What is the difference between the expiration date and shelf life of ice cream? Standards according to GOST and the nuances of choosing the right treat

What it is?

The safety of buyers is protected by the legislation of the Russian Federation. Back in 1997, a government decree was adopted on mandatory informing the population about the expiration date of certain products. Ice cream is on this list.

• The expiration date determines how long the product can be used in accordance with its intended purpose. After its completion, the use of food products is hazardous to health.
• The shelf life shows the buyer the period during which the product does not lose its consumer properties. If it has expired, then it is not dangerous, the product can be used, but some of its qualities may change.

The expiration date is counted from the date of production of the product!

Can I refreeze ice cream left overnight?

Don't let ice cream sit out of the freezer or refrigerator overnight, no matter how cool the climate!

Bacteria can grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit, and ice cream should not be left at these temperatures for more than 2 hours.

When serving the ice cream , leave it for 2 hours only , then place it back in the freezer if it is not completely defrosted. This also applies to homemade ice cream!

You may be able to refreeze ice cream that has been left in the refrigerator overnight, but you will have to double-check how much it has defrosted by morning.

Ice cream melts fairly quickly at room temperature and does not need to be left overnight for it to completely melt. The mixture of milk, sugar and other liquids in ice cream is an ideal environment for bacteria to grow at higher temperatures.

It's even worse if you scooped the ice cream out of the tub with a less-than-clean spoon. You are introducing bacteria into the ice cream that will continue to multiply!

How long is the shelf life of the product in a waffle cone, etc.?

State standards determine that the shelf life of ice cream depends on its composition and storage conditions. The higher the fat content, the longer the delicacy is stored. For example, ice cream with a fat content of 15 to 20% has the longest shelf life. But any fillers reduce the safe period of the product.

1. The smallest is for low-fat varieties from 6%. The temperature in the refrigerator should not be higher than 20 degrees.
2. The average is no more than 6 months at a temperature of 18 degrees.

As the temperature increases, the period decreases.

Another important factor is the packaging and weight of the product. Ice cream packaged in small cups, cones or briquettes retains its shelf life longer than those placed in large containers.

The lower the storage temperature, the longer the shelf life!

Ice cream shelf life: at what temperature is ice cream stored?

Ice cream storage in production, in public catering establishments or at home is different. The safety of the product depends on many factors, primarily temperature. Many people do not know at what temperature to store ice cream so that it remains tasty and does not acquire harmful properties.

Manufacturers increase the shelf life by including additives that are not always beneficial to health. How to choose high-quality ice cream, what you pay attention to when purchasing, and at what temperature it is stored - you will learn from the article.

How to choose the freshest ice cream

When buying a dairy dessert, pay attention to:

1. Compound. According to the standards, the product consists of milk or cream, natural flavors and stabilizers, butter and eggs. milk - more than 40%.
2. Fat content. It is indicated as a percentage and affects the name. Dairy - up to 7.5%, cream - from 8% to 11.5%, ice cream - from 12% to 20%.
3. Weight. Conscientious manufacturers indicate the mass in grams - this is required by GOST. The weight indicated in milliliters does not correspond to the actual weight.
4. Stabilizers. Allows you to keep your shape. Safe for health: E401, E407, E410, E412, E415, E417, E440, E460, E466, E1404, E1450, gelatin.
5. Appearance. In transparent packaging, pay attention to its color. High-quality ice cream should have a uniform color. Fat content affects the “shades” of white. Real ice cream is pale yellow.
6. Texture. According to the production method, there are hardened and soft ice cream. Stores sell only hardened products. The frozen mass has a dense consistency. If a piece breaks off well from it, then it is of high quality.
7. Form. The deformed product was most likely defrosted. If the shelf life reaches the end, a “shrinking” occurs; the ice cream loses its original shape.

What affects the shelf life of ice cream

The duration of maintenance is affected by the following indicators.

Production technology

Soft ice cream made using a freezer does not have an expiration date. Produced in public catering establishments and at home. Use immediately after preparation. In factories, the product is hardened. It is placed in special freezers with temperatures from -25ºС to -35ºС.

Small volumes are frozen in 40-50 minutes. Large volumes packed in large pieces require a long time. Freezing takes 12 hours. Seasoned products are thick. This increases the duration of the content.

Storage conditions

If they are violated, the period is reduced and the product deteriorates. Only in production are suitable conditions created for storing ice cream. According to GOST, they are stored at wholesale warehouses for no more than five days, in stores - no more than 48 hours.

