4 Tips to Keep Fresh Cheese Longer
Proper preservation of fresh cheese is essential to increase its shelf life. Many people don’t apply adequate methods and therefore cause the product to spoil earlier or increase the risk of bacteria growth. In addition, it should be taken into account that certain risk groups should avoid the intake of this foodstuff, such as pregnant women.
However, the intake of dairy products, as a general rule, is highly recommended for our health. These products provide a good amount of proteins of high biological value and essential minerals, such as calcium. The moderate presence of cheese in one’s diet is linked to a good state of health and helps to prevent deficits and deficiencies that may compromise the efficiency of human physiology.
How to preserve fresh cheese properly
Here are some key points to preserve fresh cheese properly. Keep in mind that pathogenic bacteria could develop in this food if it’s not kept under certain conditions, causing damage to the digestive system when you consume a spoiled product.
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It’s important to control the temperature
Cheese is a product that has certain microorganisms inside. Most of them are beneficial and, therefore, their survival must be ensured. For this reason, it should always be kept in the refrigerator in a cold environment that allows the bacteria it contains to be in comfortable conditions.
In fact, fresh cheese is best kept between 4 and 8 degrees. For this reason, it should be stored in the highest part of the refrigerator. However, harder cheeses with long curing periods are best kept at higher temperatures, usually around 8 to 12 degrees. In this case, it’s advisable to place the cheese in the drawers of the appliance.
However, a few minutes before consuming the cheese, it’s recommended to take it out and keep it at room temperature to enjoy its flavor and organoleptic characteristics to the fullest. The remaining cheese should be wrapped in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and put back in the refrigerator.
Taking care of the packaging is essential
If your objective is to keep the food in perfect condition, there is a much better trick than wrapping the cheese in plastic wrap. It’s also possible to place a piece of cheesecloth or paper towel in an airtight container. The piece of fresh cheese can be placed on it so that the liquid that the food loses is absorbed. Cover the container and put it in the refrigerator.
If you choose this alternative, you must be careful and change the cloth or towel daily. Otherwise, odors could be generated inside the airtight container, which would later be transferred to the cheese. As long as you ensure this good hygienic practice, the quality of the cheese will remain excellent.
Baking or cheese paper for soft cheese
When the intention is to preserve soft cheese in the best possible way, the best option is to use baking paper to wrap it. Due to its micro-perforated profile, it will allow the cheese to breathe while preventing it from drying out. However, it should also be placed in the refrigerator to prevent the microbiological growth of pathogens inside.
Olive oil is a good medium for preservation
It isn’t possible to talk about ways of preserving fresh cheese without mentioning the option of placing it in olive oil. In this case, the organoleptic properties of the food will vary, as well as its nutritional value. However, the content of fatty acids of the omega 3 series, compounds that have demonstrated anti-inflammatory potential, will be increased.
The key is to place extra virgin olive oil in a glass jar and cut the cheese into small cubes to introduce it into the liquid. Then, it should be hermetically sealed. It’s also a good idea to add culinary spices to the fat itself to add a different touch of flavor. Oregano is one of the most commonly used and is also a source of calcium.
The benefits of fresh cheese
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Fresh cheese provides proteins of the highest quality; these nutrients are essential to prevent the development of complex pathologies, such as sarcopenia. This is evidenced by research published in the journal BioMed Research International.
Moreover, this food contains a good dose of calcium, an essential mineral necessary to maintain structural health. It’s one of the major components of bones.
Its consumption in adequate amounts is related to a lower risk of suffering problems such as osteoporosis. However, it’s essential to maintain vitamin D levels at optimal levels, according to a study published in Frontiers of Hormone Research.
For this, there’s no better alternative than regular exposure to sunlight. Radiation stimulates the endogenous production of the nutrient, which can then accumulate in adipose tissue due to its fat-soluble nature.
Properly preserving fresh cheese is essential to ensure its integrity and flavor
As you have seen in this article, there are a number of tips you can put into practice to better preserve fresh cheese and thus ensure its wholesomeness. This will prevent the food from losing its flavor characteristics so that it will always remain fresh and taste great.
Finally, bear in mind that including this food in your diet is beneficial to your health as long as the overall variety and balance of your diet are guaranteed. It’s essential to avoid deficits of essential nutrients that may negatively condition the efficiency of the physiology in the internal environment.
All cited sources were thoroughly reviewed by our team to ensure their quality, reliability, currency, and validity. The bibliography of this article was considered reliable and of academic or scientific accuracy.
- Ishihara, T., Yoshida, M., & Arita, M. (2019). Omega-3 fatty acid-derived mediators that control inflammation and tissue homeostasis. International immunology, 31(9), 559–567. https://doi.org/10.1093/intimm/dxz001
- Martone, A. M., Marzetti, E., Calvani, R., Picca, A., Tosato, M., Santoro, L., Di Giorgio, A., Nesci, A., Sisto, A., Santoliquido, A., & Landi, F. (2017). Exercise and Protein Intake: A Synergistic Approach against Sarcopenia. BioMed research international, 2017, 2672435. https://doi.org/10.1155/2017/2672435
- Goltzman, D., Mannstadt, M., & Marcocci, C. (2018). Physiology of the Calcium-Parathyroid Hormone-Vitamin D Axis. Frontiers of hormone research, 50, 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1159/000486060
