Can You Eat Burrata When Pregnant?

If you’re an avid cheese lover, just like most of us, then you are probably wondering if you can eat Burrata when pregnant.

I mean, I completely understand your concern because who could ever resist that beautiful, soft, and cream burrata cheese?

So before I dig deeper into this “Can you eat burrata when pregnant topic?”, I would like first to add some basic information regarding this marvelous burrata cheese.

It’s not as “new” as some other types of cheese. It was introduced to us during the 20th century but has become insanely popular on a global level.

What I do know is that it is freshly produced from cow’s milk and that it is incredibly soft cheese.

But does it mean that you can eat burrata cheese when pregnant?

I know that you’ve been dying to find out, which is why I’ll try my best to answer this question gradually. Be patient!

Is It Safe to Consume Burrata During Pregnancy?

So, the question is why are there so many pregnant women who are wondering if they can eat burrata cheese when pregnant?

Well, that’s because there are lots of pros and cons when it comes to soft cheese and hard cheese in general, just like parmesan cheese and mozzarella, for example.

According to health experts, all soft cheese pasteurized and hard pasteurized cheeses that do not have a white coating on the outside and processed cheese spreads can be eaten while pregnant.

So, does it mean that you can eat burrata cheese when pregnant? Is Burrata safe_

Yes, yes, yes. You can eat Burrata when pregnant; however, in order to safely consume it, you must purchase one that is made from pasteurized ingredients.

This particularly refers to the milk.

Is Burrata Cheese Considered Soft Cheese?

Apart from the question “Can you eat burrata when pregnant?” this is another essential question because it is widely known that soft cheeses (like mozzarella too) can potentially be harmful during pregnancy for both pregnant women and their babies.

How come?

Well, that’s because they might contain a harmful bacteria called listeria, and these harmful bacteria cause (potentially) different health issues, including foodborne illness that is detrimental to the baby.

But yes, burrata cheese can be defined as soft cheese, but as I previously mentioned, you can eat Burrata when pregnant if it’s made from pasteurized milk. You have to be careful during pregnancy; you don’t want to get yourself that harmful bacteria.

Bear in mind that the inner part of it has a cream that also must be made from pasteurized milk in order to be safe.

Is Burrata Cheese Pasteurized?

This mouth-watering Italian cheese is typical of Puglia, Italy, where various brands of Burrata cheese are made. If you’ve bought this cheese from this region, you will typically see “Apulia” or “Burrata Pugliese” on the label.

Even though this cheese is originally Italian cheese, this doesn’t instantly mean that you can obtain it only in this country.

But does it mean then that Burrata is pasteurized in every country?

Not necessarily. This decision depends mostly on the manufacturers.

Even in Italy, you can still come across burrata cheese (and mozzarella as well) that isn’t pasteurized.

Therefore, the only thing that you can do is to ask if Burrata is pasteurized when you are ordering/buying it. Let yourself go from thinking is burrata safe, or is any cheese safe, and ask.

That’s the best way to take care of your health and the health of your baby during pregnancy.

If you live in the United States, then consider yourself lucky when it comes to this because, in this country, Burrata must be pasteurized.

Thereby, if you live in the USA and you’re pregnant, then you can eat Burrata during pregnancy. This way, you won’t hurt your baby or your health.

What About Cooked Burrata?

Even though, in the vast majority of cases, Burrata cheese is eaten as an appetizer or in salads. You can consume it in many other different ways.

If you decide to eat Burrata that’s cooked, then I’m giving you the green light because it’s then perfectly safe for your health. In that case, you can use cooked cheese Burrata one hundred percent during pregnancy.

How come?

Well, that’s because this way you’ll destroy all potentially detrimental harmful bacteria, including the infamous listeria.

However, the only downside of cooked cheese Burrata is the fact that it’s not as tasty as fresh one, and that’s the case with most cheeses.

If, by any chance, you have any doubts when it comes to this cheese, you can always cook it just to be one hundred percent sure it’s safe.

Another way you can cheese safe eat it is when it’s smoked; however, don’t forget that even then it must be the one that’s made from pasteurized cream and milk.

Why is that?

Well, that’s because smoking is not as effective as cooking, meaning that it’s not capable of killing all bacteria one hundred percent.

That’s precisely why it’s pivotal to consume Burrata cheese made from pasteurized ingredients to be safe during pregnancy. This applies to other cheeses as well.

How to Safe Eat Cheese Burrata During Pregnancy?