At what temperature should it be stored at home?

At home, store in the freezer at a temperature not exceeding -18ºС. At higher levels, the permissible period of detention is five days.

If the freezer is equipped with a quick freezing function, and the temperature reaches from -20º to -25ºС, then the duration of storage increases.

Storing Ice Cream in the Refrigerator

Any frozen product in the refrigerator melts. At the same time, the taste of the product changes. The ice cream turns into a liquid mass in 24 hours. Milk and cream will melt in 2-3 hours.

Advice. Storing the dairy dessert in a container with ice increases the shelf life.

How long does ice cream last in the freezer?

The freezer compartment has a maximum temperature of -18ºС. High-quality ice cream for individual consumption without preservatives, manufactured in accordance with GOST, has a shelf life of:

• dairy: with filler - 1 month, without filler - 1.5 months;
• on cream: with filler - 1.5 months, without filler - 2 months;
• ice cream - 60 and 90 days, respectively;
• fruit - 45 days;
• Ice cream cake is stored for 30 to 90 days, depending on the fat content.

What is the shelf life of ice cream according to GOST

According to GOST R52175-2003 “Cream, milk and ice cream. Technical specifications”, storage conditions and shelf life are determined by the manufacturers.

Standards recommend not to exceed the shelf life of more than 180 days at a freezer temperature of –18ºС.

Storing Ice Cream at Room Temperature

Any variety will melt at room temperature in one hour or less. The taste changes and eating dessert is no longer enjoyable.

How to properly store homemade ice cream

Ice cream prepared at home does not last long, since outside of production it is impossible to implement the technology of hardening the product - freezing it to -35ºС.

Dessert based on pasteurized milk is stored for 30 minutes. Prepare it right before use.

If homemade milk is used, the ice cream can be stored in the freezer for up to 14 days.

The nuances of storing ice cream by weight

In production, the weight product is packaged in transport containers - containers, cardboard boxes, metal sleeves. GOST recommends selling ice cream in a short time in order to maintain the original quality of the dessert.

Often the dairy product is prepared in large quantities for the summer. Therefore, the increased storage duration is forced.

Storage conditions for ice cream by weight:

1. Temperature - from -20º to -30ºС.
2. Sterile freezers.
3. not allowed with other products.
4. Comply with storage conditions. Metal sleeves and containers are stored on pallets or racks. When storing in cardboard boxes, take into account its density and prevent their deformation.
5. Transportation is carried out in special refrigerated vehicles with an isothermal body, in refrigerated railway cars. When transporting over long distances, dry ice is used.

How to tell if a product has gone bad

When buying ice cream, pay attention to:

1. In appearance. Crumpled briquettes and cups indicate that the product has been defrosted. When re-frozen, the taste and benefits of the product are lost.
2. Packaging integrity. If it is damaged, there is a risk of harmful substances entering the product. Consequences: taste changes, possible intoxication of the body.
3. Product storage location in the store. Ice cream is kept in separate freezers. Storage with other products is unacceptable.

Signs of spoiled ice cream:

• foreign smell and taste - sour, salty;
• mixed consistency;
• the glaze is covered with a coating;
• ice crystals on the surface.

You should not eat dessert even with one of these signs.

Is it possible to get poisoned by ice cream?

A dairy product can cause intoxication of the body if:

• did not comply with the product conditions;
• manufacturing technology was violated;
• used low-quality raw materials.

Conclusion

The shelf life of ice cream is determined by the manufacturers. It depends on production technology, product composition, maintenance conditions, and packaging. If it is frozen immediately after preparation - it is hardened, then the storage duration increases. Soft ice cream is consumed immediately, so it is made at home or in food places.

The fattier the dairy product, the longer the shelf life. Preservatives increase shelf life, but degrade quality. GOST allows stabilizers that are safe for health. When purchasing, pay attention to the composition, fat content, weight, permitted stabilizers, shape and appearance of the packaging, and storage conditions in the store.

At home, the milk dessert is stored in the freezer or freezer at a temperature of -18ºC.

Storage time at -18 degrees

How to determine the freshness of a product when purchasing and at home?

