How to properly store butter in the refrigerator
Butter easily absorbs all foreign odors. This means that it needs to be isolated from other products. Foil or parchment paper works well for this purpose.
- If the oil is bought by weight, then it must be divided into pieces that are acceptable for each family. What they will be depends on the appetites of family members, the number of eaters, and the culinary abilities of the hostess. After all, a lonely old woman will eat a piece of butter 200 g for two weeks, and a large family who loves sandwiches and porridge will destroy it in three days.
- It should be remembered that butter in parchment paper is stored at 0-6 ° C for about a week without losing its original taste. And the foil extends the shelf life by another ten days. Therefore, a piece of butter is wrapped in paper or foil and sent to the top shelf of the refrigerator - closer to the freezer.
- Nowadays, cling film or plastic bags are commonly used for packaging products. And some housewives boldly wrap butter in them. But this should not be done, since it suffocates in the bag, turns yellow and becomes tasteless.
- If the oil is going to be used in the coming days, then it is put in an oil can. The choice of an oiler also affects the taste of the oil. Porcelain or stainless steel containers are best suited for this purpose. An oiler made of such material is easy to wash, removing the smell. But plastic dishes strongly absorb foreign odors, and the oil is stored in it worse. The exception is high-quality food-grade plastic dishes.
- If the butter is not going to be used for food in the near future, it should be put into the freezer.
Bakery
Bread, cookies, cakes, pies, whatever! Your freezer will handle all of these foods. Freezing is a great way to prepare for a party ahead of time, or to hide excess sweets away. After cooling, wrap each cookie in plastic wrap and fold into a vacuum container. So they can be stored for up to a month. Uncut cakes or brownies can also be wrapped in plastic and placed in the freezer for three months, but you need to defrost them at room temperature... Purchased bread or muffins should be chilled in the refrigerator without opening the package, and then transferred to the freezer, where they can spend up to two months. You can use the microwave for quick defrosting. Alternatively, you can freeze raw dough and then quickly defrost it to bake something.
Is it good or bad?
This product contains 150 fatty acids. Most of them are saturated, they increase the level of cholesterol in the blood, but along with them there are unsaturated acids that remove cholesterol from the body.
As you can see, in nature, everything is balanced, and observing a competent diet, sensibly approaching the inclusion of certain products, including oils, in the diet, you can not be afraid of the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Indeed, how many kilograms of butter do you need to eat to bring yourself to a heart attack?
The issue of maintaining health is complex and its solution does not depend only on the consumption or exclusion of butter from the menu. One should not lose sight of the fact that cholesterol is necessary to maintain normal digestion and the production of sex hormones. Moreover, it should be noted that butter is the record holder for the content of fat-soluble vitamins - A, D, E, K.
Cow oil is shown to children. The vitamins and minerals in it are the building blocks for their hormonal system.
Until the age of forty, oil is only useful in moderation.Without the fats contained in butter, cells are not renewed, and the elasticity of the skin is not maintained.
Observe the measure of consumption and storage conditions, if you create food reserves for future use, choose and use quality products, and they will benefit your health, and this is the main thing for what we eat! Get familiar with the storage conditions for other frequent foods on your table, for example, it will not be superfluous to learn how to store cheese.
How to choose
All-natural, high quality butter has a short shelf life, in contrast to various types of its counterfeit. Counterfeits are made up of vegetable oils and various chemical additives and can be stored for more than 3 months.
- The short shelf life of butter indicates the naturalness of the product. And the longer the period indicated on the package, the more preservatives and vegetable fats such a product contains.
- Products designated by GOST 32261 - 2013 are of high consumer quality, meet all requirements and are absolutely natural. Does not contain vegetable fats and various additives to increase shelf life.
- It so happens that the word GOST is written on the packaging, but there are no numbers nearby. Some manufacturers do this as a publicity stunt. Therefore, before buying such a product, it is necessary to carefully study the composition in order to understand whether it actually corresponds to GOST or not. Natural butter contains cream, milk, buttermilk, ferments and salt. Other chemical additives and vegetable fats in the product indicate that this is most likely a spread.
- The fat percentage of quality products cannot be less than 72.5%, but also not more than 82.5%. Ghee contains the largest amount of fat.
