Quark is a popular milk product that is often used in all kinds of desserts, cakes or as breakfast. But what if the best-before date (MHD) has been exceeded? How do you tickle a little extra shelf life out of the delicate dairy product?
In the following article I will tell you everything you should know about the shelf life of quark. At the end we also look at quark preparations such as quark dips, quark-oil dough and Co. Stay tuned!
How long does curd keep?
After the best-before date has passed, unopened quark can be kept for another 10-14 days. Opened quark should not be kept for longer than 2-3 days. Homemade quark will keep in the fridge for up to two weeks.
The spice is in the brevity – but the finesse is in the detail. So let’s delve deeper into the topic of quark shelf life.
Who would have thought it: A good first guideline to see how long your quark will keep is to look at the expiry date on the packaging. If the quark is unopened and stored correctly, you can still eat the quark one to two weeks after the expiry date.
Proper storage in this case means that the curd should be kept in the fridge.
So far, so easy. But what about opened quark?
How long can an opened curd keep?
Opened quark will keep in the fridge for up to three days. After that it should be used up at the latest. In addition, when storing it in the refrigerator, you should always make sure that the quark is stored in a sealed container.
Food that has already been opened can also take on the taste of other foods in the refrigerator. And the onion taste in the quark doesn’t taste so delicious anymore. I speak from experience.
But where taste can be transferred, bacteria are of course not far away. Therefore, always remove opened quark from the packaging and store it in an old screw-top jar or container.
How long can expired quark still be kept after the best-before date?
A pack of quark can be kept for at least two weeks after the best-before date. It should be stored in the refrigerator. In addition, this only applies to unopened packaging.
The best-before date is a specified guarantee of quality and only describes the date up to which the packaged food will retain all the desired properties if stored appropriately.
Under no circumstances should you interrupt the cold chain for too long and trust your nose and your taste. Because it is not without reason that the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment warned of mold and thus mycotoxins in quark:
Infested milk and milk products, such as yoghurt and quark, may no longer be consumed.
Therefore, storage at room temperature is of course really problematic and shortens the shelf life enormously.
How long does curd keep at room temperature without refrigeration?
Quark doesn’t even last a day at room temperature. Here, too, it is better to store the quark in the refrigerator, as this will extend its shelf life by a few days.
You may also read : How long does pesto keep? This keeps pesto fresh for a long time
How long does mixed quark keep?
The same principle applies to mixed quark as to open, cracked quark. This should be used up within a few days. In addition, mixed quark should be stored in the refrigerator and kept airtight.
If you’ve gone the extra mile and made your own quark, I have good news for you.
How long does homemade quark keep?
You can also make quark yourself from milk. Stored in an airtight jar in the fridge, it will keep for up to two weeks.
By the way, quark can also be prepared from milk that has already gone sour. This means that valuable food can still be saved and you don’t have to throw anything away.
How long does cottage cheese keep for on the go?
If you want quark to go e.g. For example, if you take it to work, it is important that you put it back in the fridge as soon as you arrive. Otherwise, the same general conditions apply here as with quark, which is stored at room temperature. This only lasts for a few hours.
However, if you transport it in a sealed container and it is not midsummer at the moment, you can also enjoy it unrefrigerated at lunchtime without hesitation.
Tip: To be on the safe side, you can use a thermal mug. This keeps your quark cool and fresh for a long time. Even on warmer days!
How long does lean quark keep?
In contrast to the other types of quark, low-fat quark has the lowest fat content. However, this has no influence on a possible change in durability. Because here the MHD should also be consulted as a first point of reference.
After that, it also applies to low-fat quark that, if stored correctly, it can be eaten unopened well beyond the expiration date. However, opened low-fat quark should be consumed more quickly.
How long does quark from raw milk keep?
In the case of raw milk products, the milk is not pasteurized. Although the shelf life is significantly shorter than with pasteurized milk products, the structure of the milk is not changed with raw milk products. This also shortens the shelf life of the end product to around 5 – 7 days.
So much for the quark – now for storage. Because he has a favorite spot in the fridge.
How do you store cottage cheese?
