What is the storage life for whey?
I've recently begun making cheese at home. In this answer it was suggested to reserve the whey to be used in curries. I've done this, and I have about 3 cups of whey sitting in my refrigerator for two weeks now. It's appearance and odor have not changed.
How long can I expect to keep this stuff around? Does it go bad? I couldn't find anything on StillTasty, my usual resource.
Best Answer
I suspect it depends what kind of cheese the whey came from. Whey has all of the water soluble components of the milk. It loses the casein and fat. How much of the albumin and lactose it loses depends on the cheese. If the milk was heated enough (190F I believe) then the albumin will denature and not be in the whey. If the cheese was acidified with a bacterial inoculation then the bacteria will have converted some of the lactose into lactic acid which will both be in the whey. Riboflavin is water soluble and is what gives the whey that greenish tint.
Either way- most of the nutrients that bacteria like are not in the whey and it is always highly acidic. I have personally kept whey for a couple weeks with no ill effect.
I usually use my whey soon by making ricotta. If the cheese it came from didn't denature the albumin in the milk then you can gently heat the whey until the the albumin precipitates out. A gallon of whole milk makes almost a pound of mozzarella and then a little less than a cup of ricotta. That's a lasagna right there.
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Quick Answer about "What is the storage life for whey?"
Though research suggests that whey protein has a shelf life of 9–19 months, many protein powder manufacturers list an expiration date of 2 years after production, which is likely made possible due to additives that extend shelf life.Does whey really expire?
When it comes to open whey protein, it should last for at least 3 to 6 months after the best-by date. The reason for this is that opening the package increases the chance of the powder accumulating bacteria or moisture. As long as water doesn't get into the powder, it should be safe to consume.What happens if whey expires?
Once the protein's lysine levels begin to deplete, the protein powder begins to decrease in profile, depleting its muscle-building power. An easy way to check if your whey protein has spoiled through Maillard Browning is to give it a taste. If it's losing its flavour or already tastes like cardboard, it's game over.Is it OK to use whey protein after expiration date?
If you are consuming whey protein post-workout then be aware of its shelf life. Consuming it after its expiration could have some serious repercussions for your health. If you are someone who works out regularly, you probably already know the importance of post-workout protein consumption.More answers regarding what is the storage life for whey?
Answer 2
This source suggests that you can keep it for six months in the fridge!
I made paneer yesterday and read somewhere else (can't remember where) that whey will keep for a couple of days. You can freeze whey so that's what I did. And now I read that you can reduce it which will help if you are making lots of cheese.
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