How to store churchkhela: 3 ways at home, expiration date

Real Georgian churchkhela, made according to traditional recipes, can remain fresh for a long time. Such a product cannot be called perishable, provided that you are sure of its composition. In this article we will tell you what to look for when choosing how to store churchkhela at home and on the road.

Properly prepared churchkhela can be stored for 3-4 weeks.

Features of storing churchkhela

The cooking recipe influences the choice of methods for storing oriental sweets. If churchkhela is prepared at home according to the classic recipe, then for storage it will be enough to wrap it in natural material and put it in a dry cabinet. This method of preparation is considered the most advantageous in terms of preservation.

In production, the rules for making Georgian dessert are often violated; various surrogates and sugar are added to it. It is preservatives that reduce the shelf life of industrial churchkhela. Having bought a treat in a store, it is recommended to eat it within 7 days, as it cannot be stored longer. You cannot eat dried treats, as there is a possibility of damage to tooth enamel.

How to properly preserve churchkhela:

a natural delicacy dish can be attached to a hook to the ceiling in a ventilated room;
can be stored on a shelf for a short time, without signs of moisture;
Churchkhela can be wrapped in cling film and stored in the refrigerator, but for a short time.

The presence of various additives affects the rapid drying of the Georgian dessert. Preservatives are used to speed up the technological process.

Halva: what is the benefit, is there any harm?

The nutritional value of a product is related to its variety and compliance with storage rules. The most popular sweet in the world contains vitamins (B1, PP, F1 and D), a set of important minerals (potassium, zinc, phosphorus, copper, calcium) and vegetable proteins. Of the polyunsaturated fatty compounds, halva contains linoleic, linolenic and oleic acids, a certain percentage of amino acids and dietary fiber.

Useful qualities

Each type of dessert is useful in its own way; from the total number of useful properties, several main ones can be distinguished:

high-quality fats (30%) act as an antioxidant - protect against high cholesterol;
fatty acids are important in the fight against atherosclerosis, complete protein helps restore physical strength;
dietary fiber activates the functioning of the intestines, and the pistachio variety of sweetness activates the functioning of the liver;
the presence of a high proportion of tocopherol (vitamin E) protects the health of the woman’s reproductive system;
the delicacy with peanuts is famous for its antitumor properties; the nut itself is important for improving memory and protecting the nervous system from stress;
sesame-based halva is rich in vitamin A, which is necessary to strengthen the immune system and visual function;
Sunflower and sesame desserts are important for the skeletal and muscular systems due to their high calcium and vitamin D content.

Harmful properties

In addition to the benefits, the abuse of a tasty product can be harmful - the health of tooth enamel will suffer. Halva is contraindicated for liver and gallbladder diseases, obesity, allergies to nuts or honey. Children under 6 years old are not given treats due to the threat of damaging the gastric mucosa, so that they do not choke on crumbs.

For adult gourmets, a safe portion is considered to be no more than 30 g of halva at a time, but not on an empty stomach. The harm of dessert increases due to the introduction of artificial additives and GMOs into its composition.

Therefore, when choosing halvicha packaging in the supermarket, pay attention to the label on additives, not forgetting the expiration date

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For a variety of flavors, juices from pomegranate, apricot, apple and other fruits are used.

Churchkhela is a patented Georgian delicacy that is always popular among tourists visiting the resorts of southern Russia or the Transcaucasian countries; it can also be purchased in private grocery stores with an ethnic twist.

Classic churchkhela, like all food products, has a limited shelf life. We’ll talk about the shelf life of churchkhela in the article.

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Factors that affect shelf life

The famous delicacy, made using traditional technology, cannot be classified as a food product that quickly spoils.

Factors influencing the safety of the delicacy:

quality of raw materials used;
accuracy of adherence to manufacturing technology;
rules for drying the product;
conditions of storage and transportation over long distances.

A classic traditional dessert is stored for a shorter time, depending on how correctly the preparation technology is followed and whether the product was transported correctly. Each of us should know that even if all the rules are followed, the shelf life of churchkhela is no longer than 30 days.

What is churchkhela

The main ingredients from which sujuk is made are nuts strung on a string and thickened juices. Most often grape, but sometimes pomegranate. Calorie content depends on the type of nuts - they use hazel, hazelnuts, walnuts, and sometimes almonds or apricot kernels. On average, the energy value is 400 kcal per 100 g.

This delicacy is not only tasty, but also healthy. It contains a high amount of nutrients necessary for the stable functioning of the body:

protein - up to 25%;
potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium - 2 times more than in fresh grapes;
sugars - glucose and fructose;
organic acids - up to 1%;
antioxidants.

How to extend shelf life at home

For long-term storage, use a refrigerator or cellar. The sweetness must first be wrapped in parchment. Before storing, the oriental delicacy is dried on a bedside table at room temperature for 6-8 days. During the drying process, the delicacy is covered with gauze to prevent various insects from accessing the churchkhela.

In this way, it will be possible to prevent the growth of bacteria and microorganisms on the upper layer.

Sweets prepared in the kitchen have a shelf life of up to 45 days. Then it gradually begins to deteriorate: the flour crust crumbles and mold can form on the surface. When storing, it is recommended to check your supplies frequently and then repack them to ensure they last until the right time.

