When cooking, products that can be called delicacies are often used. One of them is Parmesan cheese. This is an ingredient for delicious Italian pasta and classic Caesar salad. Parmesan is not cheap, so it is important not only to know how to use it correctly, but also how to store it. How to store Parmesan cheese? The question is by no means an idle one, because not all of it is always used during preparation; it’s a pity to waste such an expensive product on familiar sandwiches! Let's look at the basic methods of how to store Parmesan at home and how long this product can be stored.
Special properties of Parmesan
The ripening period of this cheese is quite long - from one to three years, it is during this period that it becomes the desired consistency: grainy and dry. Therefore, this product is not difficult to store and will easily be stored for several months. However, it needs a cool place with moderate humidity. Many sources indicate different times for how long to store Parmesan. However, professional chefs say that if the cheese is cut, it is not advisable for it to sit for a long time. After two weeks it loses its taste and aroma. It's okay if the cheese gets a little moldy after being in the refrigerator for about a week. You just need to cut off the damaged area and this product can be safely eaten. If the cheese floats due to excessively warm temperature, the situation is much worse. This product is best thrown away.
A piece of Parmesan: storage method
If there are a few large pieces of Parmesan left, you can save them until next time as follows:
- Take a piece of gauze or natural cotton fabric. Get it wet. Squeeze firmly so that the material is moist but not wet.
- Wrap the parmesan pieces in the material and wrap the top with foil. The latter is necessary, otherwise the moisture will evaporate and the cheese will become too dry.
- The cheese should be stored in a room with a low temperature; a refrigerator is ideal. You just need to choose a place that is not too cold, the bottom shelf is best.
With this method, the cheese will retain its quality for several months.
How to Store Parmesan in the Refrigerator
There are several secrets on how to store Parmesan in the refrigerator:
- For example, there is no need to store Parmesan in cling film. This product needs air, otherwise it will start to mold.
- As mentioned above, Parmesan should be wrapped in foil to prevent moisture from evaporating. If there is no foil, it is advisable to use other similar materials rather than leaving the cheese in the bag.
- You can pack the cheese in baking parchment, waxed paper, or wrapping paper.
- If Parmesan is covered with mold, then it can be removed; this will not affect the taste of the cheese, but the amount of the product will decrease.
If a cool place is not available, then Parmesan can be “salted”. Pieces of cheese need to be sprinkled with salt. But this method has a flaw: the product loses its taste and becomes overly salty. If there is a lot of cheese and you plan to store it for a long time, then it is better to use the freezer. Parmesan can be stored there for six months.
How to properly store a whole piece
Products are supplied to stores whole and cut, in pieces of 50 g or more. Vacuum packaging limits the influence of external factors, freshness is maintained at room temperature.
Adviсe:
- The towel or gauze is moistened.
- The head of cheese is wrapped and wrapped in foil to retain moisture.
- Store in a cool, dry place, in the refrigerator or basement.
- Freshness lasts from 2 weeks to 3-4 months.
- The cling film protects from external influences, but the products are poorly supplied with oxygen and condensation is created.
Professional ways to store Parmesan
Now cheesemakers supply Parmesan to the market in different forms. Cheese is sold as heads and small pieces from 50 grams. However, you may not immediately find a piece of the mass you need, so the issue of storing the product is still relevant.
If you follow the above rules, Parmesan is quite easy to store in the refrigerator.
Nowadays, vacuum bags are becoming increasingly popular for this purpose. They are used not only by professional chefs, but also by ordinary housewives.
Sometimes you can find Parmesan cheese packaged this way on sale. It is usually packaged in small portions of 20-50 grams. If cheese is purchased in this form, then it should be stored without opening the packaging.
If the package has already been opened, it is better to take out the Parmesan and wrap the pieces in parchment paper. You can also store shredded cheese for salads this way. Simply make a container out of paper in advance, like a bag for seeds, and pour the crushed product into it. In this form, Parmesan is quite suitable for food for two weeks.
