels and can lead to obesity.

Curd storage

To determine the shelf life of cottage cheese, you need to know its types. Fat cottage cheese is made from selected whole, and the percentage of fat content is at least 18%. Semi-fat cottage cheese consists of both skimmed and whole milk with 9% fat content. But fat-free cottage cheese is made from freshly skimmed skim milk. Moreover, it is fat-free cottage cheese that is considered the most easily digestible, since it contains mainly nutritious milk proteins.

It is important to understand that the shelf life of cottage cheese is extremely short. Cottage cheese is a perishable product that is not recommended for long-term storage. Gradually, it loses its taste, becoming bitter. This is due to the constant process of vital activity of bacteria, as well as the activity of microflora and enzymes. Even the packaging material seriously affects the shelf life of the curd. In this regard, proper storage of this product will help to get rid of unexpected problems.

To determine more accurate shelf life of cottage cheese, it is necessary to remember that high-fat cottage cheese will become unusable faster, unlike low-fat varieties.

Shelf life of cottage cheese in the refrigerator

In those days when there were no refrigerators, cottage cheese was wrapped in a white clean cloth pre-moistened with water, and then placed in a dry and cool place where the air temperature did not rise above +15 degrees. Now fresh cottage cheese can be stored in the refrigerator. 2 days. The main thing is that the temperature does not rise above +8 degrees.

Temperature fluctuations adversely affect the quality and characteristics of the product. The optimal temperature for curd storage is the range from +2 to +6 °С.

In the event that the refrigerator is powerful and strongly cools the products, then the shelf life of the cottage cheese increases to 4 days. Also great solution will place the cottage cheese on a shelf under the freezer.

Before placing the cottage cheese in the refrigerator, it must be wrapped with parchment or foil. You can also try placing the cottage cheese in an enameled container with a tight-fitting lid. In such a container, it is also advised to place several pieces of sugar along with the cottage cheese. Then the maximum shelf life of the cottage cheese in the refrigerator will be reached. Curd that was kept longer 1 day, it is best to heat treat and use for dumplings, casseroles, cheesecakes, etc.

Shelf life of cottage cheese in the freezer

In the freezer, cottage cheese lasts the longest. But first it should be placed in a glass or enameled container. Significant freezing at -35 degrees ensures the shelf life of the cottage cheese for about 1-2 months. Such frozen cottage cheese retains its valuable and beneficial features, but before direct use, of course, it must be thawed. If the temperature in the freezer is -18 degrees, then the cottage cheese can be stored 2 weeks.

Shelf life of vacuum-packed cottage cheese

Among the various packages, vacuum packaging stands out, which allows the curd to remain fresh for a long time. Vacuum-packed curd has a shelf life of approx. 30 days. This is much more than in ordinary paper packaging.

Shelf life of cottage cheese at room temperature

At home, the shelf life of cottage cheese is significantly reduced. The maximum allowable storage time at room temperature is 4-5 hours. If cottage cheese is placed near heating appliances, its freshness will be no more than 2 hours.

Natural cottage cheese is a fermented milk perishable product. The terms of its storage are strictly regulated by the current sanitary rules and regulations - SanPiN. The document contains two deadlines:

• 72 hours for ordinary cottage cheese and products from it,
• 5 days for thermally processed, pasteurized and packaged curd products.

In retail outlets, mainly factory-made packs of different weights are sold. The exact date of production of products and the expiration date are indicated on the packaging of goods from the store and do not cause problems in determining. It is much more difficult to purchase really tasty and fresh cottage cheese and properly store it after purchase.

Storage time of cottage cheese in a domestic refrigerator

1. In a conventional refrigerator, packaged cottage cheese can be kept for no more than two days, provided that it is purchased on the day of manufacture. If there is a place with a temperature close to zero in the common refrigeration compartment, then the period is extended by another 2 days.
2. An open pack should be eaten within a day.
3. In low temperature freezer you can keep the product from two weeks to two months, but its consistency will change after that. Data on the preservation of the taste of cottage cheese during prolonged freezing are not confirmed in practice.

To be sure of the quality of cottage cheese, it is better to buy it with a production time of no more than 48 hours. No packaging and pasteurization will save the product if it was transported without observing the temperature regime, which is difficult for the buyer to trace.

