How to properly store feta cheese and recipes for making brine at home
Cheese is one of the varieties of pickled cheese made from fresh milk. It is eaten fresh, but not everyone knows how to store it properly, as the conditions are different from those required for classic cheese. In order to preserve the original taste and usefulness of a fermented milk product as long as possible, it is important to learn how to properly store feta cheese at home.
What is feta cheese
The soft, white or slightly yellowish structure has a salty taste. During the manufacturing process, the cheese mass is soaked, spices are added and a certain shape is given. The finished product has a non-friable, non-dense, easy-to-cut structure.
Fresh milk is the main ingredient. Basically, they use sheep's milk, but they can be made from cow's milk, less often from goat's milk. The classic product has a high percentage of fat - more than 45%. This indicator depends on the type of milk used in production. You can prepare a fragrant delicacy at home. It is used as an independent dish and as an ingredient in salads, baked goods, cold snacks. It is considered a national dish in the Caucasus, Moldova and Bulgaria.
The fermented milk product is rich in vitamins, useful elements, because in the production of raw materials are not subjected to heat treatment. Manufactured according to international standards.
Optimal storage
The cheese is stored in a cool place at a temperature of 0 ... + 6. The shelf life in brine is 75 days; in its absence, the cheese will keep for about 30 days. During storage, the product is packaged in an airtight container: factory packaging, enamelled dishes.
There are four ways to preserve a fermented milk delight:
- In brine - feta cheese is sold in the liquid from which it was made. The salinity of the solution ensures a long shelf life. Refrigerated cheese can be stored for up to several weeks.
- Without brine - product purchased without brine is stored well packaged. The head of cheese is placed in foil, placed in an enamel bowl, covered with a lid. Other storage containers will not work.
- Brine prepared by yourself - when buying feta cheese, liquid is not always present. If you plan to store it for a long time, you can prepare the brine yourself. With the rapid replacement of the concentrated liquid, the fermented milk product can be stored for up to six months.
- In the freezer - an option is used in exceptional cases when the cheese is set aside for long storage. Frozen feta cheese loses some of its usefulness and taste. The shelf life can be up to 8 months. The cheese is pre-packaged in a waterproof plastic bag.
Failure to observe the storage conditions will lead to the deterioration of the delicacy.You can not replace the brine with ordinary boiled water, wrap the cheese with cling film, store in an unglazed container.
Brine Recipes
The liquid helps to keep the delicacy soft and extend the shelf life. Salty brine prevents the formation of harmful microorganisms, contributes to the preservation of useful qualities.
Raw
To prepare a classic brine, use the following recipe:
- Water - 1 liter.
- Salt - 200 grams.
These ingredients form a powerful saline solution. The components are mixed, the ready-made solution is completely poured with cheese. The cheese will absorb the right amount of salt, so the shelf life can be extended for several months. Before use, the product is soaked for at least 2 hours in ordinary soft water.
with herbs
The recipe not only preserves freshness, but also enriches the flavor of the cheese. For cooking, use the ingredients to taste:
- Ground red pepper.
- Chopped garlic.
- Dill.
- Caraway.
- Parsley.
The components are added to the brine and mixed. You can increase palatability by using mustard seeds, sunflower oil, spices to taste.
Storage conditions without brine
You can store feta cheese for a long time without brine. It is left in a cool place; the timing is different for different species. Cheese cheese has a peculiarity - there is no hard crust on the outside, which increases the risk of harmful bacteria getting into the structure.
Without brine, the shelf life is reduced to 2-7 days. The cheese is tightly wrapped in foil, folded in an enamel container, tightly closed with a lid. Ripe feta cheese can be stored like this for up to 3 weeks.
Milk feeding
Cheese is a salty product, so it is eaten after preliminary soaking.Excess salt in the body leads to swelling and water retention. To make the products less salty, they are pre-soaked. The procedure takes 2-3 hours. For this, milk is used. After soaking, the cheese will not lose its original taste and aroma, but the pronounced saltiness will disappear.
Before impregnation, the feta is cut into slices 3 cm thick, the pieces are left in the milk and then eaten. If it has not changed, the milk is changed to fresh milk and left to soak until the salt disappears. Soaked feta is put on a shelf in the refrigerator, it is not recommended to leave it at room temperature.
Selection tips
High-quality feta cheese is distinguished by a white or slightly yellowish tint. The presence of extraneous colors indicates deterioration, technological irregularities in production. It is advisable to choose cheese in brine, so that it retains its taste and useful elements longer.
Fresh cheese does not have a hard rind. Its presence speaks of long-term storage on the counter, it is better to refuse it. The composition should be free of preservatives. Only the presence of hardener E509 is allowed, it is harmless to the body. It is advisable to taste the cheese before buying it. It is optimal to choose a fat index in the range of 25-50%, such a product will have an oily and soft structure. Even full compliance with the rules for storing feta cheese will not help to preserve the quite useful properties of the delicacy. Therefore, it is advisable to buy it in small quantities and consume it immediately.