Can You Freeze Bitter Cream?
When you have an excessive amount of bitter cream or simply wish to lengthen its shelf life, here is what that you must find out about freezing this dairy favourite.
Bitter cream is usually a favourite topper for chili, soups, or burritos. It makes casseroles creamy and wealthy. It provides tang to mashed potatoes. However generally you uncover you may have a complete container and it will attain its expiration date earlier than you should utilize it up. Chances are you’ll be tempted to freeze it in order that it doesn’t go to waste, however is freezing bitter cream a good suggestion? We’ve the solutions.
Is Bitter Cream Protected to Freeze?
Bitter cream is completely secure to freeze, however it gained’t style or really feel fairly the identical as soon as it is defrosted.
Freezing adjustments bitter cream’s texture
“Bitter cream has a comparatively excessive quantity of moisture, and this leads to the formation of ice crystals when frozen,” stated Chad Galer, vp of product analysis and meals security at Dairy Administration, Inc.
Sure, you possibly can attempt to wrap and package deal it very rigorously, however the freezing course of should still result in some huge adjustments within the texture and consistency as a result of these ice crystals. It gained’t be as straightforward to unfold and won’t have that wonderful creamy texture we crave.
“The creamy texture of bitter cream is a unfastened matrix of milk proteins and fats that maintain the water on this matrix. The ice crystals that type disrupt this matrix and end in a really grainy and generally runny texture, typically with free moisture or water ensuing,” stated Galer.
Freezing adjustments bitter cream’s taste, too
You could have to regulate how you utilize bitter cream after defrosting as a result of the freezer keep impacts the meals’s taste. Chances are you’ll not wish to use it anyplace that requires a dollop of recent bitter cream on high—say that chili or to garnish a baked potato. However it may nonetheless be used as an ingredient in cooking or baking. Add it to that dip or cake recipe, and it’ll nonetheless do an ideal job. Plus, thawed bitter cream, even with an altered texture, would nonetheless be nice in soups and stews for added a creamy taste.
How Lengthy Does Thawed Bitter Cream Final
Bitter cream has a fairly lengthy shelf life within the fridge, so one technique to keep away from the selection of freezing it or not is to simply use it up earlier than that you must freeze or toss it.
“Bitter cream shops nicely within the fridge for one to a few weeks. If bitter cream is frozen for some motive, it’s best to make use of it inside 24 hours of thawing,” stated Galer.
How To Freeze Bitter Cream
To freeze bitter cream, place it in an hermetic container, and put it within the freezer. “It ought to last as long as six months. You may as well divide it into smaller parts utilizing silicone molds to make it simpler to portion from frozen,” stated Ingrid McCarthy Chen, meals develop at The Contemporary Market.
How To Inform if Thawed Bitter Cream Is Nonetheless Protected to Eat
After defrosting the bitter cream, don’t refreeze it. Thawing and refreezing is taken into account a food safety risk, due to the opportunity of micro organism contamination.
The underside line is that if in case you have further bitter cream and you might be apprehensive it might go to waste, it’s secure to freeze it. However be ready that the style and texture will change, so that you’ll have to regulate the kind of recipes you might use that frozen bitter cream in.
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