How to save homemade cottage cheese

Self-made cottage cheese, heated at the stage of clot formation, will last in the refrigerator for 48 hours if placed in a container with a tight lid. Market cottage cheese, even from trusted sellers, is best eaten on the same day. You should not risk your health even if the product looks and smells normal. Poisoning with sour-milk products has a severe course and dangerous complications.

Which container will keep cottage cheese longer?

Vacuum-capable containers help avoid spoilage of products that are prone to souring and mold. Cottage cheese by weight can be saved using an airtight container with the removal of excess air. Wrapping in foil will have a similar result. It is safest to store the product in its original sealed packaging.

Everyone knows about the benefits of fresh cottage cheese: it is perfectly absorbed, and besides, it contains a large amount of calcium, vitamins A, B2, B6, B12, E, P, phosphorus and iron. Meanwhile, the use of a product that has been stored incorrectly or for too long will not bring the body anything but harm. Therefore, it is so important to know how to store cottage cheese correctly so that its expiration date does not expire ahead of time.

Cottage cheese is a “live” product due to the presence of lactic acid bacteria in it. Under conditions of high temperature, these microorganisms develop vigorous activity, as a result of which this product deteriorates very quickly. Therefore, it cannot be kept out of the refrigerator for more than 6-12 hours. So, bringing a purchase from the market or from the store, the first thing to do is to provide it with suitable storage conditions.

If the cottage cheese is wrapped in a plastic bag, transfer it to a dry glass, ceramic or enameled container, laying a clean cloth or paper napkin on the bottom, and tightly close the lid. So that the expiration date does not expire ahead of time, put a few pieces of sugar in the dishes. To save space in the refrigerator, the product can not be packed in dishes, but simply wrapped in foil or parchment paper.

By the way, fat-free cottage cheese is stored longer than a product with a high fat content.

After completing the packaging of the product, it must be immediately sent to the refrigerator. The shelf life of cottage cheese at 3-8 ºС is no more than two days, and by putting it in the coldest place near the freezer, where the temperature reaches 0 ºС, you can extend the shelf life up to 4 days.

If your cottage cheese has been in the refrigerator for more than a day, do not eat it unprocessed. Despite the fact that the expiration date of such a product has not yet expired, it is best to use it for the preparation of various curd products: casseroles, pancakes and dumplings. Moreover, if the dishes are not eaten immediately, they should be stored in the refrigerator for no more than 3 days.

Vacuum packaging will help to significantly extend the shelf life. If, immediately after manufacturing, a home-made product is placed in a vacuum bag, it is quite capable of lying in the refrigerator for 7-10 days without losing valuable qualities. In production, before packaging in vacuum packaging, cottage cheese is processed in a special way. Such conditions provide him with a very solid shelf life - up to 30 days. Naturally, the taste of such a product cannot be compared with natural, and useful substances much less remains in it, but for the sake of a long shelf life, something must be sacrificed.

Freezer storage

Of course, 4 days of storage is very little, especially if you buy large packages and do not have time to use them in such a short time. Knowing for sure that you will not be able to put the purchase into action in the coming days, part of it can be placed in the freezer. At the same time, the cottage cheese should be fresh, and it is better to pack it in small portions in sealed bags or plastic vacuum containers.

Production conditions allow freezing this product at -35 ºС, after which it is successfully stored for a long time without loss of taste. In most domestic freezers, the temperature is maintained at -18 ºС. Such conditions are quite suitable to store a frozen product for 1-2 months. If you freeze it at a temperature of -5 to -15 ºС, over time the taste will change for the worse, and you can store such a blank for no more than a month.

It is necessary to defrost the cottage cheese gradually by placing it in the refrigerator away from the freezer. This process is quite lengthy and takes 6-10 hours. It is better not to use a thawed product without preliminary heat treatment.

Similarly, various culinary products stuffed with cottage cheese can be stored in sealed bags and containers in the freezer. At the same time, dumplings can not be thawed, immediately thrown into boiling water, and it is better to defrost the rest of the semi-finished products in the microwave or refrigerator. The shelf life of such blanks is 1-2 months, but it is better to use them as early as possible in order to avoid loss of taste.

