Cheese Kostroma: calorie content, composition, benefit and harm
One of the most popular semi-hard cheeses in our country is Kostroma.This product is found in most stores, produced by various dairy companies, produced under a variety of brands. However, common to all commercial names is the characteristic taste, color, aroma of Kostroma cheese. The quality of the product is governed by GOST 7616-85.
A bit of history
Now it is hard to believe, but the production of cheeses is not considered traditional for our country. Cheese factories appeared in the Russian Empire in the XIX century. Their appearance is associated with the name of Vereshchagin Nikolai Vasilyevich (brother of the famous artist). Being an enlightened man, he decided on the opening of the artisan syrovary in order to give the newly released peasants work and craft.
Kostroma cheese got its name at the place of its appearance: in cheese factories from Kostroma, approximately in the 1870s. To date, the release of Kostroma cheese product reaches industrial proportions in the CIS countries, Estonia and Russia.
Manufacturing technology
To get a tasty and healthy cheese, it is made from high-quality cow's milk, previously pasteurized and normalized. Special lactic acid starters and rennet are used. The technology also provides for double heating of the resulting clot. Then pressing and aging in brine. And, finally, aging, which averages up to 45 days for a given variety, which is a short period.
The finished product has a low cylindrical shape, protruding on the sides. Available in various weight heads: 5-7 kg or 9-12 kg. It is packaged in a plastic film or in a more expensive option - paraffin. In this form, Kostroma cheese goes on sale and to the final buyer.
The popularity of the Kostroma variety is caused not only by its high taste, but also by its wide use in cooking. It goes well with bread, melts easily.
Calorie and BJU
Most people are concerned not only with the taste of food that falls on their table, but also with its nutritional value, calorie content and usefulness. This is a very sound approach to food contributes to the extension of life, provides well-being and health.
Normal Kostroma cheese has 45 percent fat content. As for the caloric content, it is low, and is about 345 kcal per 100 grams of product. BJU index: proteins - 25.2 g, fats - 26.3 g, carbohydrates - 0 g. As you can see, even the classic 45% Kostroma cheese is a light, completely carbohydrate-free product.
However, for people who prefer diet food, Kostroma light cheese is produced, having a low fat content - 9%. Its caloric content is 220 kcal per 100 grams of product. BJU index: proteins - 31.2 g, fats - 7.7 g, carbohydrates - 0 g. This 9% cheese can be safely used if you want to lose weight, lose weight, put yourself in shape.
Benefit and harm
It is known that cheese is a useful and indispensable product for maintaining human health.
Vitamins A, B1, B2, PP, C contained in Kostroma cheese have a positive effect on the functioning of vision, the cardiovascular system.
A high content of calcium has a great effect on the state of the musculoskeletal system. Due to calcium, teeth, bones, nails are strengthened, hair becomes healthy and the skin is cleansed and smoothed.
No less important is the content of trace elements in the cheese:
- magnesium - thanks to him, the state of the heart and vessels is normalized;
- phosphorus - protein synthesis is provided;
- copper, zinc - necessary to maintain a high level of metabolism. I would like to warn that natural cheese in rare cases can cause allergies, so it should be used with caution by people with individual intolerance to lactose, cow's milk.
It is not recommended to uncontrolledly consume even dietary cheese for those who want to lose weight.
Selection and storage rules
In order not to fall for the bait of unscrupulous manufacturers, you should be careful when choosing cheese. Buying cheese in the store, consider the following points.
- Colour. Good Kostroma cheese can be uneven in color - from pale yellow to yellow shades. If the color is even and bright, the probability of using dyes in the formulation increases dramatically.
- Slice. On the cut, this dairy product has a small amount of natural smooth rounded eyes (resulting from the activity of lactic acid bacteria). It is not always possible to get perfect even "holes", but the closer to this - the higher the quality of the cheese.
- Elasticity and density. This type of cheese belongs to semi-solid varieties, so it has a dense structure, although it is quite elastic. A good product does not crumble, bend a slice - it should be easy to bend, not break.
- Taste. The taste of Kostroma cheese familiar to everyone and everyone in the post-Soviet space will be creamy, with a tart spicy tinge. Not too salty, sour. If the taste is clearly sour or too salty, it is better to refuse such a purchase.
- Packaging. Better quality is sealing the cheese in paraffin head. But you shouldn’t focus only on this sign - there are a lot of tasty and decent products that come to stores in plastic packaging.
- Shelf life. Cheese is a perishable food. During long-term storage, its taste deteriorates, the content of useful substances in the composition of the product decreases. Overdue Kostroma may be hazardous to health.
There is such a practice in some retail outlets: small pieces, cut a few days ago, are cut to maintain a marketable appearance: the dried edge is removed, and the remaining piece is sold further, presenting it as fresh. Be careful when buying.
It is well known that cheese should be stored in a cool temperature of 6-8 degrees, otherwise it will quickly deteriorate and will be unsuitable for food. Do not put the cheese in the paper, as it can give it its smell. With the same purpose, you can not just put the product on the shelf of the refrigerator without wrapping it. The best option would be to use a plastic bag.
Use in cooking
The fine combination of lightly salted semi-hard cheese with bread is classic and surprisingly harmonious. Kostroma and suitable for baking - as a filling, together with other types of cheese or separately. You can cover a layer of low-melting Kostroma improvised pizza or other open pastries.
Kostroma cheese is suitable for use in a salad, it is able to improve the taste of even simple, at first glance dishes. It is easy to cut or rub, it will look neat and delicious.
Reviews
Numerous reviews of culinary gourmets allow us to say with certainty - Kostroma is one of the favorite sorts of cheese in our country. It is recommended to use as a cold snack, served in the form of cutting. No less wonderful taste will be obtained when using this cheese in a sandwich with butter.
Negative reviews are hard to come by. They are mainly associated with inattention when buying. In many stores you can find expired products, and buyers often fall for this bait. Of course, such cheese will neither please nor taste.
The best Kostroma cheese will help you choose the next release of the Test Purchase program.