String cheese has become a trendy snack and dairy delight that most people enjoy in their homes. It is more versatile than some other forms of cheese, making it ideal for cheese lovers. However, we don’t want to waste food, so we might wonder whether string cheese goes bad.
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Does String Cheese Go Bad?
Since string cheese contains dairy, it does go bad. Fortunately, you can enjoy a rather prolonged shelf life in string cheese, especially when comparing it to how long other cheeses last. This is an excellent relief for most parents since string cheese has become a very popular addition in children’s lunchboxes and snack bags.
If you want to get the most out of your string cheese, it is crucial that you know how to store it properly since that can give you the best shelf life and good quality cheese.
How Long Does String Cheese Last?
As with most cheese, string cheese can last much longer if it is kept in the refrigerator. Therefore, it is best to keep your string cheese in the fridge regardless of whether it is opened or not.
Although string cheese comes with a recommended consumption date, there is usually some extended shelf life if the string cheese is kept in a sealed container and the fridge.
By doing this, you can add at least three weeks to the date of expiry given by the manufacturer. Of course, this depends mainly on the cheese, so always be sure to check for signs of contamination before enjoying your cheese.
If you have opened your string cheese, there is a decrease in shelf life. Although you still have at least a week to enjoy your opened string cheese, there is a real risk of the string cheese drying out and becoming rather dull.
How Long Does String Cheese Last? |
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| Unopened | 3 weeks past the expiry date |
| Opened | 1 week |
4 Tips to Tell if String Cheese has Gone Bad
Most of us have experienced the disappointment of discovering something forgotten in the back of the fridge. So if you notice string cheese in your fridge that you forgot, and now you aren’t sure whether it is safe for consumption anymore, you should always be sure to check carefully.
Consuming cheese that has gone past its best can carry health risks, so it is vital that we know how to tell if our string cheese has gone bad. Here are four tips to know if string cheese has gone bad:
The cheese shows signs of mold or bacterial contamination
As with most cheeses, any change in color isn’t a good sign. Therefore, if you notice that your string cheese has become darker or green in color, you shouldn’t eat it. In addition, if you see any moldy spots or organic growth on your string cheese, it is best to throw it out.
If you see that your string cheese has become sweaty, oily, or grainy, it has gone past its best. So the best approach with string cheese is to discard it if it appears to look unusual.
Your string cheese smells bad
String cheese has a charming, light cheesy aroma. If you notice that your string cheese has become rather potent and stinky, it is best not to eat it. String cheese will lose its pleasant scent as mold and bacteria contaminate it, so as soon as you notice an off-putting smell, it is best not to consume any of it.
The texture of the cheese has changed
It is usual for string cheese to become grainy and hard as time passes. If you notice that your string cheese breaks or crumbles when touched lightly, it isn’t fresh anymore. Although it might still fit consumption, the texture change will most likely make it unpleasant to eat.
The string cheese tastes rotten
String cheese has a delightful cheesy taste that isn’t overpowering or rancid. Therefore, if you take a bite of your string cheese, only to find that it tastes sour, gross, or unpleasant, it is best not to eat any more of it.
It is essential to examine, smell, and touch your string cheese before tasting it. However, if you notice it looks, smells, or feels different from before, it is best not to do a taste test since even a little bit of contaminated cheese can offer health risks.
3 TIps to Store String Cheese
String cheese is often made of a combination of several soft kinds of cheese like mozzarella. Therefore, string cheese requires the same storing conditions as other soft cheeses. If string cheese is left outside the refrigerator, it will become unfit for consumption in as little as eight hours.
If you and everyone in your family adore string cheese, it is beneficial to know how to store it correctly. By storing your string cheese in the right conditions, you will get to enjoy it for much longer. Here are three tips for keeping your string cheese properly:
Always keep it in the fridge
String cheese won’t keep its quality if you leave it out of the fridge, regardless of how cool the weather is. Therefore, keep your opened and unopened string cheese in the refrigerator.
Of course, string cheese is often carried outside the fridge because it is often packed in a lunch bag. Does this mean it isn’t a good option for your child’s lunch bag? Yes, it is an excellent option for your child’s lunch bag because it is healthy and delicious. However, if your child will keep the string cheese for more than eight hours before eating it, it is best to consider having it as a home snack.
The high dairy content in string cheese makes it a perfect breeding ground for mold and bacteria, but keeping it refrigerated will decrease the risk of contamination.
Store it in an air-tight container
Once you have opened your string cheese, oxygen becomes another factor that needs to be kept in mind. That is why you need to store your string cheese in an air-tight container in the fridge. Alternatively, you can consider using a ziplock bag since it also offers an air-tight environment.
Avoid taking it out of the fridge unnecessarily
String cheese lasts longer if left undisturbed in the fridge, so try to avoid taking it out if you don’t plan to eat it. By removing your string cheese from the refrigerator and allowing it to warm up, you increase the chances of mold or bacterial contamination.
The Risk of Consuming Expired String Cheese
Unfortunately, there are significant risks when it comes to consuming string cheese that has gone past its best. As with other cheeses, there is always the risk of exposing yourself to food-borne illnesses and mold contamination.
If you or your child have consumed expired string cheese, you might experience some discomfort for up to 48 hours. Your symptoms could include excessive sweating, heartburn, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lethargy, a fever, a headache, and abdominal cramping.
If your symptoms haven’t improved after 48 hours, it is best to consult your doctor. It is also vital that you remain hydrated if you are dealing with cheese-related food poisoning, so drink plenty of fluids, including water, sports drinks, or drinks high in electrolytes.
Can You Freeze String Cheese?
The good news is that string cheese can be frozen. In fact, string cheese freezes remarkably well because it has a very low water content. This means that string cheese will retain its stringiness and texture even after being frozen and thawed.
By freezing your string cheese, you can prolong the shelf life of the cheese significantly. However, it would help if you did it correctly, or you run the risk of your string cheese drying out. Always keep opened string cheese in an air-tight container or a ziplock bag to keep it from drying out in your freezer.
If you buy string cheese in bulk, you can consider freezing it in portions so that you don’t have to thaw too much of it at once. By doing this, you allow yourself the opportunity of thawing only the amount you need at a time while keeping the rest frozen for future use.
Frozen string cheese that has been placed in an air-tight container can last up to eight weeks in the freezer. If you are unsure whether your string cheese is still fit for consumption after it has been frozen, you can look for signs of contamination and do a smell test.
Summary
String cheese is a healthy and delicious way to add dairy to a lunch box. That is why so many parents love having string cheese in the house at all times. However, string cheese isn’t only enjoyed by the young.
Most cheese lovers love the versatility and convenience that string cheese offers. That is why it is excellent to know how to store string cheese properly and how to tell whether your string cheese has gone bad.
Resources
- HOW LONG DOES UNOPENED STRING CHEESE LAST?
- Does String Cheese Go Bad? How Long Does String Cheese Last?
- Does String Cheese Go Bad? – Full Analysis
- Does String Cheese Go Bad?
- Does String Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated? Answered (2022)