Safe Refrigeration Tips for Dairy Products
It is impossible to find a modern household without a freezer these days, but not everyone is aware of the safety and storage tips for refrigerating food, especially for dairy products. Milk and other dairy products are best used fresh, but they may be preserved for a few days in the refrigerator if stored correctly:
- Milk
One of the most important safety and storage tips for refrigerating food like milk is to store it in the coldest part of the refrigerator. Milk should always be stored below 40°F, and it should never be stored in the door as it is exposed to warm air the most. When needed, you should pour the required amount into a container and return the rest to the refrigerator. Also, avoid pouring leftover milk back into the carton. When frozen, milk can be stored for up to 3 months, and it must be thawed in the refrigerator. - Cheese
Cheese should be stored between 35 and 45°F, and an important safety and storage tip for refrigerating soft cheese is to store it in its original container. However, hard cheese must be wrapped in a layer of parchment paper or wax and then in a layer of plastic wrap to keep it fresh. If mold develops, it should be removed with a 1-inch square around it, and the remaining cheese should not be kept in the same wrapping. - Cream
Understanding the safety and storage tips for refrigerating food like cream is essential to ensure that it stays fresh. Do not mix cream that has been sitting out at room temperature with refrigerated cream. Also, it should be stored in its original packing in temperatures below 40°F. - Butter
Butter should be stored in temperatures below 40°F and must be wrapped in a thin sheet of parchment paper or kept in a dish with a lid. Butter should not be kept in the door of the refrigerator for more than 2 days and should be frozen if it has to be stored for more than 2 weeks. It should be packed in moisture-and-vapor-proof freezer packaging material to keep odors and freezer burn at bay. Additionally, it should be thawed in the refrigerator. - Yogurt
Yogurt can be refrigerated for 7-10 days, but it should not be frozen. - Ice cream
A very important safety and storage tip for refrigerating food like ice cream is to ensure that it is frozen solid and the container is not frosted or sticky when you buy it. Ice cream should be carried from the store to home in an insulated bag. Also, unopened ice cream can be stored for up to 2 months in temperatures below 0°, but the original container should be wrapped in freezer paper if it is to be kept for longer. Once opened, it is better to keep a layer of plastic wrap between the lid and ice cream to minimize freezer burn.
It is also important to remember that different dairy products have varying shelf lives. Milk should be consumed within 1 week, and non-dairy milk substitutes like coconut, almond, or soy milk should be consumed within 10 days. Buttermilk must be consumed within 1-2 weeks, while cheese can be preserved for 3-4 weeks at the most.