How to store caviar properly & In what container should it be kept? How much caviar is stored in the refrigerator? Can caviar be frozen? Many modern qrb hosts do not know the answers to these questions. Meanwhile, it is very offensive when spoiled caviar has to be thrown out due to improper storage.
Until recently, I kept red caviar in the same container in which I bought it - iron or plastic jars. Without thinking at all about how to properly store the caviar, I simply put it in the refrigerator and took it out as needed. Sometimes the caviar disappeared, and then it was very pity for the valuable product. When a decent amount of the delicacy once again deteriorated, I decided to learn how to properly store caviar and, I must say, I discovered a lot of new things.
How to choose the right caviar
As it turned out, I was not able not only to store caviar, but also to choose it. There are several characteristics of the "right" product, so if you do not want to run into a fake, artificial caviar or low quality product, it is better to follow simple rules when choosing.
1. If you buy caviar in jars, pay attention to the place and date of production. High-quality caviar is packaged in coastal cities, and the bank must be dated August - it is at this time that spawning takes place. Caviar produced in other months has most likely been frozen already.
2. When buying caviar by weight, take a good look at it. In the depths of the eggs, small dark dots should be visible - fish embryos. If they are not there, then the caviar is artificial. It will not be superfluous to taste the caviar, evaluate its taste, smell and consistency. A good product should be dry: if the jar is turned over, its contents should not fall out.
3. The taste of caviar largely depends on the species of fish from which it was obtained. For example, coho salmon caviar is bitter, while salmon eggs are too small. If you are not a big caviar connoisseur, it is better not to experiment and stay on the classic product obtained from pink salmon.
How to store caviar properly
Now about how to store red caviar. First, I'll tell you how much caviar can be stored in the refrigerator. The shelf life of the product packaged in the usual cans is 1 year. However, after opening, the delicacy quickly deteriorates, literally in a week. Therefore, it is advisable to immediately transfer it to a sterilized glass jar, close the lid tightly and refrigerate. The same should be done with a bulk product.
Ideal if your refrigerator maintains temperatures between -4 and -6 degrees. In such conditions, caviar can be stored for up to six months. If you have an old unit, don't be upset. The following trick can be applied. Place a large bag of ice cubes in a bowl, place a jar of caviar on top of them, and slide the dishes under the freezer - this is the coldest place in most refrigerators. If you change the ice as it melts, caviar will be stored for a very long time.
I'll tell you a little more about how to extend the shelf life of caviar. After you put it in sterile jars, fill the product with any odorless vegetable oil. You can soak a sheet of paper with the same oil and cover the jars with such impromptu lids. This will increase the shelf life of caviar by an order of magnitude.
But keeping caviar in the freezer is not worth it. Although this product lays there for about two years, after defrosting, most of the eggs will burst or stick together, and there is a minimum of useful substances in the defrosted caviar.