Characteristics of natural butter complying with GOST 52253 - 2004 and GOST 32261 - 2013:
- pleasant creamy taste without foreign aftertaste;
- uniform yellowish color;
- melts quickly when heated;
- in solid form, it should not crumble when cutting;
- releases moisture when pressed.
When buying, remember that a real product cannot have a low cost. For cooking 1 kg. oils use about 20 liters of milk.
If the pack is deformed, it is possible that the product has already been defrosted, and it is undesirable to buy it.
The benefits of butter
A butter sandwich for breakfast is a good start to the day. The oil energizes the whole day, helps to wake up and invigorate the body.
Butter is a unique product. It contains a large amount of vitamin A. To replenish one third of the daily intake of this vitamin, it is enough to eat 50 grams of this product. It is very beneficial for the immune system and vision. In addition to vitamin A, the oil also includes masses of other substances necessary for a person. It contains all the B vitamins, as well as many others. All of these nutrients are essential for the health of teeth, hair, skin and bone growth. Natural butter helps to improve the functioning of the digestive system.
Also, the use of oil in food has a positive effect on the nervous system and reproductive organs. 150 different acids and 40 percent oleic acid are included in this product. Natural oil contains proteins, carbohydrates, iron, calcium, magnesium, and many other useful substances.
In the case when oil is consumed in moderation, then thanks to it the body receives calories, which give the body energy and strength. During the winter, the use of this product is a must. To protect yourself from hypothermia, it is worth eating a small piece of oil in the morning. The renewal of brain cells and nervous tissue occurs precisely at the expense of fats. For children during their growth, this is simply necessary. Otherwise, there may be cases of mental retardation and others.
How to keep butter fresh in the refrigerator for a long time
Butter instantly absorbs the flavors of nearby food. It should not be kept next to meat, fish, aromatic sauces and spices. Protection required. Only in a closed container can the shelf life be prolonged without loss of taste. When opened, the butter will not last more than five days.
In fridge
The shelf life of fresh butter in the refrigerator is affected by the size of the chunk. We do not recommend leaving a small amount for a long time. It is more reasonable to place the main part in the freezer, periodically shift, replenish the stock.
The second point is fat content. At temperatures from +1 to + 5 °, traditional 82.5% oil will remain in the refrigerator for 4-5 weeks. Peasant and amateur species 72.5 and 80%, respectively, up to three weeks. The lower the indicator - the shorter the shelf life.
Step-by-step instructions for storing in the refrigerator:
- Place the oil in a container. Can be wrapped with food foil, parchment.
- Determine the place with the lowest temperature. This is the top or bottom shelf, depending on the location of the freezer.
- Place on refrigerator compartment.
The compartments in the door are categorically unsuitable. Warm air is blown into the creamy product each time it is opened. That's right - place it on the shelf.
Salt and sugar are preservatives. In addition to adding flavor, they prolong freshness, shelf life. Additives in the form of herbs, spices, garlic, mixing with cheese, cream reduces.
In the freezer
Freezing significantly increases the shelf life. So that the creamy product does not lose its original taste and smell, it must be sealed. We recommend using multi-layer packaging. Large briquettes require portioning.
Subtleties of storing butter
How much butter can be stored in a regular freezer depends on the temperature regime. At -14 degrees and below, the shelf life is up to 120 days. With parameters from -3 to -9 degrees up to 75 days.
Freezer storage instructions:
- Divide into portions for single use.
- Individually wrap in parchment, foil, cling film.
- Place the bundles in a container with a lid. The package will do.
- Tie, close.
- Place in the freezer compartment.
Maximum shelf life for freshly made butter. Instances that have stuck on the table or in the refrigerator cannot be fixed by freezing. After thawing, if there are no signs of deterioration, it can be used in baked goods. We recommend making notes with a marker, putting notes in the briquettes.
At room temperature
Natural oil is not stored on the table under room conditions for more than 12 hours. Further, the product must be used. When returning to the refrigerator again, we recommend using it in baked goods and hot dishes within two days. It is dangerous to eat fresh.
Advice to thrifty housewives! Stuck butter can be melted. He is allowed to settle, the fat layer is removed, the water is drained.