1. You can most often determine whether a product is spoiled or not by its appearance in the store. If the packaging is wrinkled, the shape has lost its original appearance: the briquette is flattened or, on the contrary, swollen, which means that the ice cream has been defrosted and cooled several times. This should be immediately postponed.
2. Carefully read the information on the packaging: check whether the expiration date has expired and whether the ice cream was stored correctly at the point of sale. A good guarantee of quality will be information that the dessert is made in accordance with GOST.
3. You bought a treat and tried it at home, but the taste is alarming: icy lumps or, on the contrary, small crumbs, and the smell is unpleasant. You shouldn't risk eating this ice cream. Better to throw it away. A white coating on the chocolate glaze indicates that the product is not fresh.

You can return a defective product to the store. Don't hesitate to bring expired ice cream (if you didn't notice it right away). Sellers take such goods immediately and without dissatisfaction, since selling expired goods is a gross violation of the rules.

If you find that the expiration date has not expired, but the ice cream is clearly of poor quality, then you have every right to demand compensation for losses or replacement with a quality product.

If sellers refuse to accept ice cream, write a written complaint detailing the taste defects. It’s good if everything is recorded on a photo or video camera.

How do you know if ice cream has gone bad?

It can be difficult to tell if frozen food has gone bad, but there are a few ways to tell if ice cream has gone bad.

Ice cream that has been left in the freezer for too long will form ice crystals on the surface and take on a very grainy texture. It will also lose its creamy, rich consistency.

You may also smell the ice cream - if it smells bad or tastes strange, throw it away immediately.

Once the ice cream has defrosted a bit, it's easier to smell and taste bad, so if you're unsure, let it soften before smelling or tasting it.

Freezer storage rules

• When placing dessert in your home refrigerator, check if there are any strong-smelling foods nearby: fish, crab sticks, meat. Dairy products absorb foreign odors very quickly. Fruit ice cream may even change color.
• Remember that large packages in plastic containers have a shorter shelf life than cups and cones. It is recommended to place small-packaged ice cream in plastic bags and tie them tightly. This way it will be preserved much better and will not absorb odors.
• Do not allow the ice cream to defrost, since after secondary cooling the dessert completely loses its taste. In addition, a thawed delicacy quickly spoils. You can get food poisoning.
• If you plan to store ice cream in the refrigerator for a long time, place a note in the drawer with information about the date of manufacture (copy it from the packaging). Sorbet does not contain milk, so it can be stored for up to 45 days. “Fruit ice” is stored for the same amount of time.
• If you open a large package, the ice cream should be eaten within two days. Small portions over two to three hours. Remember not to re-freeze!

To maintain their health and buy a fresh product, the buyer first determines when the product he or she has chosen will reach the end of its safe use time. Our experts have prepared materials from which you will learn about the shelf life of dairy and fermented milk products, namely: yogurt, butter, milk powder, condensed milk, sour cream, kefir and cottage cheese.

How to store homemade ice cream

Store-bought ice cream contains stabilizers such as guar gum and xanthan gum, which help maintain a smooth texture. These ingredients make thawing and refreezing less harmful than homemade ice cream. Ice cream often has to travel long distances to get from the manufacturer to the freezer shelf at the grocery store. Not to mention the trip home to the freezer.

Homemade ice cream is usually stabilized only by egg yolk, so it is more likely to suffer when temperatures change.

Be especially careful with homemade ice cream and eat it quickly. It is worth eating your own ice cream within five days to avoid loss of quality.

Store correctly. And be healthy!

Is it possible to eat expired treats?

Expired products must be disposed of at the point of sale. Sometimes irresponsible sellers mark down such goods to prevent economic losses. Don't be tempted to buy cheap, it's dangerous to your health! You can't eat this ice cream!

Ice cream is a very healthy product for both adults and children. Milk contains vitamins, microelements, and easily digestible calcium (what is the shelf life of milk and how to store it correctly?). During the hot season, it helps to quickly cool the body.

If you use the information from this article and pay attention to the expiration dates and storage conditions of ice cream, then the treat will only bring benefits and positive emotions.

If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl+Enter.

Which is correct: “frozen” or “frozen” fish?

A common mistake in writing is confusion between participles and adjectives. A person makes this essentially elementary mistake because he does not think about what part of speech the lexeme is in a sentence. It is simply impossible to attribute one or another lexical unit to one of the two presented parts of speech, due to the fact that their sound is almost the same. The semantic load of the passage in the text depends on this. Just hearing the conjunction can cause confusion and misunderstand the essence of the expression. For example, let's look at: “frozen fish” how to spell it?