Can Feta Cheese Go Bad?: Feta cheese adds a nice salty tang flavour to your dishes. You have bought a feta cheese package and used half of it and want to store the remaining for a longer time. Then the question raises is can feta cheese go bad? and how long does it last?
You will start searching for how to store feta cheese to extend its lifetime and signs that feta cheese has gone rancid. You are at the correct place to know the feta cheese facts and safe storage methods.
- Can Feta Cheese Go Bad?
- Storing Feta Cheese
- Signs That Feta Cheese Has Spoiled
- How Long Does Feta Cheese Last?
- Can Feta Cheese Be Frozen?
- Interesting Facts About Feta Cheese
- What happens if you eat bad feta cheese?
- How long does feta cheese last unrefrigerated?
- What color is mold on feta cheese?
Can Feta Cheese Go Bad?
Yes, feta cheese goes bad like any other kind of cheese. The shelf life of feta cheese is different for different types. Freezing cheese will increase the life span and prevent spoilage.
It starts to dry out as it goes rancid. If you find feta cheese products as hard and tasteless, then throw them out. If you have an opened feta cheese in your fridge and you observe any molds on it, then it is not safe to eat that cheese.
On average, brined feta cheese retains its quality for 1 year. While the block of feta cheese for 6 months and crumbled feta cheese for 3 months.
Storing Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is available in two forms i.e crumbled and in blocks. Blocks feta cheese has a longer life span when compared with crumbled feta cheese. If you bought a block of feta cheese that did not in the bringing solution, then you can make it to increase the shelf life.
To make the brine, take 3 cups of cold water and dissolve 1/4th cup of salt in it. Transfer the block of feta cheese you have into a large, sealed container, and add the brine solution so that the cheese is completely covered. Seal the container and store it in the refrigerator. Feta cheese can last for 1 month if you store it in this method.
Freezing feta cheese will last for up to 6 months. After thawing the cheese, its texture and taste may change. So it is recommended in only a few dishes that involve the cooking of cheese.
To thaw feta, place the container in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed cheese should not be frozen and should be consumed within a week.
Also, Check
Ingredients:
Cheese, Water, Milk Solids, Emulsifiers [452(i), 339(iii), 331(iii)], Iodised Salt, Stabilizer (412), Preservatives (200, 235) and Acidity Regulator (260).
(Numbers in Brackets as per International Numbering System)
Contains Milk
Processed Cheese Spread
Nutrition Information
Serving Size: Approx. 20 g (approx. 1 Heaped tbsp)
No. of Servings per pack: About 9
| Approx. values per 100 g | Per Serve | (%) RDA |
| Energy | 262 kcal | 3% |
| Protein | 9 g | |
| Carbohydrate | 3.6 g | |
| of which Total Sugars | 3.6 g | |
| Added Sugars | 0 g | 0% |
| Total Fat | 23.5 g | 7% |
| Saturated Fat | 14 g | 13% |
| Trans Fat | 0.9 g | 9% |
| Cholesterol | 58 mg | |
| Sodium | 1338 mg | 13% |
| Calcium | 260 mg | |
| Phosphorus | 604 mg | |
| Vitamin A | 460 mcg |
Guideline Daily amount of an average adult (based on a 2000 kcal diet)
Signs That Feta Cheese Has Spoiled
Feta cheese quickly dries out in the refrigerator. As it is cheese it should be stored in the fridge safely. Once it becomes dry, hard, and gritty, it is a sign that it has spoiled. In this case, the texture and taste of the cheese also go bad.
The smell is another indicator of feta spoilage. If the cheese smells unpleasant, or sour, then it should not be consumed.
If you can observe any mold on the feta cheese, then discard the cheese. The mold spores can easily spread all over the cheese quickly.
How Long Does Feta Cheese Last?
Feta cheese can be stored in different ways. Crumbled feta lasts for 3 months in the freezer if it is unopened. However, the opened feta cheese will last for 5 days in the fridge.
Once brined cheese is opened, then it will last for 6 months in the freezer. If you buy brined feta cheese from the store and left unopened, then it will last for 6 months in the fridge.
If you buy feta cheese in a wrapped block form, then it will last about 1 month if it is left unopened. Once the package is opened, then you can consume it before a week. It is not recommended to keep your feta cheese in the pantry as it will decrease the shelf life.
| How Long Does Feta Cheese Last? | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Pantry | Fridge | Freezer | |
| Crumpled feta cheese | 6 hours | 1 week | 3 months |
| Opened crumbled feta cheese | 4 hours | 5 days | 2 months |
| Block of feta cheese | 12 hours | 1 month | 6 months |
| Opened block of feta cheese | 8 hours | 1 week | 5 months |
| Brined feta cheese | 2 days | 6 months | 1 year |
| Opened brined feta cheese | 1 day | 1 month | 6 months |
Can Feta Cheese Be Frozen?
Yes, feta cheese can be frozen. By freezing the feta cheese, it will improve its shelf life and minimizes bacteria or mold growth.
If you want to freeze feta cheese, it is best not to use it in the cooking process. Place the feta cheese in an airtight container for freezing it. When you are ready to use your feta cheese, then remove it from the freezer and place it in the fridge overnight.
Interesting Facts About Feta Cheese
The interesting facts about Feta Cheese are listed here:
- Feta is a soft brined white cheese of Greece.
- It is made from sheep milk or goat milk.
- It is used as a table cheese in salads.
- Feta cheese is lower in calories and is a good source of protein, riboflavin, vitamin B12, calcium and phosphorus.
- Feta is commonly produced in blocks and has a slightly grainy texture.
- It is a crumbly aged cheese, with small or no holes, a compact touch, few cuts, and no skin.
FAQs on Do Feta Cheese Go Bad
1. What happens if you eat bad feta cheese?
If you eat bad feta cheese, then it may cause listeria food poison.
2. How long does feta cheese last unrefrigerated?
Crumpled feta cheese will last for 6 hours, a block of feta cheese will last for 12 hours, and brined feta cheese will last for 2 days if not refrigerated.
3. What color is mold on feta cheese?
The mold on feta cheese appears in a white to green color.
In a Nutshell
Finally, feta cheese lasts for about 1 week after opening it. Freezing the feta will increase its shelf life. You can make different varieties of salads and meals with feta cheese. It is an excellent addition to any kitchen. Here provided information about Can Feta Cheese Go Bad, shelf life, storage process, and spoilage signs are helpful for you. Get to know about other dairy products’ spoilage details on our site www.canfoodgobad.com.