Cottage cheese is a type of dairy product made by coagulating milk and then draining off the liquid. It is typically mild and smooth, and has a slightly tangy flavor. Here in this article you will know how long does cottage cheese last and how you can notice identify with spoilage signs.
In this quick guide we shall take a look at how long unopened cottage cheese will last, and whether you can trust the sell by date due to various conditions.
So, let’s get to it!
How Long Does Cottage Cheese Actually Last For?
It happens: you are looking through your refrigerator when you notice a container of cottage cheese that hasn’t seen the outside of the fridge since it was brought home from the grocery store.
Whilst that is an exciting find, you may also realize that it is a few days past its ‘use by’ date, or it is close to it.
Maybe even that cheese has been opened but was only used once.
Knowing how long cottage cheese may last can be tricky due to a number of different factors contributing to its freshness and ability to eat it.
For example, you will always find a date written on the packaging which either says ‘sell by’ or ‘best by’.
Both of these indicate that it should still retain some of its quality even after this date, meaning it is safe to eat.
However, it is also impossible to know how long for, so if the cheese has passed this date, you will need to check the food yourself.
There are a number of things that can contribute to how long the cottage cheese will last for however, from where it was stored, whether it is already opened, and also how the package was handled whilst in the supermarket – but not by you.
If the cottage cheese has already been opened, then it will last for around 1 or 2 weeks.
You may see that the use by date is in around three weeks. Even so, you should take into account that it is now open, and it will lose its freshness quicker.
If you open it a couple of days before the use by date, stick to the above method.
Know that it will still last for around a week or two without spoiling. The use by or sell by date is there as a guidance on quality.
Don’t ignore it, but do keep in mind that the cheese will be safe to eat a few weeks after the date if stored correctly and if unopened.
How To Store Cottage Cheese?
Taking care of the cottage cheese is paramount in making sure it lasts long enough to eat without turning bad.
The last thing you want is it to go bad before you have even opened it!
Luckily, it doesn’t take much to store cottage cheese well.
All you need to do is place it into the fridge as quickly as possible once you bring it home from the grocery store. However, do avoid putting it in or by the fridge door.
The temperature isn’t consistent here, so your cheese will suffer in the long run.
The best place to put the cheese is at the back of the fridge where it is coolest. Even better, on the lower shelf.
When you open the cheese, always remove the foil and only use the plastic lid instead.
Lastly, make sure you only ever use something like a clean spoon to remove cheese from the container.
You will want to avoid putting bacteria into the cheese.
How Do You Know If Cottage Cheese Has Turned Bad?
Because of all the factors listed above in this article, it can be difficult to know if cottage cheese has turned bad if it has never been opened.
You don’t need to go by the use by date, as it can stay edible even after this time has passed.
However, there are a few things to look for to make sure the cottage cheese is safe to eat. For example:
Taste And Smell
Sometimes you can’t always tell if food has turned rancid. When this is the case, you will want to give it a smell or a taste – maybe even both!
If it has a smell that isn’t familiar to cottage cheese, then it has probably gone bad.
If the taste is different too, maybe even more sour than usual, then throw it away. It is only a matter of time before mold starts to multiply.
Mold Has Appeared
If you can see a lovely blob of mold coating the cottage cheese, then throw it away.
Whilst you might think you can remove the mold and eat the rest, it isn’t wise to do so.
This is because mold can be hidden away inside the cheese, and it can make you sick.
Instead, if you see mold coating any food, throw it away as it isn’t safe to eat.
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Sometimes the liquid will separate away from the cheese.
This isn’t something to be considered a natural occurrence where you just store it all together like a smoothie and that’s that. No, it means it is time to throw it away.
The cheese will be dry and chunky on top, and it means that it has a high chance of not being good to eat.
Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.
Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.
I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!
Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.