Storage without refrigeration

But what to do if fermented milk products need to be preserved, but there is no refrigerator or freezer at hand? This method is used in remote villages, where household appliances are not available in every house. In order to properly preserve the product, a wooden tub or a deep enamel pan sterilized with boiling water or steam, dry well, pour salt on the bottom, and cottage cheese is tightly laid on it. From above it is covered with a cloth soaked in a salt solution, and then a plate is placed and the entire structure is pressed down with a load.

How much cottage cheese is stored, if such conditions are created for it, depends on temperature environment. At a zero mark, its shelf life can be up to 2 months, and if the temperature in the room does not fall below +15 ºС, the product can be stored for no more than a week.

Your brownie.

P.S. I also want to show you three ways to make homemade cottage cheese yourself.

Everyone knows about the benefits of cottage cheese, but this valuable product is perishable. The process of fermentation is constantly going on in its living substance. In dairies, special preservatives are used to extend the shelf life. In order to purchase a quality product, and so that the cottage cheese does not lose its useful properties ahead of time, it is important to know the parameters and expiration dates of this fermented milk product.

In retail outlets, cottage cheese of various percentages of fat content is presented, in plastic cups or packs of various weights, intended for special dietary or baby food. It is not difficult to buy any curd products to your taste today.

However, it should be remembered that, like any other milk product, cottage cheese is perishable. Its specific shelf life is determined by GOST, specified in SanPiN documents and depends on:

• Heat treatment method. Factory cottage cheese, in the production of which technologies of special heat treatment were used, will be stored longer.
• storage temperatures, which should not exceed 2-6 °C, and for long-term storage cottage cheese, the optimum temperature regime is -18 °C.
• Packaging. The product has the longest shelf life in a vacuum container. It can be up to 30 days. Longer than in simple paper packaging, cottage cheese is stored in a wrapper made of special foil or parchment.
• Fat content. Cottage cheese with a high percentage of fat (from 18%) is able to stay fresh for a shorter amount of time than 9% semi-fat, made from whole and skimmed milk, or low-fat 2-5%, made from skimmed milk.

The fatter the cottage cheese, the less protein, moisture and acidity it contains.

Tip of the day

When buying cottage cheese, pay attention to the product label, which indicates the release date of the product and its expiration date.

How to store at home: conditions, place, container and terms

In the villages in ancient times, cottage cheese was stored in special cellars, wrapped in white linen cloth soaked in water. Today it is difficult to imagine your life without a refrigerator:

• Fresh cottage cheese can be stored in it for 2 days. In this case, the temperature should not be higher than 8 °C.
• On the shelf under the freezer, the shelf life of cottage cheese increases to 4 days.
• In the "freshness zone", where the temperature is about 0 ° C, the curd can be stored for a longer time.

Do you know that…

Children's curds (Agusha, Tema, etc.), produced in convenient plastic trays, should not be stored after opening. How long children's cottage cheese can be stored in closed form is indicated on the package. The remaining product should not be given to a child. It is better to eat the cottage cheese yourself or use it for baking.

Purchased in closed and open packaging

How long cottage cheese can be stored in the refrigerator also depends on the packaging or container in which it is contained:

• Cottage cheese in a plastic bag is stored for no more than 36 hours. Polyethylene does not "breathe", and the absence of air leads to rapid deterioration of the product.
• In a plastic food container, it can be stored for 72 hours.
• In an enamel pan with a tight-fitting lid - no more than 48 hours.
• In special vacuum packaging - about 30 days.

Note to the owner

To increase the shelf life of cottage cheese purchased in paper or plastic packaging, transfer it to foil, such as the one used for baking.

Cottage cheese is an easily digestible product (it is easier to digest than whole and even fermented milk), so it is part of many diets.

Bulk and homemade

Some consumers prefer to buy home-made cottage cheese, others - factory-made. Everyone has the right to make a personal choice, but at the same time it is useful for everyone to know that both a high-quality factory product manufactured in accordance with the GOST 31453 - 2013 regulations and from a farm has certain features:

• the consistency is soft, plastic or grainy, with the presence of small particles of milk protein;
• the color is uniform, milky, with a slight fawn tinge throughout the mass;
• a low-fat product releases a small amount of curd whey;
• taste of sour milk;
• there is no foreign smell.

It is useful to know the shelf life of cottage cheese in the refrigerator:

• weighed without packaging can last 24 hours;
• home cooking - 48 hours;
• ordinary cottage cheese and products from it are stored for no more than 72 hours;
• pasteurized, heat-treated, stored for 5 days;
• long-term storage products - 15 days or more, provided that the package is not opened.

