25+ Recipes to Use up that Tub of Ricotta (2024)

FAQs

Can you freeze a tub of ricotta cheese? ›

If you have an unopened container of ricotta, you can stick the whole thing right in the freezer, but if the package has been opened, you have to transfer the cheese to a new container. Use a clean, airtight container or freezer bag to prevent freezer burn and bacterial contamination.

One key detail to keep in mind is whether the package of ricotta cheese has been opened or not. Unopened ricotta will last about two weeks in the fridge, while opened ricotta will last just a week. As for the freezer, you can store ricotta for up to three months.

You can smear ricotta on toast and then top it with almost anything for an easy meal. Try it with corn and scallions, or pesto and tomatoes, or a fried egg. You can also eat it for dessert: top with strawberries and honey or banana and nutella.

Draining the excess moisture from ricotta is an important step, especially before using it in baked goods. Soggy cheese makes for heavy pie crusts and cakes. To drain properly, place a cheesecloth-lined, fine-mesh strainer over a bowl.

If the container is unopened (and unexpired) you can freeze it in the plastic container that you generally find store-bought ricotta in.

When it comes to storing ricotta, you can use the freezer, but it's important to know that it will compromise the quality of your cheese. While its flavor may endure the freezing process, the texture of ricotta suffers once it has been frozen and thawed, transforming from smooth and creamy to gritty and clumpy.

How can you tell if it has gone bad? As with most things, open it, look at it, smell it. Ricotta will usually develop blue mold as its first sign of spoilage, and on occasion I've seen mold on ricotta “fresh” from the store.

Some sources suggest that ricotta may last up to two weeks, but past that one-week mark you should look for signs of spoilage (more on that in a moment). And if it's been sitting for more than two weeks, throw it away.

Unopened, they typically last for a few weeks to a couple of months past their 'best by' date when refrigerated. Fresh cheeses like cream cheese, ricotta and cottage cheese are highly perishable and usually last only a few weeks past their 'best by' date when stored in the refrigerator.

For extra creamy ricotta, add in an extra egg, a handful of grated parmesan, and a quarter cup of shredded mozzarella. Eggs help prevent the ricotta from drying out and serve to bind the ricotta so it doesn't become runny. One or more eggs are recommended whether you add the other ingredients mentioned here or not.

What do Italians eat ricotta with? ›

In Italy, ricotta is typically eaten as a filling for pasta or cannoli.

A. Obesity and the risk of chronic disease are linked by inflammation. For example, dairy foods might lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but their effect on inflammation is unknown. Ricotta cheese and other dairy products may also help lessen inflammation in some cases.

Adding egg to ricotta cheese helps to bind the cheese for lasagna so that it doesn't ooze out of the casserole when you cut it. Basically, the egg helps all the cheesy goodness stay intact. So what happens if you don't put eggs in your lasagna? It'll just be a bit runnier, but omitting the egg won't affect the taste.

I like adding the sauce because it make the ricotta more flavorful and the liquid from the sauce makes it creamier. You can also add garlic powder, black pepper, fresh basil, or shredded mozzarella cheese for an added boost of flavor. For desserts, there are so many delicious ways to flavor your ricotta.

Ricotta is a fresh cheese, so it doesn't need to be cooked. You could serve it with some fresh fruit or on top of a salad.

Unopened ricotta will last about two weeks in the fridge, while opened ricotta will last just a week. As for the freezer, you can store ricotta for up to three months. When it comes time to thaw it, put it in the fridge overnight or until it reaches the right consistency.

Can you freeze ricotta cheese mixture? Yes! Say you've made a pasta filling with ricotta cheese and other ingredients like Parmesan cheese, eggs and herbs, it is perfectly fine to freeze it. On thawing, excess liquid may need to be drained away but otherwise it will be good.

When it comes to the creamy and cheesy layer, ricotta, cottage cheese, and béchamel fillings can all be frozen, although béchamel varieties tend to weather the freezing process a bit better. Both meat and vegetable lasagnas can be frozen, but be sure to fully cook any meat before assembling and freezing.

Yes you can thaw ricotta cheese in the microwave, it is easier to thaw the harder cheeses such as cheddar or provolone. Softer cheeses like ricotta and brie are soft cheeses which when thawing begin to sweat and melt when defrosted. When thawing cheese iy is preferred to thaw it in the fridge over 3 days.