It is recommended that you keep some string cheese in your refrigerator at all times because it can be used in a variety of ways, including as a snack, for stuffing breads and meats, or even as an accompaniment to wine.
However, you might not consume string cheese as frequently as you do other types of cheese, which must make you wonder how long it is possible for it to remain edible.
Does string cheese go bad? It is possible for string cheese to spoil, particularly if it is not stored appropriately. When stored properly, string cheese has a shelf life of several months in the refrigerator and between six and eight months when frozen. String cheese can go bad in as little as an hour if it is taken out of the refrigerator.
This article will teach you how to properly store string cheese to ensure that it stays fresh for as long as possible, as well as how to determine whether or not the string cheese you have is still edible. You will also find out whether or not eating string cheese that has gone bad can make you sick.
Is it possible for string cheese to go bad?
You may be curious about whether string cheese goes bad and how long it can be stored if, after making some fried cheese sticks for an appetizer, you are left with a half-full package of string cheese and are wondering what to do with it.
Your string cheese, regardless of how many different varieties it contains, will go bad in due time, or much more quickly if it is not stored correctly. String cheese, like the vast majority of cheese varieties and dairy products in general, needs to be stored with care and either in the refrigerator or the freezer.
If you want the string cheese to have the longest possible shelf life, you should not open it until just before you need to use it. The cheese will stay the freshest if it is stored in the original packaging that it came in.
How long is the shelf life of string cheese?
When it is not opened, string cheese has a shelf life that is quite substantial. Although it varies from brand to brand, the shelf life of string cheese that has not been opened can typically be anywhere from several weeks to several months.
However, the cheese is typically edible for at least a week after the best-by or use-by date that is printed on the package. These dates are simply the manufacturer’s estimation of how long the cheese will continue to maintain its best qualities after they have been produced.
Check the cheese to see if it has gone bad, and if there are no indications that it has, you should consider using it even though it may still be good for another week or two. This is provided that you have stored the cheese correctly.
When kept in the freezer, string cheese has a shelf life of between six and eight months. Again, it is generally safe to consume the cheese even after this period of time has passed. Bear in mind, however, that the longer you keep the cheese in the freezer, the more changes it will undergo in terms of both its texture and flavor.
It has been brought to your attention already that string cheese should not be left out at room temperature for more than four hours. If you want to be absolutely certain that there has been no growth of bacteria in your cheese, you can only let it sit out for a maximum of four hours.
On the other hand, if you take the cheese with you to eat it at lunch or on a picnic with your friends, it might be out of the refrigerator for a few more hours than usual.
In such a scenario, the cheese might still be completely safe for consumption, but only if it has not been exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period of time. This is due to the fact that, in contrast to other types of cheese, string cheese that is manufactured commercially typically contains preservatives.
If your string cheese has been sitting at room temperature all day, you should carefully examine it before consuming it. Throw away the cheese instead of putting it in the refrigerator so you can use it at a later time if you don’t eat it. If it has been sitting out for more than four hours, throwing it away is probably the safest course of action anyway.
How to Properly Store Various Types of Cheese
The string cheese should be kept in the refrigerator, regardless of whether or not it has been opened. When it comes to the conditions under which string cheese should be stored, there are three essential guidelines to adhere to.
1. String cheese should always be stored in the refrigerator. The refrigerated section of supermarkets is typically where one can find string cheese.
This indicates that you ought to store it in the refrigerator as soon as you get it back to your house. As we’ve mentioned before, cheese experts recommend not leaving string cheese out at room temperature for more than four hours at a time.
2. If the cheese is not still in its original packaging, place it in an airtight container or bag and store it in the refrigerator. Cheese has a tendency to absorb the odors of the refrigerator. As a result, it is essential to store it in a container that prevents air from escaping.
We advise placing string cheese in a plastic bag and squeezing out as much air as possible before storing it. The cheese will become dry and crumbly if the bag is opened and air is allowed to circulate inside.
String cheese that has not been opened should be kept in its original packaging if the packaging has not been damaged. In the event that you accidentally damage the cheese’s packaging, you should remove it and then store the cheese in a container or bag that is airtight.
3. Do not store the cheese with any other items in the refrigerator. You might feel tempted to gather and store the leftovers from your cheese plate in a single container after you’ve finished eating them all. However, the cheese will develop a different flavor if it is kept in the same refrigerator as foods that have a high proportion of water to their overall composition, such as tomatoes. Therefore, it is wise to always keep them apart from one another.
