3 best ways to keep churchkhela at home

Fragrant Churchkhela is a famous Georgian specialty that has received a patent. The dessert recreates the oriental flavor, so it is popular with tourists visiting the Caucasus countries and Russia. In addition, churchkhela is sold in ethnic stores. Many people do not know how to properly store churchkhela so that it does not deteriorate and retain useful substances. Consider storage options for an oriental dessert.

Features of churchkhela storage

The cooking recipe influences the choice of preservation methods for oriental sweetness. If the churchkhela is prepared at home according to a classic recipe, then it will be enough to wrap it in natural material for storage and put it in a dry cupboard. This method of cooking is considered the most advantageous in terms of safety.

In the production, the rules for making a Georgian dessert are often violated, various substitutes and sugar are added to it. It is preservatives that reduce the shelf life of industrial churchkhela. After buying a delicacy in a store, it is recommended to eat it within 7 days, since it cannot be stored any longer.You can not eat a dried delicacy, as the risk of damaging tooth enamel is not excluded.

How to properly store churchkhela:

• a natural tasty dish can be hung from the ceiling in a ventilated room;
• can be stored for a short time on a shelf, without signs of dampness;
• Churchkhela can be wrapped in plastic wrap and stored in the refrigerator, but for a short time.

The rapid drying of a Georgian dessert is influenced by the presence of various additives. Preservatives are used in order to speed up the technological process.

Factors that affect shelf life

The famous delicacy made using traditional technology cannot be classified as a food that spoils quickly.

Factors affecting retention of delicacy:

• the quality of the raw materials used;
• accuracy of compliance with manufacturing technology;
• product drying rules;
• storage and transport conditions over long distances.

A classic traditional dessert keeps for a shorter time, depending on compliance with the cooking technology and the correct transport of the product.Each of us should know that even if all the rules are followed, the shelf life of churchkhela does not exceed 30 days.

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How to extend the shelf life at home

For long-term storage, a refrigerator or cellar is used. First, the sweetness must be wrapped in parchment. Before being sent to storage, the oriental delicacy is dried on a bedside table at room temperature for 6-8 days. During the drying process, the treat is covered with gauze to prevent access to churchkhela by various insects.

Thus, it will be possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and microorganisms on the top layer.

Sweetness prepared in the kitchen has a shelf life of up to 45 days. Then it gradually begins to break down: the flour crust crumbles and mold can form on the surface. When storing, it's a good idea to check your inventory frequently, then repack it to keep it up to date.

Cellar storage rules: Each candy should be wrapped in gauze or thin cloth and hung up in a cool, dry place. The shelf life in the cellar can be up to 2 months. If the top layer begins to dry out, the churchkhela deteriorates. Do not store the product in a dark and humid room. Berry juice and flour will soon harden, and customers will simply “break their teeth” with such a stick.

How to choose the right one

For longer storage of the product, you need to know the nuances of choosing churchkhela:

1. When buying, it is recommended to touch the protruding thread. If it behaves like rubber when folded, the oriental sweetness will taste the same.
2. If grains of sugar are visible on the top layer, it means that the technology has been violated during the baking process. Therefore, it is better to bypass such softness.
3. Cracks on the surface of the product indicate that the product contains an increased amount of flour.

Freshly prepared Churchkhela is ideal for purchase. You can dry it yourself to store it. During fragmentation, a quality product should have a soft inner part, and the upper layer should be in the form of a dried crust.

Optimal storage conditions

For the safety of the product, it is important to respect certain conditions.The most important thing is storage in a dry room with good ventilation at a temperature of + 15-21°C.

In the house, you can store in a dark cabinet, previously wrapped in natural fabric.

Storage methods

Different storage methods have significant differences. You have to know how to preserve the sweetness acquired to bring it home and delight your loved ones.

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In the fridge

The shelf life of churchkhela in the refrigerator is very short, so you should not use this device. The thing is that, according to GOST, storage is possible only in a dry room with sufficient ventilation. There is no ventilation inside the refrigerator, the temperature is lower than the specified standard, and therefore the shelf life is short. In such conditions, the product dries quickly and absorbs foreign odors. Storage of churchkhela with flour products is prohibited. If insects start in cereals, they will not miss the opportunity to try an oriental delicacy.

Without refrigerator

With the refrigerator, everything is very clear, but how to ensure safety without using the device? Subject to the rules, the product does not lose its taste in a month. And only after this time the crust begins to dry out a little. A fake must be consumed within 7 days of purchase. All information about the shelf life is indicated on the packaging, so it is important to read the instructions.

Attention! Some manufacturers want to cheat and indicate the shelf life of churchkhela - six months. The product cannot be stored for so many months, especially since this figure does not meet the described standards.

On my way

The storage time is influenced not only by the right choice, but also by the ability to pack the product in order to take it to its destination and delight loved ones.

Transportation rules:

1. During a long move, only the dried delicacy is well preserved. It is better to carry it in earthenware or wrap it in natural fabric. Along the way, one should not let the sun's rays fall on the churchkhela. Exposure to ultraviolet rays and hot air contributes to the rapid drying of the treat.
2. Shipping oriental sweets is only possible with a reliable shipping company. It is important to know the expected delivery times, because it is impossible for the product to remain in a closed container for a long time. In addition, storage humidity and temperature conditions may change at this time. In this case, relatives will receive a moldy product and will not be satisfied with such a gift.

Attention! You can not buy sweets that fell in the rain, as soon mold will form on the top layer of the churchkhela.

Signs of deterioration

A sweet becomes unfit for human consumption if:

• the sweetness began to crumble;
• the surface is speckled with white flowers;
• the crust is completely softened, the surface is moist.

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All these signs indicate that the sweetness has been improperly stored or the manufacturing technology has not been followed.

On a note! Bacteria multiply on spoiled food! A person who eats spoiled churchkhela may have a digestive system disorder.

Common Mistakes

Even with observance of the drying technology of the product, an oriental delicacy can dry out prematurely. What to do with the product to restore it to its original appearance?

To restore the product to its original appearance, it is recommended:

• put it in water;
• stand on steam;
• wrap in plastic and send in the microwave for a few seconds.

All methods of resuscitation are available and effective, but it is no longer possible to store the updated product. Sometimes it is not possible to soften the product because there is too little liquid left in the treat.

Tips & Tricks

By listening to advice, you can avoid storage mistakes and ensure a long shelf life for candies.

1. How to avoid mold? Do not store in a room with high humidity, because churchkhela does not tolerate high humidity. Under such conditions, it is possible to carry out the cultivation of the fungus and microorganisms that cause various diseases.
2. How to avoid surface condensation? If, when sending to storage, the product is wrapped in a plastic bag or cling film, it will be deprived of access to air. There is no ventilation. Eventually, droplets form on the walls of the film and the product molds.
3. How to transport? The success of shipping the product will depend on how dry the product is.

Churchkhela is a hearty and appetizing product, but this is not a reason to eat it in large portions. The sweets contain viscous (evaporated) juice, nuts and flour, so the product is considered high in calories. It will be enough to eat one piece of oriental delicacy per day. And knowing how to ensure the safety of the product, you will be able to save the beneficial properties of aromatic sweetness as much as possible.