Use It Up! 11 Recipes for Leftover Ricotta (2024)

FAQs

What to do with a lot of ricotta? ›

Freeze unopened, well sealed ricotta cheese in its packaging. However if you don't plan to use the whole lot when thawed, divide into pieces before freezing. Be sure to drain excess liquid and wrap very well in plastic then into a heavy duty zip lock bag or airtight container.

The liquid whey left over from making ricotta is really healthy. Cover and refrigerate it to use in breads, soups, and smoothies instead of milk or water. You can also use it instead of water when cooking pasta or rice. Or, if you're really adventurous, try drinking it plain (you'll make your great-grandma proud).

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.

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.

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.

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.

The sign your ricotta is bad

If the ricotta has gone yellowish or brown, or if there's a layer of water sitting atop the cheese, that's also an indicator that your ricotta has spoiled (so don't just shrug and mix the water back into the cheese!).

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.

Combine ricotta cheese, garlic, 1/4 tsp sea salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper, and pecorino cheese in a bowl. Lay the flatbreads on a baking sheet, and distribute the ricotta mixture evenly on all pizzas. Top with mozzarella cheese, a pinch of black pepper, and a little more of the shredded pecorino.

What can I do with the whey from making ricotta? ›

Soup stock: Whey adds a deep flavor as a base in soups and stews, much like a stock. Replace part of the stock or water in a soup recipe with whey. Bake with it: The acidity of whey has a softening effect on glutenous bread and pizza dough. Some recipes even call for whey in the ingredient list.

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."

Because of textural deterioration, it's no longer ideal for use as a primary ingredient in its raw form, so you'll want to skip slathering it on a piece of toast or serving with fresh fruit. The best way to make the most of ricotta that has been frozen is to cook or bake with it.

The best (and safest) way to thaw ricotta cheese is simply by leaving it in the fridge for several hours, about five to six. If you exceed more than eight hours in the fridge, the texture may deteriorate even further.

In cheeses without added colorant, pink discoloration has been associated with: certain strains of thermophilic lactobacilli and propionic acid bacteria, Maillard reactions, and microbial pigments (e.g., carotenoids and phenolic compounds), which may be responsible for development of pink-brown or dark brown ...

Here's How. With its rich texture and mildly salty and creamy flavor, ricotta cheese is not only a vital part of cannoli and lasagna, but can add a gourmet touch to cheesecakes, omelets, and crêpes.

Even so, frozen and defrosted ricotta should work fine in both sweet and savory baked recipes, like lasagna and cakes. Fresh ricotta can simply be frozen in the original packaging, which is usually a plastic tub. You can also freeze fresh ricotta in a freezer-safe glass glass jar or airtight container.

You can freeze ricotta cheese, but just know that previously frozen ricotta cheese is only going to work for certain recipes. Because ricotta has a high moisture content, the water in it will become ice once it's frozen, causing the texture to change.

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.