What happens If you eat expired Kraft Mac and Cheese?

In this article, we will answer the question “What happens If you eat expired Kraft Mac and Cheese?” and discuss how to store Kraft Mac And Cheese and how to know if Kraft Mac and Cheese is spoiled.

What happens If you eat expired Kraft Mac and Cheese?

If you eat expired Kraft Mac and Cheese, it is more likely that you have no negative consequence, unless the product is spoiled. 

Eating expired food is safe, if the food has been stored correctly and presents no signs of spoilage. On the other hand, eating spoiled Kraft Mac and Cheese can bring you a health risk, if the product has spoiled (1,2).

Spoilage can happen through the action of microorganisms, which are present in the food and find favorable conditions to grow, as the food expires. 

It can also happen through the action of intrinsic factors, such as oxidation of lipids and other chemical reactions, which lead to the quality loss and lowering of the nutritional properties of the food (2).

Does Kraft Mac and Cheese go bad?

Yes, Kraft Mac and Cheese can go bad if not stored properly or if it has been contaminated during the production steps, during storage or handling (2,3).

In the case of the dry mix Kraft Mac and Cheese, it can go bad because some microorganisms are able to survive in the form of viable spores in low moisture foods, such as cheese powder, and develop, as soon as the conditions are favorable, that is, as soon as moisture increases (2).

Chemical and enzymatic reactions occur in the food during storage, such as lipid oxidation and protein degradation, leading to the formation of toxic compounds. 

Moisture can increase, causing agglomeration of the cheese mix. In addition, Maillard reactions occur between amino acids and carbohydrates, leading to darkening of the color. All this is able to change the sensory and nutritional properties of the Kraft Mac and Cheese (2,3). 

In the case of cooked Kraft Mac and Cheese, spoilage occurs due to microbial growth, which is favored by the high moisture content of the food, such as Salmonella, Staphylococcus and molds (4). 

Also, similarly to the dry product, chemical and enzymatic reactions lead to the loss of quality and increased rejection of the product, the more the storage time increases.

How to store Kraft Mac And Cheese?

A dry mix of Kraft Mac And Cheese should be stored in a dry, cool and dark place and kept unopened until consumption (8). Keep it in a moisture proof food container made of glass or an oxygen / moisture barrier plastic material.

In the case of cooked Kraft Mac And Cheese, you should place it in an airtight food container and store it for 3 to 5 days in the refrigerator or for 2 to 3 months in the freezer (5,6).

How long does Kraft Mac And Cheese last?

How long Kraft Mac And Cheese lasts depends on many factors, such as if the product is in the dry form or has been cooked, the storage conditions, the ingredients of the product, the hygienic practices of handling and cooking (in the case of the cooked Kraft Mac And Cheese) (2,3,4).

Cooked Kraft Mac And Cheese will last about 3-5 days in the fridge (5). It can be frozen and stored frozen for 2 to 3 months (6), although it is not recommended, due severe texture alterations caused by moisture migration and retrogradation of the starch (4). 

Dry mixes of Mac And Cheese come with a ‘Best-by” date and have a shelf-life of about 9 to 12 months (5). 

How to tell If Kraft Mac And Cheese has gone bad?

To tell if Kraft Mac And Cheese has gone bad, you should be able to identify the possible signs of spoilage in the food, both dry and cooked.

In the case of dry Kraft Mac And Cheese, the indications of spoilage are (2,3,4,7):

  • Generation of off-odors due to lipid oxidation, such as rancid, soapy or musty, earthy
  • Agglomeration (clumping) due to increased moisture
  • Change in the color (darkening) due to Maillard reactions
  • Growth of mold, especially when moisture increases, forming filaments and changing color, texture and odor of the food

In the case of dry Kraft Mac And Cheese, the indications of spoilage are (2,3,4,7):

  • Development of off-odors and off-flavors, such as rancid, sour, acidic
  • Changes in the color 
  • Changes on the texture, loss of firmness
  • Formation of slime, production gas (bloating of the package or container) 
  • Growth of mold, formation of filaments (mycelia) with different colors

Other FAQs about Mac and Cheese which you may be interested in.

Can you cook Mac and Cheese without milk?

Conclusion

In this article, we answered the question “What happens If you eat expired Kraft Mac and Cheese?” and discussed how to store Kraft Mac And Cheese and how to know if Kraft Mac and Cheese is spoiled.

References

  1. Gravely, M. Before You Toss Food, Wait. Check It Out! Food Safety and Inspection Service. USDA. 2022. 
  2. Bourdichon, François, et al. Processing environment monitoring in low moisture food production facilities: Are we looking for the right microorganisms?. Int j food microbiol, 2021, 356, 109351. 
  3. Angiolillo, L., A. Conte, and M. A. Del Nobile. Biotechnological Approach to preserve fresh pasta quality. J food protect, 2017, 80, 2006-2013.
  4. Cook, Frederick K., and Billie L. Johnson. Microbiological spoilage of cereal products. Compendium of the microbiological spoilage of foods and beverages. 2009.
  5. Shelf Life of Food Bank Products. Carnegie Mellon University. 
  6. Raab, Carolyn A., et al. Freezing convenience foods. 2002. Oregon State University. 
  7. Sehrawat, Rachna, et al. Classification of Dried Milk Products. Novel Dairy Processing Technologies. Apple Academic Press, 2018.
  8. Van Laanen, Peggy. Safe home food storage. Texas University. 2008.

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