Cottage cheese can be stored in the freezer. In frozen form, it can last from one to two months; however, refreezing is not recommended, as the milk protein loses its beneficial properties. Only freshly prepared products should be frozen. Experts also advise against freezing cottage cheese masses and curds.
How to properly freeze cottage cheese?
“Cottage cheese can be frozen, and there is a specific technology for this. It is important that the cottage cheese is fresh, packaged, or packaged by you to maintain quality. It is also worth considering that if the cottage cheese has been at room temperature for a long time and then you decide to freeze it, this can lead to a sharp temperature change, which negatively affects both the quality and safety of the product. Therefore, it can be frozen, but under all conditions,” noted technologist Elena YUROVA.
The expert recommends keeping the cottage cheese in the refrigerator for a while before freezing. “First, you need to leave the cottage cheese in the refrigerator for several hours at a temperature from +0 to +6 degrees, and only after that should the packaged cottage cheese be placed in the freezer. In this form, it can be stored, but it should only be thawed once,” emphasizes Yurova.
Which cottage cheese products are better not to freeze?
Cottage cheese retains its nutritional value when frozen; however, it is not recommended to freeze cottage cheese products with high sugar content or its substitutes, preservatives, stabilizers, synthetic flavors, and emulsifiers. “When it comes to cottage cheese, it can be either of a plastic consistency or grainy. Other products, such as pastes, cottage cheese masses, and similar items, are better not to freeze. After thawing, they lose their properties, consistency, and structure,” adds Yurova.
What temperature is needed for freezing?
To freeze cottage cheese, the freezer temperature must be set to no higher than -18 degrees. “For all dairy products, including ice cream and butter, the optimal temperature is considered to be -18 degrees; however, many household freezers can only reach -12 degrees. This is not critical for cottage cheese, but it should be understood that at this temperature, the shelf life will be shorter: the lower the temperature, the longer the product can be stored. Additionally, at lower temperatures, the likelihood of condensation forming, which then freezes as water crystals, decreases. This is undesirable, as it can lead to the formation of bacteria, yeast, and mold,” says Yurova.
How to properly thaw cottage cheese?
By following all conditions, frozen cottage cheese retains its valuable and beneficial properties. It should be thawed just before consumption. For fresh consumption, cottage cheese is thawed on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator for about 12 hours, while for dishes that will undergo subsequent heat treatment, it should be thawed at room temperature for about 3-4 hours.
