The cheese known as parmesan is not only tasty but also has a wide variety of applications. You want to be sure that it’s not going to make you sick before you put it in your pasta, mash it into your potatoes, or sprinkle it on your pizza, so you can do any of those things with confidence.
Does parmesan cheese expire? Although there is a point at which parmesan cheese becomes bad, this moment often does not arrive for a very long time. If it hasn’t been opened, parmesan may keep quite fresh for up to a year after being purchased. In general, parmesan that has been opened will keep for approximately three months before it starts to lose its freshness, although it may still be consumed safely for much longer than that.
For the remainder of this piece, you are going to learn all there is to know about parmesan cheese, including how to determine whether or not it has gone bad, so that you can simply enjoy your parmesan without having to worry about the cheese’s quality.
Contents
How Should You Store Parmesan to Keep It Fresh?
It is recommended that you keep parmesan cheese in the refrigerator so that you may get the most out of it. It doesn’t matter whether the parmesan is grated or in a block form; keeping it in the refrigerator will ensure that it stays as fresh as possible and will extend its shelf life. It is possible to store the cheese in the container in which it was purchased, in an airtight container, wrapped in aluminum foil or parchment paper, or maintained in its original packaging if it is a block.
Even while it is feasible to store your block of parmesan at room temperature, the cheese will only be edible for around two to four weeks at the most. If you want to store the parmesan in the refrigerator instead, it will remain edible for about one year. Because the cool temperature of the refrigerator will slow down the development of germs, placing parmesan in the refrigerator is advantageous. This is one of the reasons why putting parmesan in the refrigerator is so good.
The difference between block parmesan and grated parmesan is that grated parmesan has been treated and hence does not deteriorate as quickly. You may keep grated parmesan that has not been opened at room temperature for approximately a year without worrying about it going bad.
However, the refrigerator is still the ideal place to keep parmesan if you want it to keep its beautiful fresh freshness for as long as possible (or if it has already been opened).
If you don’t have a refrigerator to put the cheese in or you simply don’t like the idea of storing it in the refrigerator for any reason, be sure to store it in a dry and cold location. When keeping parmesan at room temperature, it is crucial to keep it properly packed so that bacteria has a harder time getting in and developing. This is true regardless of whether the parmesan is in the form of a block or grated.
How Do You Know If Parmesan Has Gone Bad?
It is essential to seek for indicators that will help you determine whether or not your parmesan is of high quality, and fortunately, doing so is not too complicated.
Examining the cheese for mold or discoloration, inhaling its aroma, and feeling its texture are the three most reliable ways to determine whether or not your parmesan has gone bad. It is likely that the cheese has gone bad if it has changed color, if it has mold on it, or if it feels different than it should.
If the only clue that your block of parmesan cheese is going bad is that it has mold on it, you may just chop off the moldy place and eat the remainder of the cheese. Mold is the only indicator that it is going bad. Since mold has not spread to any of the other sections, it is reasonable to assume that they are safe to consume. On the other hand, you should not use grated parmesan that has mold on it since it should be thrown away.
The inside of a block of parmesan will have a darker “rind” than the rest of the cheese, which will often be white or a light beige color. If any additional sections of your cheese go black or yellow, this is an indication that the cheese is going bad, and it’s probably a good idea to throw it away since it won’t be edible for much longer.
If your cheese smells different than it normally does, there is still another indicator that it has gone bad. If the scent of your parmesan is unpleasant and sour, it is certainly over its expiration date.
Last but not least, when grated parmesan has gone bad, its texture often shifts. If the grated parmesan you have seems moist or mushy, you should get rid of it as soon as possible.
Will Expired Parmesan Make You Sick?
In the vast majority of instances, consuming spoiled parmesan will not make you sick. The food will undoubtedly have a revolting flavor, and you won’t feel inclined to keep chowing down on it; nonetheless, this is about the only thing that will occur. Even while being ill from parmesan is conceivable, particularly if you consume moldy patches, the likelihood of becoming sick from parmesan is quite low.
Even if you unknowingly consume moldy parmesan, it is unlikely that you would get ill as a result. On the other hand, there are a wide variety of molds, and some of them harbor a significant amount of germs. If you consume moldy parmesan cheese, you run the risk of getting food poisoning or a stomachache. Moldy parmesan cheese may also cause allergic reactions in certain people.
Having said all of this, it is rather simple to determine whether or not there is anything wrong with your parmesan. You may prevent becoming sick by simply removing the mold if it is visible and cutting it off the cheese or discarding the cheese altogether. Again, it is quite unusual for someone to get ill from eating parmesan that has expired, and if you follow the necessary safety measures, you should be alright.
Can You Eat Parmesan After the Expiration Date?
When it comes to parmesan, the date of expiry is more of a guideline than anything else. You are free to continue eating your parmesan even after the expiry date has passed, provided that it does not show any indications of being spoiled. After this period, parmesan may still be entirely safe to consume for up to a year in certain cases, however this is not always the case.
It’s possible that your parmesan may lose some of its quality and freshness as time goes on, but you’ll be able to eat it for quite some time beyond this point. Inspect the cheese for any signs of mold, odors, or discoloration; if it seems to be in fine condition despite the fact that its expiry date has past, you may still consume it.
FAQs
How do I know if Parmesan cheese is bad?
If Parmesan cheese has gone bad, it will generally become extremely hard to the touch, will darken in color, will acquire a strong scent, and may grow mold; for advice on how to deal with mold that has formed on a piece of Parmesan cheese, see the instructions that are located above.
How long does parmesan cheese last past expiration date?
When kept in the refrigerator, an opened box will often maintain the highest possible quality for up to two months. Parmesan that has been grated deteriorates more quickly, although it will still be edible for at least a week after the date that is listed on the label. On the other hand, you need to use any shredded or grated cheese that has been opened and stored in the refrigerator within a week.
When should you throw out Parmesan cheese?
Remove any areas that have mold on them by cutting them out with a pair of scissors. If they are completely covering the cheese, it is time to throw it away. In addition to mold, look for any general color changes or discolorations in the substance. If the parmesan cheese has developed an odd color, such as a dark yellow or gray hue, this indicates that the cheese has gone bad and should not be consumed anymore.
What does bad Parmesan cheese smell like?
If you smell anything sour or rotten, it is another excellent sign that food has gone bad and should not be consumed. When freshly made, parmesan cheese has a fairly pungent aroma, but it shouldn’t smell musty or stale in any way. The same may be said of the flavor.
Are white spots on Parmesan mold?
You could observe white particles or crystalline spots, particularly in Swiss and Parmesan varieties that have been matured for more than a year. It’s not mold; they are clusters of amino acids, and they give the cheeses a satisfying crunch and savory taste.
Final Thoughts
In general, parmesan is a rather safe meal to consume, and consuming it should not cause you to be too concerned about becoming ill. If you carefully store it, most ideally in the refrigerator, it will remain in perfect condition for a very long period without developing any problems.
Parmesan is an excellent cheese that can be used in a wide variety of settings, and it is simple to determine whether or not it has gone bad. If it seems appetizing to the eye, go ahead and sprinkle some parmesan over it and dive in!