I assume you are probably very relieved now, knowing that you can eat Burrata when pregnant.

But the next question is, how can you eat it that’s safe for both you and your baby during pregnancy?

Don’t worry! There are lots of ways you can use it without worrying that anything bad is going to occur.

Ingredients that Are Pasteurized

Sadly, there are no rules and regulations that force manufacturers to make Burrata cheese from pasteurized milk.

At the end of the day, it’s up to the manufacturers to decide how they are going to make it.

However, what you can do as a responsible person is always to check the label to see if it states that it’s been used pasteurized milk.

If that’s the case, then feel free to treat yourself to one!

UHT Technology

So what do we know about UHT technology?

Namely, it represents ultra-heat treated ingredients, meaning that eating Burrata cheese that’s been made by utilizing UHT technology is one hundred percent safe eat.

By virtue of this technology, every bacteria residing in this wonderful cheese can say goodbye to its life such as listeria and selaginella.

If you were having second thoughts about buying it, now you know that you can if the UHT technology has been used.

This refers to any other cheeses as well.

Burrata That’s Been Made In the United States

Although I previously told you that there are no rules and regulations that force manufacturers to make Burrata that’s pasteurized, luckily, that’s not the case with the USA.

In this country, producers are obligated to make this cheese by using solely pasteurized ingredients.

Even though all of this seems very legit, it still wouldn’t hurt to once again check the label to see what formulation it has before eating Burrata cheese.

Ask the Staff

If you would like to go to the restaurant and order, for instance, a salad that contains fresh Burrata, it would be great if you asked the staff if they employed the UHT technology or disinfected ingredients before eating the dish.

Please do not hesitate to do so. There’s nothing to be scared or ashamed of.

After all, you can simply tell them that you are pregnant and that you have some concerns, and that you want to be one hundred percent sure that nothing is going to hurt you or your growing baby.

I am positively sure that they won’t perceive your question as weird or stupid.

If they do not have the slightest idea if Burrata is made from pasteurized milk or not, just tell them to ask the chef or manager, so you can get a green light when it comes to safe eating Burrata cheese.

Cooked Burrata

Although I know that cooked Burrata is not as delicious as fresh one, you should opt for this one whenever you are not sure if the Burrata you want to safe to eat or not.

If you want to prepare Burrata at home, you should cook it at a high temperature to effectively destroy all bacteria.

What Are the Safest Brands That Make Burrata?

If you don’t want to make any compromises when it comes to this fantastic cheese, and you are determined to acquire it, then you should at least buy brands that are pregnancy-safe.

Below I will give you some excellent suggestions.

However, it’s always welcome to consult your friends and family members as well just to see if they can recommend any burrata brands that taste good and can be consumed by any pregnant woman.

What I managed to uncover is that these brands below are undoubtedly safe for every pregnant lady out there:

1. Di Stefano

2. Lioni

3. Deca & Otto

4. Belgiogioso

5. Gioia

6. Vanata

7. Calabro

All these aforementioned brands are most definitely safe for you because they contain ingredients that are made from pasteurized milk, referring to milk, cream, yogurt, and many others.

How Long Does Burrata Last?

Another question that people tend to ask (not just pregnant women) frequently is precisely this one; hence below, I’ll try to give you some thorough answers.

If It’s Fresh

Just like with every fresh cheese, Burrata, when it is freshly made, doesn’t last for too long. Thereby, it would be advisable to eat it as fast as you can.

Fresh-made Burrata cannot last for more than two days.

Commercially-Made Burrata

If you bought commercially-made Burrata (that’s pregnancy-safe, of course), then make sure to check the expiration date and be sure to eat it until then.

The expiration date varies from one brand to another. However, if you open it then ensure to leave the rest in your fridge so that it stays fresh.

Can you freeze it?

Yes, of course, you can. I’m not sure if it will be as yummy as the one from the fridge, but it can surely be eaten.

Burrata From Delicatessen

Is it safe to eat Burrata when pregnant that’s obtained from a deli? Well, not quite. I mean, it partially is, but only it comes with protective packaging.

Keep in mind that precisely this packaging ensures that no contamination will happen. Just like commercially-made Burrata, this one also has an expiry date.

So pay attention to it, and of course, you can ask the manufacturer if the expiry date is accurate just to be one hundred percent sure.

Is Burrata Healthy for Pregnant Women?