Storage periods
You can store fresh frozen berries for 9-12 months. These fruits include: cherries, cranberries, lingonberries. Stored up to 9 months, retaining useful qualities: blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries. The lower the temperature, the longer the harvest lasts. The table shows the relationship between temperature and storage time:
-18 | 12 |
-15 | 8 |
-12 | 6 |
-7 | 3 |
Dry freeze
This method of freezing does not affect the quality of the product. It allows you to evenly freeze the product without losing its original appearance. The freshly harvested crop is stored in containers or plastic bags, which are folded in the freezer. Store under the same temperature conditions as for normal freezing.
Puree and syrups
Berries of irregular shapes and sizes take up a lot of space on shelf in the freezer, so experienced housewives turn them into puree. Crushed fruits are subject to oxidation faster and therefore have a shorter shelf life. It is advisable to store such a product for no more than 8 months.
Lovers of sweet desserts use the time-tested method - they place fresh crops with sugar syrup in the freezer. This consistency does not harden well, so the shelf life in this form of berries is reduced to 6 months.
How to store fresh rosemary properly
Rosemary will retain its unique flavor even when cooked. And its fresh leaves, elastic to the touch, can be stored for a long time. But it is even better to use this herb as soon as it is picked.
If you can't use everything, you can store the spice in the refrigerator. The leaves of this plant should not be washed before storage. This is done later, before use. Next, we will learn how to store rosemary.
The first storage method:
the tips of the branches are cut in the same way as for flowers; in small portions the grass is placed in a container with water; I close the top of the plants with cling film or a bag
Several small holes are made in the film or bag; fresh water is poured several times a week; gently remove moisture from the leaves with a napkin
You can store rosemary in this form for up to a week.
Second way:
- stems with leaves are wrapped in paper or cloth;
- sprinkle water well from a spray bottle onto the spice bag until the paper is completely wet.
- the wet paper roll is placed in a plastic bag and sent to the refrigerator.
Third way:
- wrap rosemary branches in a slightly damp waffle towel;
- then the grass towel is placed in a plastic bag;
- the towel is periodically moistened with water from a spray bottle.
With this storage method, you can enjoy the fresh spice for a month.
This spice is placed in a place of the refrigerator where it is not too cool, for example, on the door. These tips will keep your rosemary fresh for about one month. Further, the leaves may become dark and mold fungi may appear on them. In this case, even if you wash the seasoning, it will still be unusable.
We can say that the optimal storage conditions for this plant are high humidity, and the temperature is not higher than + 5 ° C. Those. the freshness area or refrigerator door fits perfectly. You also need to unfold the bag several times a week and check the branches for darkening and mold. If you remove leaves that have begun to deteriorate, you can keep the spice fresh for up to 4 weeks.
Storing butter
In the store, on the counter you can find salted and unsalted butter. If salt is added, the product is more shelf stable. The shelf life of dessert oil, Yaroslavl oil, tea oil and with food fillers is 30 days at temperatures from + 5 to - 5 degrees. The rest of the species can be stored for 20 days. The shelf life of butter packed in parchment is 10 days. If it is packed in laminated foil - 20 days. Sandwich butter and fillers can be stored for 15 days. Briquettes that have a mass of 15, 20 and 30 grams can lie for 8 days. The shelf life of oil packed in cups and boxes made of polymeric materials is 15 days. Dessert oil can be stored for 20 days, and table and baby oil - 10 days. Factory butter has a shelf life of 3 months in the refrigerator. Homemade butter can be stored there for up to 20 days.
Shelf life of butter in consumer packaging based on GOST 32261-2013 “Butter. Technical conditions ":
Shelf life of butter, days, no more
Traditional
Amateur
Peasant
Packaging in laminated aluminum foil or its substitutes, parchment or its substitutes, polymeric materials, cups and boxes made of polymeric materials with a removable lid, gift and souvenir packaging, net weight from 50 to 1000 g
Temperature (3 ± 2) ° С (mode I)
35 (20)
35 (20)
35 (20)
Temperature minus (6 ± 3) ° С (mode II)
60 (25)
60 (25)
60 (25)
Temperature minus (16 ± 2) ° С (mode III)
120 (30)
120 (30)
120 (30)
Hermetically sealed cups and boxes made of polymeric materials
Temperature (3 ± 2) ° С (mode I)
45
45
45
Temperature minus (6 ± 3) ° С (mode II)
75
75
75
Temperature minus (16 ± 2) ° С (mode III)
120
120
120
Portion packaging in laminated aluminum foil or its substitutes, hermetically sealed cups and boxes made of polymeric materials, net weight from 10 to 50 g
Temperature (3 ± 2) ° С (mode I)
15
15
15
Temperature minus (6 ± 3) ° С (mode II)
30
30
30
Temperature minus (16 ± 2) ° С (mode III)
60
60
60
Note - The shelf life of the oil packed in parchment according to GOST 1341 and Troitsky parchment is indicated in parentheses.
