How Long You Can Store Ricotta Cheese In The Fridge And Freezer (2024)
nikki munoz
·2 min read
Ricotta cheese can be used in a plethora of versatile ways: topped on pizzas,stuffed into ravioli, or even integrated into desserts. Because of this, it's a good cheese to have on hand in your kitchen. However, if you're going to have it around, you need to know how long ricotta lasts in the fridge and the freezer.
One key detail to keep in mind is whether the package of ricotta cheese has been opened or not. Unopened ricotta will last about two weeks in the fridge, while opened ricotta will last just a week. As for the freezer, you can store ricotta for up to three months. When it comes time to thaw it, put it in the fridge overnight or until it reaches the right consistency.
Whether you choose to store it in the fridge or freezer, you'll need to transfer it to an airtight container (if it didn't already come in one). This helps keep the ricotta fresh and prevents any odors from other foods in the fridge from being absorbed into the cheese. It also helps to keep the ricotta toward the middle of the fridge, away from the door — this is because anything stored on the door is more susceptible to fluctuating temperatures. Speaking of temperatures, the perfect temp for ricotta to be stored at is between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is what your fridge should be set to already.
Whether you store your ricotta cheese in the fridge or freezer, you'll want to label it with the date to make sure you don't accidentally try to use it after its freshness window has elapsed. On top of that, it's also a good idea to know what to look out for when checking if the ricotta has gone bad. To start with, look out for any sort of odor. Ricotta doesn't have much of a smell to it, so if it smells foul or off in any way, then it's time to throw it out.
Additionally, look for any change in the ricotta's appearance. If it's growing mold, you'll have to throw the whole thing out. While you can cut the moldy parts of hard cheeses off and still safely eat the rest, soft cheeses — ricotta included — don't have the same benefit, according to the USDA. Finally, if you sample the ricotta, and it doesn't taste as it should in any way, then it's best to stay on the safe side and throw it out.
One key detail to keep in mind is whether the package of ricotta cheese has been opened or not. Unopened ricotta will last about two weeks in the fridge, while opened ricotta will last just a week.As for the freezer, you can store ricotta for up to three months.
The door of your freezer is a bit warmer and can fluctuate in temperature whenever you open and close it. Stored properly, fresh ricotta will last in the freezer for one to three months. Once you thaw your cheese, it is not recommended to refreeze it.
Mold on ricotta can be green, blue, or soft pink. If the ricotta has also turned a yellowish color (instead of its regular creamy white), it's another sign of spoilage. You can also apply the sniff test to ricotta.
Ricotta is available fresh all year round from the supermarket deli section. Store in the fridge in an airtight container and use within two to five days. Packaged ricotta has a higher moisture content. When baking, use fresh ricotta to avoid soggy pastry.
Can you freeze ricotta cheese mixture? Yes! Say you've made a pasta filling with ricotta cheese and other ingredients like Parmesan cheese, eggs and herbs, it is perfectly fine to freeze it. On thawing, excess liquid may need to be drained away but otherwise it will be good.
To freeze cheese, portion, wrap, and pack it in an airtight container before rapidly freezing it. Use it within 6–9 months. Frozen cheese should be thawed in the refrigerator and is best used in cooked dishes.
You can cut mold off hard cheeses and still eat the cheese, but once mold appears on ricotta, throw it away. Some molds produce harmful toxins and the mold spores have likely infiltrated the entire container.
Compared to most cheeses, ricotta is a healthier choice because it contains less salt and fat - 10 per cent fat, of which 6 per cent is saturated. It's light and creamy with a slightly grainy texture and delicate flavour that can be used on its own or in sweet and savoury dishes.
... Red discoloration in fresh Ricotta cheeses was associated with the presence of Serratia marcescens, presumably coming from the milk of a cow with subclinical mastitis (Alberghini, Tallone, & Giaccone, 2010) .
When it comes to storing ricotta, you can use the freezer, but it's important to know that it will compromise the quality of your cheese. While its flavor may endure the freezing process, the texture of ricotta suffers once it has been frozen and thawed, transforming from smooth and creamy to gritty and clumpy.
Because ricotta has a high moisture content, the water in it will become ice once it's frozen, causing the texture to change. As the curds and whey are divided by the ice, the cheese will become more dry and crumbly in texture.
With that said, some cheeses fare better than others with quality after those four hours elapse. Higher moisture cheeses like ricotta, queso blanco, and mascarpone will deteriorate in quality and spoil faster when left on the counter.
As for the freezer, you can store ricotta for up to three months. When it comes time to thaw it, put it in the fridge overnight or until it reaches the right consistency. Whether you choose to store it in the fridge or freezer, you'll need to transfer it to an airtight container (if it didn't already come in one).
Make classic Italian American bakery-style ricotta cookies or cannoli dip with waffle crisps for dessert. Or go the savory route! Smear ricotta on toast and top it with braised butternut squash for a satisfying lunch, or make some tender homemade ricotta gnocchi for dinner.
According to Livestrong, if your ricotta has gone bad, it will change in both appearance and smell. Yes, ricotta doesn't have a terribly distinct smell, especially compared to other cheeses, but once it begins to smell sour, that's a sign it's gone bad.
“Yes, you can freeze ricotta. Fresh mozzarella can be frozen as well. No need to freeze our feta and the hard cheeses such as Atwells Gold (our asiago), Cheddar, and Divine Providence (our Gouda).” You can also freeze milk, eggs and butter.
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