I have some great news! Yes, Burrata is most definitely healthy and offers some fantastic pregnancy benefits. That’s because it’s loaded with calcium which is more than essential during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

Apart from that, it’s also loaded with Vitamin A, along with many other necessary nutrients. This just goes to show that this spectacular cheese is a great choice for both pregnant ladies and the ones who just welcomed their newborns.

However, (I know that I reminded you like hundred times) please, please, please, don’t forget to check the label first.

What to Do if You Accidentally Ate Burrata?

If by any chance, you went out and ordered a salad that contained Burrata (which you didn’t immediately recognize) and you ate it without knowing if it’s pasteurized or not, what are you going to do?

I completely understand you are beating yourself up because of this, but let’s breathe for a second and think.

First and foremost, most Burratas that have been commercially made contain pasteurized ingredients.

That’s especially true if you do not live in Europe (remember when I mentioned the United States?).

Out there (referring to outside Europe) it can be pretty challenging to come across unpasteurized Burrata.

On the other hand, if you’ve been traveling to Italy (or you live there) and you’ve decided to treat yourself to some fresh Burrata (because who could ever resist?),  the chances of consuming unpasteurized cheese are still very slim.

How come?

Well, that’s because most manufacturers tend to use solely pasteurized milk. However, if you’re that scared, then the best thing that you can do is to pay attention to your body.

If you notice that you’ve been having any unusual symptoms, such as pain in your tummy or diarrhea for several days, then please contact your healthcare provider as soon as possible.

And, of course, do not forget to let him or her know that you have eaten cheese from unpasteurized milk.

Even though I firmly believe that the chances of consuming this cheese from unpasteurized milk are extremely slim, it still doesn’t hurt to monitor your body, but trust me when I say it’s highly unlikely that you’ll get sick.

Let Me Share an Awesome Burrata Recipe With You!

Now is the time that all pregnant women will love. I’ll be sharing a delicious recipe that all pregnant women can try out that you can add to your pregnancy diet.

But please, before you purchase Burrata, just be sure it’s pregnant-safe, meaning it’s not made from raw milk because we already determined that unpasteurized dairy products are unsafe for pregnant women.

Therefore, if you’re buying Burrata, Mozzarella, or any other cheese, please check the label to see if you’ll safe eat unpasteurized or pasteurized products.

If it’s pasteurized, then you (and all other pregnant women) can enjoy Burrata or any other dairy products as much as you want. So stay safe!

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Burrata

Now that you’re pregnant, I believe that you are longing to eat something that’s both healthy and flavorful. Well, that’s precisely what this dish is.

It’s ideal for any form of gathering. If you want to have the best flavor in the world, then I suggest taking the cheese from your refrigerator at least one hour before use and putting together all ingredients for the salad.

Since the roast is going to be very warm from roasting, once you pour the cheese, it will melt in an instant.

If you want to simplify this whole process, then you can utilize butternut squash. Oh, and you can also put some pomegranates to jazz things up a little bit.

So, let’s move on to ingredients!

• 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon of paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon of ground pepper, split
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt, split
• 4 cups of cubed butternut squash
• 1 tablespoon of minced shallot
• 1 tablespoon of balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon of pomegranate molasses
• 6 cups of lightly packed baby arugula
• 1 Burrata ball, sliced
• 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme
• 1/4 cup of toasted chopped walnuts
• 1/4 cup of pomegranate seeds (that’s optional)

1. The first thing that you’ll do is preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

2. Mix one tablespoon of cumin, paprika, and oil, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a bowl. Then put the squash, and toss to coat.

Spread all of this on a big-rimmed baking sheet and roast, stirring only once until it becomes soft, which is around 25 to 30 minutes.

3. In the meantime, whisk molasses, shallot, thyme, vinegar, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of pepper, 2 tablespoons of oil, and 1/8 teaspoon of salt in a small bowl.

4. Once the squash is done, put arugula with 2 tablespoons of the vinaigrette and place all these ingredients on a serving platter.

Scatter the squash over the arugula and then top everything with Burrata. Then drizzle the rest (2 tablespoons of dressing) and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds and walnuts.

Conclusion

Pregnant women, just like the rest of us, deserve to eat whatever their heart desires. However, since they are not only responsible for themselves but their growing babies as well, they need to be extra careful.

And that’s precisely the main reason why I decided to write this article. I wanted to show you how you can safely eat this heavenly cheese.

If you have some second doubts about it, feel free to talk to your physician and ask him any questions that concern you.