Shelf life of butter in the refrigerator
Store-bought butter is best kept in the refrigerator.
The shelf life of oil in the refrigerator does not exceed 20 days from the date of manufacture.
Shelf life of butter in the freezer
If you want to extend the shelf life of your oil, you can put it in the freezer. The oil can be stored in the freezer for up to a year at temperatures from -18 to -24 ° C.
To freeze / thaw the oil several times, it is better to pre-divide it into several parts and pack each of them separately.
Shelf life of butter at room temperature
At room temperature, the shelf life of the oil can be extended to 2-3 weeks in a very cool and dark place, such as a cellar.
When storing oil at room temperature, it is important that the product is protected from light and sunlight. Under such conditions, the oil will retain its color and beneficial properties. Shelf life of butter in the refrigerator
Shelf life of butter in the refrigerator
20 days
Shelf life of butter in the freezer
60 days
Shelf life of butter at room temperature
14 days
Home - Dairy products
- Shelf life of butter
How to pack for storage?
What the butter is packed in is just as important as the way the product is stored. Both homemade oil and factory oil have approximately the same shelf life, which is precisely determined by the type of packaging and storage location.
When storing a dairy product in the refrigerator at a temperature of 0 to 6 degrees, the following types of packaging should be used:
- Factory packaging. If the factory wrapper is opaque, you can store the butter for the time indicated on the label. You do not need to change the container for an oiler or foil wrapper.
-
Oiler. The oiler can be either a specialized container or an ordinary food container made of opaque plastic. This is the best packaging option for storing butter in a conventional refrigerator.
The oiler must be opaque and also have a tight-fitting lid. This will help protect the product from the negative effects of light rays, as well as protect it from absorbing foreign odors from other products. In such packaging, the oil can be stored for up to 20 days.
- Foil. The product can be stored in foil for 3-4 weeks.
- Parchment paper. It is necessary to wrap the oil block in parchment in several layers (usually 2-3 layers). Under these conditions, the oil will retain its properties in the refrigerator for 1–2 weeks. At the same time, the appearance, taste and safety for consumers are guaranteed.
You can extend the shelf life of a product simply by placing it on the lowest temperature shelf. You cannot put butter in the door, since it is there that the temperature is constantly changing (since the refrigerator is constantly opened and closed).
Important! Do not store the oily product in a plastic bag. Such packaging will reduce the taste of the product and shorten its shelf life.
Cellophane can only be used over recommended packaging (such as parchment or foil).
Shelf life
Enterprises that manufacture such products prescribe on the packaging the permissible shelf life of a particular variety. Within this time period, the safety of all useful qualities of this product is guaranteed.If you are about to treat your guests to a sweet dessert that has not yet expired, you can be sure that it is fit for consumption.
If it turns out that the shelf life of the tiles has already expired, then such a product threatens human health and should be thrown into the trash.
Therefore, you must learn the first and most important rule for yourself: when purchasing chocolate or sweet products containing such a component, read on the packaging about the date until which date it remains valid.
We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the varieties of chocolate have a different shelf life. In this type of product, during manufacturing, a certain amount of fat is added
Here they are exactly what affect the duration of storage. The relationship is inversely proportional: the less fat in the tile, the better and longer it can be stored.
The highest amount of fat is found in white chocolate, which is why its shelf life is minimal. Below we give data on the shelf life of all types of these products in descending order:
- Tiled. Such a product remains valid for a whole year, and in some cases even longer. This product has the longest shelf life.
- Dessert. If there are no other components in this form, it lies without loss of its properties for up to 10 months.
- Dessert with additives. This product contains various fillings and additives. It is recommended to keep it for no more than 90 days.
