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

FAQs

What to do with a lot of ricotta? ›

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.

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.

Ricotta di pecora or ricotta mista is used in a great variety of sauces and pasta recipes, especially those with vegetables such as eggplant, peppers, zucchini and spinach. It's also ideal for pasta al forno (baked pasta)—as prepared in the central southern regions of Italy—and in torte (pies).

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.

Mold on ricotta can be green, blue, or soft pink. If the ricotta has also turned a yellowish color (instead of its regular creamy white), it's another sign of spoilage. You can also apply the sniff test to ricotta. Ricotta that's fine to eat will either have no odor at all, or it might have a regular milky smell.

Generally speaking, you should think twice about freezing cheese, and doubly so for fresh varieties like cream cheese or ricotta. Ricotta is about 74% water, and when that water transforms into ice, it disrupts the cheese's texture and makes it dry, crumbly, and slightly grainy.

Yes, you can freeze ricotta cheese. But keep in mind that its texture will change as ricotta has a high level of moisture, so it will become grainy or slightly watery upon thawing. You can use it in cooked dishes, like lasagna or cannelloni, where the texture will be less noticeable.

That's why it's important to give yourself as many advantages as you possibly can, especially when it comes to removing excess moisture before and during the cooking process. Epstein explains that if ricotta isn't drained as part of the prep, "the moisture in the ricotta causes the lasagna to fall apart."

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.

Can you eat unopened expired ricotta? ›

Look At the Date

This date is the last date the manufacturer will guarantee the quality of the product and can serve as a guideline for keeping the cheese. Keep in mind that an unopened container of ricotta may stay fresh for two to four weeks, and may be good for a week or two past this date.

Compared to most cheeses, ricotta is a healthier choice because it contains less salt and fat - 10 per cent fat, of which 6 per cent is saturated. It's light and creamy with a slightly grainy texture and delicate flavour that can be used on its own or in sweet and savoury dishes.

In Italian cuisine, ricotta cheese is a popular ingredient in many dishes, but when it's not available, Italians may substitute it with other soft cheeses like mascarpone, stracchino, or crescenza.

Italian-born restaurateur Salvatore Esposito explained to The Post that lasagna was adapted to better suit American taste buds, ultimately simplifying the recipe. Using ricotta, or even cottage cheese, puréed in the food processor was a lot more "American" than carefully laboring over a béchamel sauce.

Commonly, fresh ricotta cheese can be made from cow's milk. However, it can also be made from goat, sheep, and water buffalo milk. Ricotta is made from whey, the liquid left over from the cheese-making process of other cheeses.

Ricotta lovers will be happy to know that ricotta cheese is a healthy food and belongs to the dairy food group. It can be enjoyed every day as part of a balanced diet.

Yes. Pastry chef here... I defrost the ricotta in its container , then you need to put the ricotta in a clean kitchen towel and squeeze the liquid out over the sink, before you use the ricotta in the recipe.

In other words, the cheese doesn't melt. So ricotta falls in the same category as paneer, halloumi, queso blanco and other cheeses that can be heated without melting. This is why ricotta is such a fine choice for lasagna, stuffed shells, ravioli and cheesecake. It heats wonderfully, but doesn't reduce to a pool of goo.

A fine mesh strainer may do the best job of draining thoroughly, but a colander will also work. Line the entire inside surface with cheesecloth, or another fine mesh cloth. Some people have even reported success with two layers of sturdy paper towels. Place the strainer over a bowl.