Can you eat fresh mozzarella after the best-by date?
In this article we are going to answer can you eat fresh mozzarella after the best-by date, what is the expiration date, what is the best-by date, and what happens if you eat fresh mozzarella after the best-by date, and how long does mozzarella last, and how to store mozzarella.
Can you eat fresh mozzarella after the best-by date?
If mozzarella is unopened, it can last up to one week after the best-by date. Once open, mozzarella has a limited life. Mozzarella in the form of string cheese can last longer than fresh mozzarella.
Mozzarella has to be stored correctly so it can last after the best-by date. If it is not stored correctly or has been opened before the best-by date, it should be used as soon as you can.
What is the expiration date?
The expiration date in the product tells the consumer the last day a product is safe to consume. The expiration date is not in all products. It is required on certain products that have a specific nutritional composition that could change after the expiration date.
The expiration date is required in some products such as
- Liquid diets
- Foods sold by a pharmacist
- Meal replacements
- Nutritional supplements
- Infant formula
If a product has passed the expiration date, it should not be consumed.
What is the best-by date?
Best by date or best before date tells the consumer that food is no longer fresh or in the same shape such as texture and taste as when you bought it. It might lose some freshness, taste, aroma, or nutrients but it doesn’t mean that the product has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat.
The safety, freshness, and taste of the products depend on how it has been stored. So, if the product has not been handled correctly, it can lose all its qualities long before the best-by date.
What happens if you eat fresh mozzarella after the best-by date?
If you eat mozzarella cheese after the best-by day there is a risk of food poisoning. If the package is unopened the risk is low but if you have already opened it, the risk is high.
Food poisoning or also called foodborne illness is caused when you eat something that is contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Sometimes you don’t have to ingest the virus or bacteria, it is enough by eating their toxins to have symptoms of food poisoning.
Symptoms might start within an hour of eating contaminated food. Symptoms include
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Diarrhea
- Fever
The whole sickness caused by food poisoning can last one day to several days. Food poisoning is life-threatening to immune-suppressed patients, the elderly, pregnant women, and young children.
The most common contaminants that can cause food poisoning by eating cheese in a bad state are
- Campylobacter: symptoms start from 2 to 5 days
- Clostridium perfringens: symptoms start from 8 to 16 hours
- E.coli: symptoms start from 1 to 8 days
- Listeria: symptoms start from 9 to 48 hours
- Salmonella: symptoms start from 1 to 3 days
How long does mozzarella last?
Mozzarella’s shelf life depends on the presentation you are buying and how it is stored. If you are buying fresh mozzarella cheese, the shelf life is shorter than string mozzarella cheese. All mozzarella cheese has to be refrigerated once you buy it.
According to some experts, fresh mozzarella cheese can last up to one week after the best-by date and mozzarella string cheese or mozzarella with low moisture levels can last up to 6 weeks after the best-by date if stored correctly.
How to store mozzarella?
If mozzarella is unopened, store it in the original package. Once open, you should store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator in a place where the temperature does not fluctuate too much.
If you buy mozzarella with liquid, water, or olive oil, it can last up to 5 days in the refrigerator. Shredded mozzarella or string mozzarella cheese can last up to 6 to 8 weeks in the refrigerator.
If you bought a huge quantity of mozzarella cheese, you can freeze it. You need to wrap it in plastic or aluminum and store it in a plastic bag. It can last up to 6 to 8 months in the freezer but the texture might change a little.
If you need more information, follow this guide on how to store mozzarella cheese.
Other FAQs about Mozzarella that you may be interested in.
Does fresh mozzarella melt in sauce?
Can you eat mozzarella balls when pregnant?
Conclusion
This article answered can you eat fresh mozzarella after the best-by date, what is the expiration date, what is the best-by date, what happens if you eat fresh mozzarella after the best-by date, and how long does mozzarella last, and how to store mozzarella.
Citation
https://ovenvia.com/how-long-does-fresh-mozzarella-last-after-expiration-date/