- Weight chocolate. Sweet chocolate products sold by weight and without packaging can be stored for up to 60 days.
- White chocolate. This variety, as already noted, contains a lot of cocoa butter and, therefore, does not last more than 30 days.
- Chocolate sweets. In their manufacture, fruits and other natural ingredients are used, due to which the storage period is shortened. They can be stored for up to 14 days.
Chocolate factories are allowed to add food preservatives to their products to increase shelf life. The claim that these chemicals are completely harmless is considered controversial. When buying, it is better to prefer chocolate products with a shelf life of up to 180 days.
Basic nuances
Keeping meat is one of the earliest human traditions. Nowadays, a home refrigerator with a freezing function is the best fit for these purposes. Let's figure out how to properly store meat in the freezer, depending on its origin.
Type 1. Red meat
Beef or pork
before freezing
you need to properly prepare:
- Rinse thoroughly under water;
- Divide into portions;
- Arrange the pieces in plastic bags or wrap in parchment;
- Glue a sticker with the date of freezing on the blank.
Now we will properly prepare the meat for freezing, but how much meat is stored in the freezer and at what temperature:
-
-8 to -10 °
C
- 3-4 months
; -
From -10
before 18
°
C
- 4-8 months
; -
-18 to -24 °
C
- 8 months – 1 year
.
The freezer compartment may stop working for various reasons. If only a couple of hours pass, nothing will happen to the products, if more, the shelf life of frozen meat will begin to decrease.
Save the product from sudden temperature changes
can be done in the following ways:
-
Vinegar.
Rub the meat with vinegar, then place in a cold place. This method is effective within 1-2 days;
-
Salt solution
... Dampen a towel with a strong saline solution, wrap the meat and send it to a cold place. This will keep the product for three days; -
Milk
... Transfer the meat to a glass or enamel container and cover with cold milk. So the product will lie for 2-3 days without loss of nutrients;
Type 2. White meat
How much chilled chicken is stored in the refrigerator
? It depends on the temperature in the refrigerator:
-
If the temperature regime is from +2 to +5 °
C
- 3-5 days;
-
If the temperature is at 0 °
C
- 10-12 days.
Now let's see how long you can store chicken in the freezer.
:
-
At temperatures from 0 to -5 °
C
- month;
-
At temperatures from -18 ° to -24 °
C
- up to 12 months.
Also, the shelf life of chicken in the freezer depends on whether it is properly processed. Instructions and rules on how to prepare chicken for freezing
are presented in the table:
Images |
rules |
Rule 1. Do not wash white meat before freezing. |
|
Rule 2. Dry the chicken carcass with a napkin or paper towel, as shown in the photo. |
|
Rule 3. Cut the carcass if necessary. Fold the pieces into bags or containers and indicate the date they were frozen. |
If you notice that the chicken in the freezer begins to "melt"
, try to stop it in one of the suggested ways:
-
Compact the meat in an enamel bowl with a lid
... Place in a cool place - effective 1 day. -
Transfer the product to the salt and pepper marinade
- effectively 3 days;
-
Wrap the carcasses in a vinegar-dampened towel
- effectively 5 days.
View 3. Meat offal
By-products include all edible organs of animals, including minced meat in the form of minced meat. Since the price of these products is much lower than for other types of meat, I stock up on them for future use.
However, by-products spoil quickly, they can lie in the refrigerator for no more than 8 hours. Therefore, it makes sense to transfer them to the freezer.
A table with a list of semi-finished products and offal will tell you how long they can be stored:
Image |
Offal |
Liver. Chicken, pork and beef livers can be stored up to 3 months at -10 ° |
|
Chicken hearts. Expiration date up to 6 months |
|
Ground meat. Stored from 30 days to 3 months, depending on the depth of freezing. |
|
Soup set. Shelf life - 6-7 months |
Type 4. Smoked products
Is it possible to freeze sausage in the freezer, along with sausages and ham? I highly do not recommend doing this - the structure of sausages will change during freezing and defrosting, the product will completely lose its taste and appearance.
It doesn't matter if you bought homemade sausage in a store or made it yourself - the shelf life of such blanks in the freezer will be 2-3 months at a temperature of 0 to -5 ° C.