How to Store Parmesan in the Refrigerator
It happens that after the celebration there are parts of this cheese left, and a question arises. How can I prevent them from spoiling? How long can Parmesan cheese , cut into pieces, be stored?
- In order to preserve a piece of cheese, it is wrapped in slightly damp gauze or any other cotton fabric.
- To prevent the moisture from evaporating and the cheese from drying out, wrap the fabric on top with foil.
Parmesan cheese can stay fresh in the refrigerator for several weeks as long as it is not too close to the freezer.
There are several rules for storing Parmesan that should be followed to extend the shelf life of this product.
- For example, you should not wrap it in film or keep it in plastic bags. This product requires air access.
- This cheese is wrapped, as already mentioned, in foil and cloth so that it does not become moldy. It is also acceptable to store it in parchment or wrapping paper.
- If it is not possible to keep Parmesan in the refrigerator, cover it with salt and store it in this form. But this method can make the cheese over-salted, and it will lose its unique delicate taste.
- For long-term storage of this product, use a freezer, where it can be safely stored for up to six months.
Useful tips for preserving Parmesan cheese
It is better to store Parmesan not in store packaging, but in parchment paper wrapped on top with foil. This way the cheese retains its taste and smell better.
The storage period should not be exceeded (6-8 months). It is best to write down the date on the package; if you plan to store it for a long time, write the date on paper and attach it to the package with tape, so you will always know by what date a particular piece should be used.
Crushed Parmesan is preserved much worse, so when preparing dishes you should more accurately calculate the amount of product needed. If you still have some grated cheese left, it can easily stay in the refrigerator for a week.
Is it permissible to store Parmesan in the freezer?
Can parmesan be stored in the freezer? This question is very popular. This storage method does not affect the nutritional value of the product, since it has already undergone the necessary processing.
It should be remembered that the cheese can be stored in this way for up to 9 months. Temperature is 15-20 degrees below zero. The cheese should be defrosted gradually, first transferring it to the refrigerator, and after a few hours to room temperature.
It is also worth considering that when storing Parmesan in the freezer, it is better to divide it into small portions, since repeated defrosting and freezing does not improve the quality. This method is very popular among Italian housewives.
You can learn about how to store other types of cheese from this article.
Bottom line
Parmesan is a hard cheese originally produced in the regions of Italy. The product has a dense structure that does not allow it to be cut into even pieces. The aroma and taste of the cheese is amazing in its diversity.
In addition, it has many benefits and has a positive effect on the body. But, despite such an amazing number of positive characteristics, Parmesan has one significant drawback - cost.
In cooking, Parmigiano is used in various recipes: in salads, pizza, along with spaghetti, sauces, served with fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, etc. Parmesan does not leave any cheese lover indifferent!
The cheese is produced in large, round heads with rounded sides. The weight of one cylinder can reach 40 kg, and the size in diameter can be up to 150 cm with a height of 25 cm.
Varieties
In production, there are 3 types of Parmesan, differing from each other in the duration of aging:
- Fresh. The ripening period for such products reaches 36 months.
- Old. The species matures from 36 to 48 months, and only after that it is sent for sale.
- Very old. This type of Parmesan has been on the shelves for 2 to 3, or even all 4 years.
Reference! The longer the cheese matures in storage, the more pronounced its grains and the higher its hardness.
But the ripening period of Parmesan is not limited to 4 years. Some species lie on shelves in storage for up to 10 years before hitting retail shelves.
Taste of Parmigiano
The flavor characteristics and weight of the cylinder can be predicted based on the age of the cheese. For example, the Very Old variety of Parmesan has a saltier flavor but weighs little.
Most experts note that the taste of the variety is complex and rich: it combines fruity notes with a pronounced nutty hue. In addition, the cheese is characterized by a spicy, long-lasting aftertaste and spice. The aroma is deep and spicy.