If you have some string cheese that hasn’t been consumed yet, you can keep it fresh by wrapping it in some food wrap or aluminum foil.
When stored in the refrigerator, does string cheese develop mold?
String cheese, like other dairy products, has a shelf life that is limited regardless of whether or not it is stored in the refrigerator. The refrigerator is the best place to store it, but regardless of where it is stored, the shelf life is limited.
If it is kept in the refrigerator at the appropriate temperature, string cheese can be kept for up to a few days beyond the expiration date that is printed on the packaging. Due to the fact that string cheese is a variety of semi-soft cheese, it spoils more quickly than hard cheeses.
Is it Possible to Freeze String Cheese After It Has Been Opened?
You can make string cheese last longer if you freeze it after opening it because the shelf life of opened string cheese is not very long.
If you prepare the cheese properly before putting it in the freezer, you can minimize the changes that occur to its flavor and texture, and you can extend the amount of time that the cheese can be kept out of the refrigerator by several months.
Be aware that the texture of string cheese may change if it is frozen. It is possible for string cheese to become slightly rubbery after being defrosted; despite the fact that it has a relatively low water content and freezes quite well, it can happen.
It is even possible for the string cheese to develop a slight crumbly texture, although this will vary from brand to brand and variety to variety.
Because of this, when cooking, string cheese should only be used when it has been frozen and then defrosted. It would not be a good idea to consume it as a snack or an appetizer. If you prepare the cheese in hot dishes in which it will melt regardless, you won’t even be able to tell the difference between fresh string cheese and frozen string cheese.
How to Freeze String Cheese
The following is a step-by-step guide that will teach you how to freeze string cheese:
- Put the sticks in a bag that can be frozen. A plastic container is another option for you to consider. On the other hand, the string cheese’s shelf life will be significantly improved if the container or bag it comes in is as airtight as possible. Consequently, making use of a freezer bag is the superior choice.
- Put individual sticks of string cheese that you won’t use all at once into separate freezer bags if you have a large quantity of string cheese that you won’t use all at once. Because of this, the process of defrosting will be much simpler and take much less time.
Squeeze the bag as hard as you can in order to remove as much air as possible. - Be sure the bag is properly sealed before using it. In addition to causing freezer burn, leaving the lid open will cause the cheese to take on the odors of the surrounding environment.
- Place the bag in the freezer after you have written the date on the label.
If you want to freeze a string cheese package that has not been opened, you can add an extra layer of protection by placing it in a bag with a zip-top closure or wrapping it in a layer of food wrap first.
When you’re ready to use frozen string cheese, remove it from the freezer and place it in the refrigerator. Carry out these steps one day before you intend to use whatever it is. It is not recommended to thaw the cheese at room temperature because the texture will shift more noticeably if the temperature is increased or decreased too rapidly.
In addition, it could take some time before the cheese is completely defrosted from being frozen. Additionally, it is not a good idea to keep string cheese at room temperature for an extended period of time.
How Is It Possible to Determine If String Cheese Has Gone Bad?
There are a few clues that can help you identify string cheese that has gone bad, including the following:
- The string cheese should be thrown away if it has taken on an unpleasant smell and no longer has the aroma it had when it was first opened.
- Mold is the most significant warning sign there is. Throw away the string cheese if any of it has spots that are blue or gray in color.
Alterations in Texture Changes in texture are yet another indication that string cheese has gone bad. The texture of string cheese that has reached the point where it should no longer be consumed is slimy. - Changes in flavor Do you not notice any differences in the texture or smell of the cheese, and is there no mold growing on it? Then you should go ahead and try it out for yourself. If there are no discernible alterations to the cheese’s flavor, then it is safe to continue eating.
In light of the foregoing, if you have a package of string cheese for a significantly longer period of time than is recommended, you should throw it away even if it does not appear to have any signs of spoilage.
Is It Possible That Consuming Old Cheese Will Make You Ill?
As was mentioned earlier in this article, string cheese that has not been opened can be consumed up to one to two weeks after its expiration date as long as it does not exhibit any signs of spoilage and will not cause you to become ill.
When it comes to eating string cheese that has gone bad, doing so in large quantities can lead to a variety of unpleasant health effects, such as an upset stomach or a fever.
In contrast, the changes in flavor, smell, and appearance that occur with spoiled string cheese are very noticeable to the consumer. After taking one bite of the cheese, you will probably decide that further consumption is not necessary.
