Most of us use dairy products every day, often without giving adequate thought to how we store that delicious milk, butter, cheese or ice cream. Improperly stored dairy products can result in growth of unhealthy and dangerous bacteria. Storing dairy products safely isn't difficult-just follow these steps. Add this to my Recipe Box.
Instructions
1. Put dairy products in the refrigerator within two hours of purchase and freeze ice cream as soon as possible. Although pasteurization controls many bacteria, some bacteria can still grow quickly when dairy products aren't properly stored. Food kept at room temperature for more than two hours should be discarded.
2. Wrap cheese tightly and refrigerate it to keep mold from growing. If you find a small amount of mold on the cheese, trim it off and discard it, removing a minimum of 1/2 inch on each side of the mold. If the mold is extensive, discard the entire block of cheese. If you find mold on soft cheese such as cottage cheese, Brie, cream cheese or feta, discard the entire container.
3. Check the expiration date on the package, and don't keep dairy products longer than recommended.
4. Surround dairy product containers with ice if you're at a picnic or an event where refrigeration isn't available. If the ice melts, replace it.
5. Freeze milk for up to three months if the temperature is kept at 0 degrees F. It's perfectly usable this way, although the texture of the milk will be altered. Be sure to thaw it in the refrigerator, and not on the counter.
6. Store butter in the refrigerator up to two weeks, or wrap it in moisture-safe material and freeze it. It will keep in the freezer for 6 to 9 months if the temperature is kept at 0 degrees F.
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