Rules for storing in the cellar: each sweet must be wrapped in gauze or thin material and hung in a cool, dry place. Shelf life in the cellar is up to 2 months. If the top layer begins to dry out, the churchkhela will spoil. Do not store the product in a damp, dark room. Berry juice and flour will soon harden, and buyers will simply “break their teeth” on such a stick.

How to choose the right one

For longer preservation of the product, you need to know the nuances of choosing churchkhela:

When purchasing, it is recommended to touch the protruding thread. If it behaves like rubber when bent, oriental sweets will have a similar taste.
If grains of sugar are noticed on the top layer, this means that the technology was violated during the cooking process. Therefore, it is better to avoid such sweetness.
Cracks on the surface of the product indicate that the product contains an increased amount of flour.

Freshly prepared churchkhela is an ideal option for purchase. You can dry it for storage yourself. A quality product, when broken into pieces, should have a soft inner part, and the top layer should be in the form of a dried crust.

Secrets of choosing fresh delicacies

Churchkhela is prepared using classical technology during the harvest of ripe grapes; the vitamin product prepared at this time can be easily preserved until the next harvest (year). However, the traditional recipe for sweets has undergone changes over time. The famous dish is now prepared from various types of nuts (almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts), even pumpkin seeds.

To preserve churchkhela brought from southern countries, you need to purchase only fresh goods, adhering to the selection rules:

You cannot buy nut sweets whose top layer is covered with sugar grains. Such a product was prepared in violation of cooking technology.
If the dessert contains excess flour and sugar, the shell of the delicacy will be covered with cracks. Such a treat cannot be delivered to your place of residence.
Before you buy churchkhela, try it. The consistency of the sweet should not be “rubbery”, and when chewing you will feel the taste of fresh nuts.

If you want to treat your friends and family, you will have to store the churchkhela at home, so when buying, check its quality by bending it with your hands. A quality product has moderate hardness - a soft interior under a dense crust. A free-bending nut stick probably contains extra ingredients.

Violations of manufacturing, drying and transportation technology will lead to the fact that the Georgian treat will begin to dry out or become covered with a layer of mold during transportation.

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Storage methods

Different storage methods have significant differences. You need to know how to preserve the purchased sweets in order to bring them home and treat your relatives.

In a refrigerator

The shelf life of churchkhela in the refrigerator is very short, so you should not use this unit. The fact is that according to GOST, storage is possible only in a dry room with sufficient ventilation. There is no ventilation inside the refrigerator, the temperature is below the specified norm, and therefore the shelf life is short. Under such conditions, the product will dry quickly and absorb foreign odors. It is prohibited to store churchkhela with flour products. If there are bugs in the cereal, they will not miss the opportunity to try the oriental delicacy.

Without refrigerator

Everything is very clear with the refrigerator, but how to ensure safety without using the unit? If the rules are followed, the product does not lose its taste for a month. And only after this time the crust begins to dry out a little. The counterfeit product should be consumed within 7 days after purchase. All information about shelf life is indicated on the packaging, so it is important to read the instructions.

Attention! Some manufacturers want to cheat and indicate the shelf life of churchkhela - six months. The product cannot be stored for so many months, especially since this figure does not meet the described standards.

On the road

The shelf life is influenced not only by the right choice, but also by the ability to pack the product in order to deliver it to its destination and please loved ones.

Transportation rules:

During a long journey, only dried delicacies are well preserved. It is better to transport it in a clay container or wrap it in natural fabric. On the way, you should not allow the sun’s rays to fall on the churchkhela. Exposure to ultraviolet radiation and hot air causes the treats to dry out quickly.
Shipping oriental sweets is only possible with a reliable transport company. It is important to find out the planned delivery times, since the product cannot be left in a closed container for a long time. In addition, at this time the storage humidity and temperature conditions may change. In this case, relatives will receive a moldy product and will not be happy with such a gift.

Attention! You should not buy sweets that have been exposed to rain, as mold will soon form on the top layer of the churchkhela.

Correct transportation

This product should be transported in a cooler bag. If you place it in a paper bag or a closed ceramic container, it will not deteriorate within 40 - 60 days. Those. during the entire permissible storage period.

If you are planning a long move, then:

the sweetness is pre-dried well,
then wrapped in dry natural fabric,
after which it is placed in a clay vessel.

In this form, nothing will happen to her for 30 days. Even without a cooler bag.

If the temperature inside the container does not exceed +20°С -+22°С, churchkhela can move in it over a long distance without loss of quality.

But it is strictly forbidden to transport this product in a plastic bag.

Signs of damage

The delicacy becomes unfit for consumption if:

the sweetness began to crumble;
the surface is speckled with a white coating;
the crust is completely softened, the surface is moist.

Common Mistakes

Even if the technology for drying the product is followed, the oriental delicacy may dry out prematurely. What to do with the product to return it to its original appearance?

To return the product to its original appearance, it is recommended:

put it in water;
hold over steam;
wrap in plastic and microwave for a couple of seconds.

Any of the resuscitation methods is available and effective, but it is no longer possible to store the updated product. Sometimes it is not possible to soften the product because there is too little liquid left in the treat.