Methods to extend the shelf‐life of cottage cheese – a review

Abstract

Under typical refrigeration conditions (4–7 °C), unopened fresh cottage cheese only lasts for approximately 3 weeks unless preservatives are added. The spoilage of cottage cheese during storage is primarily due to the growth of Gram‐negative psychrotrophic bacteria, yeasts and moulds. To extend its shelf‐life, along with a strict sanitation practice throughout the manufacturing process, an appropriate preservation approach is generally applied. Many methods to preserve cottage cheese have been reported. These can be classified into three categories, namely food‐grade chemicals, heat treatment and modified atmosphere packaging. In this review, factors responsible for the spoilage of cottage cheese during storage and the methods to extend its shelf‐life are discussed.