Curd mass: pros and cons

The curd mass in its composition contains proteins, vegetable fats, carbohydrates, sugar, vitamin supplements and other ingredients. It contains organic acids that have an antiseptic effect.

High-quality curd mass has a homogeneous consistency. If you find that the structure of the purchased product consists of grains, then you have products with artificial thickeners. There will be little benefit from such supplements.

• The shelf life of curd mass made without preservatives is 72 hours.
• Packed in plastic trays and cups, tightly sealed mass is stored for 5 to 7 days.

Do you know that…

Cottage cheese mass with natural cottage cheese has nothing in common.

Fillers (raisins, nuts, candied fruits, etc.) in cottage cheese do not affect the duration of its storage. For such products, the same expiration dates are set as for ordinary cottage cheese.

Can it be stored in the freezer?

If you buy cottage cheese for the future and intend to use it no earlier than in 7-10 days, you must place it in the freezer.

• In freezers of industrial refrigerators, cottage cheese can be stored for up to 6 months. The initial temperature of quick freezing is -35 °C, subsequent storage takes place at a temperature of -18 °C.
• At home, the frozen product can be stored for up to 2 months at a constant temperature of -18 °C. Its taste will be preserved.

Note to the owner

Do not slow freeze at temperatures below -6 ° C. Although this will not affect the safety of the product, the taste of the curd will deteriorate dramatically.

Many consumers are interested in whether it is possible to freeze pancakes with cottage cheese, cheesecakes and other curd products. It is quite possible to store such dishes in the freezer. However, no more than 3-4 weeks. Otherwise, the taste of the product may deteriorate, although its nutritional properties will be preserved.

How to freeze and defrost properly

To freeze effectively, you should follow simple rules:

• Freeze just bought, fresh product.
• The temperature in the freezer should not be less than -18 °C.
• To avoid chapping, place the product in a hermetically sealed container or tight bag.
• Pack cottage cheese in portions designed for one time.
• For convenience, mark the date of freezing start on the package.

It is better to defrost cottage cheese gradually, placing it on the middle shelf of the refrigerator. This will take several hours. The process will be accelerated if the frozen briquette is left indoors at room temperature. If you need to defrost the product urgently, a microwave will help.

Cottage cheese dishes can be boiled, fried, baked; it is good with both sweet and salty flavors

How to store without a refrigerator

It is very difficult to store dairy products without a refrigerator. If you can extend the shelf life of milk by boiling, and butter by wrapping parchment soaked in salted water, then these methods do not work with cottage cheese.

And yet, there are ways by which, if absolutely necessary, you can extend the viability of this product:

1. Put the cottage cheese into a clean and dry glass jar, tamping it as tightly as possible so that air does not penetrate. Cover the container with gauze soaked in salt water. Place in a cool place, protected from light.
2. In the past, this method was also used: homemade cottage cheese was placed in an enameled pan or a special barrel. The walls of the container were pre-treated with hot steam, and the bottom was sprinkled with table salt. From above, the product was covered with a cloth soaked in saline solution and closed with a lid, on which oppression was placed.

However, even at a temperature lower than room temperature, the growth of pathogenic bacteria begins in the curd, while lactic acid bacteria are inhibited, which leads to spoilage of the product.

Tip of the day

Buy the product in the quantity in which you can use it for food or for cooking within the next 24 hours.

How to recognize a delay and what to do with it

It is very important to recognize in time that the product is expired and can no longer be stored. Obvious signs of a delay in cottage cheese are:

• sharp, pronounced sour smell;
• bitter taste;
• “loose” consistency (part of the mass has become liquid, the other has dried up);
• greyish yellow color;
• the appearance of mold spots.

Some housewives use slightly sour cottage cheese to make casseroles, cheesecakes, or in home cosmetology (recipe in the video below). Of course, we are talking only about a slightly expired product.

It's important to know!

If the cottage cheese has become bitter in taste, a musty smell has appeared, and even more so mold - in no case should you eat it.

Every housewife should know the basic rules for storing cottage cheese in the refrigerator or in some unforeseen situation using old grandmother's methods. How to freeze and unfreeze it correctly, recognize the delay and what to do about it. Then this valuable dairy product will only benefit you.

Store properly and be healthy!