Mozzarella is the darling of everyone’s cheese. It’s just so soft and stretchy and melts so beautifully, and it’s just divine as a pizza, pasta, salad, and sandwich topping. But like all milk products, of course, mozzarella does get spoiled somewhen or another. And thus we are all wondering: Does mozzarella cheese expire? And how long do you store it in the fridge? What are you checking for when determining it has spoiled? And may you eat after the package date?
You do enjoy mozzarella but you simply can’t distinguish whether it’s fresh or not. Don’t worry, we’ll walk you through step by step and you might be able to distinguish the shelf life of mozzarella, how you might store it so that it might have a longer shelf life, and how to determine if it already spoils.
Table of Contents
What Is Mozzarella Cheese?
It is a white, soft Italian cheese, traditionally made from buffalo milk. Though nowadays most of the mozzarella is made from cow’s milk. It is tacky, wet, and extremely mild in flavor. Fresh Mozzarella is available in two types in markets:
- Fresh Mozzarella – Typically sold as balls covered with brine liquid or water. Soft, delicate, and less potent.
- Low-Moisture Mozzarella – Block, shredded mozzarella, too. Less likely to be ruined than fresh mozzarella and can be utilized for eternity on pizzas and in the kitchen.
Because mozzarella is such a watery cheese, it will not so much have such a timely expiration date as moister cheeses parmesan or cheddar. Because of this, it will need to be stored.
Does It Go Bad?
Yes, mozzarella cheese does spoil. Being a dairy product, it will spoil after a reasonable amount of time. It’ll happen if it is not consumed within some timeframe. Rates of deterioration differ by type:
- Fresh mozzarella will spoil within a couple of days if exposed.
- Low-moisture mozzarella (block or shredded) will spoil slower but includes an expiration date.
- Refrigeration will only delay the spoilage and not prevent it at all.
This is mozzarella shelf life in different conditions:
Fresh Mozzarella (in water or brine)
- Unopened (still packaged): Approximately 1–2 weeks from date of purchase, or to “use by” date.
- Opened: Best consumed within 3–5 days.
Low-Moisture Mozzarella (block or shredded)
- Unopened: 2–3 weeks refrigerated. Sometimes longer if vacuum-packed.
- Opened: Approximately 5–7 days.
Mozzarella in Freezer
- Fresh mozzarella: 2–3 months (but may lose texture).
- Shredded mozzarella: 6–8 months if wrapped tightly.
Freezing stiffens mozzarella in texture when thawed but otherwise safe to use in recipes.
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Mozzarella Cheese Spoilage Test
You would want to test mozzarella prior to consumption. The signs of spoilage are the following:
- Smell – Fresh mozzarella has an extremely neutral and milky taste. Sour, rancid, or milk spoilage smell is that it is spoiled.
- Look – Greenish, bluish, or black color, mold, or discoloration is that it is not healthy enough to eat.
- Looks – Mozzarella is supposed to be soft and wet when purchased. Sticky or too hard isn’t okay.
- Tastes – Spit it out if absolutely certain the taste is sour or bitter-it’s spoiled.
Don’t play around with moldy mozzarella. Rotten cheese kills.
Mozzarella Cheese Storage
Storage is the key to the extending of the life of mozzarella.
Fresh Mozzarella
- Keep refrigerated in brine liquid or water.
- Shake lightly salted water over when liquid level is low.
- Always store after opening and consume within 3–5 days.
Shredded or Block Mozzarella
- Store in the original airtight package or airtight container.
- When shredded, evacuate air first then pack.
- Store at 4°C (40°F) or below.
Freezing Mozzarella
- For fresh mozzarella, dry with paper towels, then plastic wrap and store in bag.
- For shredded mozzarella, freeze packages or cut packages in portion size.
It is best to use the frozen mozzarella because the texture will be ruined.
Is It Safe to Eat Expired Mozzarella Cheese?
It does have a “date” on the packaging that is a “use by” or “best by” date. But they don’t have an expiration date when it will go bad. Mozzarella is delicious three days past the date if it is still edible, tastes fine, smells fine, and appears fine.
All of the above said, remember:
- Where fresh mozzarella is concerned, relax with the date, it doesn’t linger long.
- With shredded mozzarella, you have a weak grace period if you keep it in the refrigerator.
Use your eyes first. If it’s smelly or on the verge of going bad, don’t risk it.
Can Spoiled Mozzarella Cheese Make You Ill?
Yes. Eating spoiled mozzarella will likely lead to food poisoning caused by bacteria like Listeria or Salmonella. Some of the below are:
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Fever
These risks are especially dangerous for children, pregnant women, and the immunocompromised. Due to that, freshness tests prior to consumption are required.
Mozzarella Freshness Tests
General recommendations on storing mozzarella:
- Keep cold always.
- Don’t leave it out of the fridge for more than 2 hours.
- Wrap leftovers tightly with plastic or foil.
- Store fresh mozzarella in brine water in the fridge.
- Store frozen shredded mozzarella in portioning so it won’t spoil.
It’s the little things which really do go a very, very long way to preventing waste and giving your cheese that same kind of freshness that it can be.
Amazing Facts About Mozzarella Cheese
- Mozzarella was once produced in Italy with buffalo milk.
- It gets its name from the Italian term “mozzare” which translates to cut.
- Mozzarella is among America’s busiest cheeses because of pizza.
- Fresh mozzarella has nearly 50% water and therefore spoils in no time.
- Low-moisture mozzarella is the type that stretches while preparing pizzas.
FAQs On Mozzarella Cheese Expired
How long does mozzarella keep after opening?
Fresh mozzarella: 3-5 days. Shredded mozzarella: approximately a week.
Is it safe to eat mozzarella past the best-by date?
Yes, unless smelling unpleasant and appearing wonderful. But be careful, particularly with fresh mozzarella.
Can mozzarella be frozen?
Yes. Shred and fresh mozzarella can be frozen. The texture would change. But it is still safe to cook with.
What if I consume spoiled mozzarella?
You will be poisoned with diarrhea, stomach cramp, or nausea.
Does mozzarella spoil quicker than other cheese?
Yes. Mozzarella is fresh and has more water and shorter life than hard cheese.
Last Thoughts
Mozzarella will taste delicious but won’t last forever. Fresh openings will go bad in a couple of days but block or shredded will keep for a day or two more. The secret to making it last, cold, covered, and wrapped in liquid as needed.
Squishy, trust me. Smell it, look at it, feel the texture. Squishy, throw it. Grudge apartment of wee cheese more than food poisoning.
In fact, mozzarella will spoil. But you can still use it for a period of time if you keep it stored. Use it correctly, and store it correctly. Your sandwiches, pizzas, and salads will never ever go stale.