In general, your quark should always be stored in the refrigerator. A little tip: It’s best to store your quark in the lower compartments of your refrigerator, because that’s where it’s coolest.
If possible, you should pack your quark in a cool bag when transporting it home. This is especially true on hot summer days. If the temperature is too high, milk bacteria can form quickly, which then ensure that the quark loses its shelf life.
Tip: You can also use quark as a buttermilk substitute and use it up faster. Eg as a basis for pan cakes!
How do you recognize fresh quark?
You can recognize fresh quark by its white, radiant appearance. In addition, a flat cover of the packaging indicates that the quark is still fresh.
You can also do a smell test to check if your quark is still fresh. Fresh quark smells slightly sour.
Can curd expire? This is how you recognize bad, expired cottage cheese
After the best-before date has passed, you should carry out a short test or taste test to make sure that the quark is still edible.
I do this as follows:
- First I look at the quark from the outside: Does everything look normal?
- Then I can do a short smell test: Does the quark smell slightly sour?
- Finally, the taste test: Does it taste the same?
If you can answer all the questions with “Yes!”, then you can eat the quark.
What does expired, spoiled cottage cheese taste like?
Expired quark tastes much more bitter than fresh quark. It is also possible that you can already see small mold sprouts on your quark, then it has definitely expired and you should no longer eat it.
Often, however, you cannot see the mold sprouts with the naked eye. Because of this, it is particularly important to do the taste test.
What happens if you ate bad quark?
Expired cottage cheese can cause stomach pain and diarrhea. However, the symptoms should subside on their own after a short time.
However, if you are struggling with vomiting or severe diarrhea afterwards, you should consult a doctor quickly. It could be food poisoning.
How can you preserve curd?
The main way to preserve quark is by following the correct storage of dairy products. They have to be kept cool to ensure shelf life. This means that it is best to take the quark with you in a cool bag when you take it home.
How long does frozen curd keep?
Cottage cheese can be stored in the freezer for up to three months.
You should make sure that you only freeze unopened, packaged quark from the supermarket. You should also place the curd in a can or container that is freezer safe and tightly closed.
It is best to label your container with the current date so that you can keep an eye on the shelf life of the frozen quark.
But what about foods with quark as the main ingredient? Let’s take a closer look at the most famous ones in the next section.
How long does quark keep food? (Top 5 foods)
For the shelf life of foods with quark, the correct storage and the question of whether the product has already been opened or not, or whether it was made by yourself, have an influence on the shelf life.
How long do quark desserts keep?
Prepared quark or quark desserts taste best when freshly prepared. It is possible that after just a few days liquid will separate and the dessert will lose its taste. I would only store quark desserts in the fridge for a day or two.
The quark can also lose its creaminess after a few days of storage, so that unfortunately it is no longer edible. But if you keep the dessert in the fridge for a day or two, always make sure that you close it tightly.
How long do quark dips keep?
Dips will keep in the fridge for a few days. Homemade, cooked dips with quark can be stored in a sealed screw-top jar in the refrigerator for up to a week.
How long can quark-oil dough or pastries keep?
Quark-oil dough or pastries taste best fresh! Otherwise, you can store it in the fridge for a maximum of two days.
You can also freeze quark-oil dough and pastries. It stays there for several months.
How long can quark cakes or quark cakes last?
Quark cake or quark cake can be kept in the fridge for about four days. In order to make the cake last as long as possible, it should be stored in a death knell or a lockable box.
To extend the shelf life of cheesecake, for example, it can also be stored in the freezer.
How long do quark shakes keep?
If you have prepared your quark shakes yourself, then they should be eaten as fresh as possible. It only keeps for a few days in the fridge.
When you buy a quark shake from the supermarket, first look at the BBD. After you have opened the shake, you should also drink it as quickly as possible.
Conclusion: how long does quark keep?
You can safely consume your quark for a few days up to two weeks after the best-before date, as long as it was unopened. Quark that has already been opened should be used up after three days at the latest. In general, always store your quark in the refrigerator, because this is the only way to guarantee a shelf life.
You can recognize spoiled quark by its bitter, changed taste or mold sprouts have already formed.