In addition, the taste qualities of the finished cheese also depend on the season of production: summer batches have a more interesting taste than those prepared in the fall, since in the summer cows have the opportunity to eat fresh herbs, while in the autumn the basis of their diet consists of 75% hay
Composition characteristics
100 grams of Parmesan contains:
- proteins – 36 g;
- fats – 26 g;
- carbohydrates – 3 g.
Parmesan is rich in all kinds of beneficial microelements. It contains the following vitamins and substances:
- vitamin A;
- B vitamins;
- vitamin D;
- vitamin E;
- vitamin K;
- vitamin PP;
- ascorbic acid;
- potassium;
- manganese;
- sulfur;
- sodium.
The product is also rich in zinc, selenium, copper, iron, calcium, magnesium.
Reference! Parmesan cheese is characterized as an extremely low cholesterol product. The energy value of the original cheese is 300-392 kcal per 100 grams. It all depends on the raw materials on the basis of which the cheese was prepared.
In addition, it also contains a trace element such as monosodium glutamate. Yes, many will say that its use negatively affects the functioning of the body. But it is worth understanding that in this case it is not a chemical compound, but a natural one, and, unlike chemistry, it is even beneficial to the body to some extent.
Moreover, Parmesan owes its unique taste to the monosodium glutamate present in it. As for the benefits of this substance, it stimulates the normalization of metabolic processes in the body and activates brain activity.
The fat content of the product is 25-32%, which, in comparison with other varieties, is quite a bit. And in terms of energy value, Parmesan is richer than many of its counterparts. Therefore, this cheese is often included in diets.
Benefits of Parmesan
The benefits of the dairy product in question are especially noticeable in relation to the child’s body and the elderly. This is due to the fact that the product in question contains a huge amount of essential amino acids, calcium, which is responsible for the condition of the skeletal system, phosphorus and other useful components.
Thanks to the high protein content, the hormonal system is balanced and cellular regeneration processes are stimulated. And vitamin A, present in Parmigiano, helps improve vision, skin and teeth.
Cheese is often included in the diet of those who are undergoing recovery from an illness or significant stress - a minimal amount of cholesterol and a whole storehouse of useful microelements make it an indispensable product at the stage of restoring the full functioning of the entire body.
Parmesan is also recommended for women during pregnancy and lactation - it helps restore the level of lost microelements and vitamins in the body. In addition, it has a positive effect on the gastrointestinal tract, helps normalize sleep quality and calm the nervous system.
Harm
Rattan wicker furniture! Wicker furniture for summer cafes, terraces and verandas. Delivery. Large showroom. Call! Find out more
4sis.ruYandex.Direct
As mentioned earlier, Parmesan cheese has a number of properties that have a positive effect on the human body. But like any other dairy product, it is contraindicated for consumption by people with individual hypersensitivity to lactose.
In addition, qualified specialists strongly do not recommend giving this variety to children who have a hereditary predisposition to diabetes. Parmigiano-Reggiano should be consumed with extreme caution by those who suffer from hypertension or have previously had a heart attack. This is due to the presence of sodium in the product, which is very dangerous for this category of people.
In the minimal risk group are people with a history of gastrointestinal diseases, obesity, and chronic migraines. Parmesan is also undesirable immediately after intoxication of the body, since it can provoke a relapse and deterioration of the person’s general condition.
Advice! The daily intake of Parmesan recommended by experts is 40 grams. In such quantities it certainly will not cause harm to the body.
How to store
The shelf life of Parmesan in the refrigerator is 2-3 months. In general, heads are stored for six months from the moment of their production without losing their characteristics. However, this shelf life is only relevant if the product is stored at a temperature not exceeding 8°C.
Many types of cheese can be stored in the freezer without compromising their taste and structure. Is it possible to freeze Parmesan? Most cheese makers store the product this way, since it tolerates freezing perfectly.
In addition, before storing cheese in the refrigerator or freezer, immediately after purchase it must be wrapped in parchment paper, then in foil.
When the product is purchased already grated or fragmented, the period of use of the cheese is reduced to 7 days.
