Blue cheese has an intense flavor and a remarkable shelf life. Consequently, it is essential to determine how to tell if it is terrible before wasting your money. Here are some signs that your blue cheese might be spoiled. Look for shiny pink spots or bluish mold. It should also feel slimy, dry, or harsh. If any of these signs apply to your blue cheese, discard it immediately.
If you suspect your blue cheese has gone wrong, you can tell by its color. It has become moldy and crumbly. A moldy cheese will have black spots; if you see any of these signs, you should throw it out. The label of the cheese should accompany the blue cheese. Otherwise, you might be risking your health. However, it’s safe to eat it if you’re allergic to mold.
Look for the ammonia-like odor. You may have bought spoiled blue cheese if the smell is too strong. It can also be crumbly and uneven in color. In addition, some blue cheeses have a pink hue around their rind. If you see this blemish, it might have excess moisture. As long as it is still firm, it is safe to eat. If you’re unsure whether your blue cheese is moldy, try apiece.
You should avoid eating moldy blue cheese because it can spread to other cheese parts. While moldy blue cheese is not dangerous, it can weaken your immune system, leading to stomach upsets and cancer. Ultimately, blue cheese goes terribly for various reasons, so it is essential to learn more about spotting the signs and avoiding wasting them.
How to Tell if Blue Cheese is Bad?
When it comes to blue cheese, the first sign that something is off is its smell. While this may seem trivial, it can be a good indicator that the cheese is going bad. It is probably not good for you if the blue cheese smells musty or has mold growth. If you have a question about when to discard it, try smelling it for a few days. Generally, you’ll notice it’s gone wrong after a couple of days.
- Don’t consume blue cheese if it has mold that isn’t native to it, if the creamy part of the cheese has gone pink, brown, or yellow, or if it has an ammonia-like odor.
- If the surface of the cheese has some fuzzy greyish mold on it, it signifies the cheese has picked up some mold spores. And it’s no longer fit for human consumption.
- Another thing to look for is the color of the cheese’s creamy section – if it’s altered (pinkish, greenish, or even brownish), the cheese is poor.
- The scent of the cheese might sometimes be a sign of deterioration. It’s terrible if the stench isn’t natural blue cheese but something that smells like ammonia.
What is the Shelf Life of Blue Cheese?
Blue cheese will only survive a few days if kept on the kitchen counter. If properly stored, it can be kept in the fridge for 3 to 4 weeks, i.e., wrapped in plastic. Check the package’s expiration date and add a week or so. The shelf life of blue cheese (like the one I photographed for this article) is not affected by opening the foil and carton box.
You can preserve it until the expiration date and sometimes much longer. When it comes to blue cheese sold in an airtight container, it can last for several weeks after being opened. That is, assuming you properly wrap it. However, the label recommends consuming it for the most excellent quality within a week.
Blue cheese can technically be stored indefinitely, but it should only be kept for about half a year for optimum quality. One important note regarding freezing blue cheese: after thawing, it becomes crumbly and loses some of its flavors; therefore, use thawed blue cheese only in prepared meals (like casseroles, stews, etc.).
How to Store Blue Cheese?
It’s a little more difficult to store this unique dairy product than to keep most other dairy products. And it’s similar to brie. Wrapping it firmly in plastic wrap and putting it in the fridge isn’t a bright idea because living creatures on top of this cheese require oxygen.
Wrap the wedge in the foil in which it was packaged. Alternatively, wrap it in parchment or wax paper if you’ve already thrown it out. If you do this, the taste of the cheese will swiftly diminish.
In this manner, the cheese won’t absorb any of the odors from the fridge while still being able to breathe. Blue cheese should, of course, be kept refrigerated. If you need to keep this cheese for longer, cut it into smaller pieces (half a pound or less), wrap it tightly in freezer wrap, or place it in a freezer bag and freeze it.
Is It Safe to Eat Moldy Blue Cheese?
Blue cheese is a form of cheese manufactured with Penicillium and mold cultures. Mycotoxins are substances produced by certain species of mold that are poisonous to humans. Due to spoiling, mold spores, often fuzzy and white, green, black, blue, or grey, can grow on foods.
Blue cheese’s characteristic taste and smell and signature blue and green veins and spots are due to Penicillium. However, unlike these molds, the Penicillium forms used to make blue cheese do not release toxins and are deemed safe to eat. Penicillium is added after the curds have been drained and rolled into wheels during the cheesemaking process. After that, the blue cheese is aged for 2–3 months until it’s ready to eat.
If your blue cheese shows any signs of rotting, it should be discarded right once. In particular, fuzzy white, green, pink, or grey specks on the surface of blue cheese may indicate that it has gone wrong. Furthermore, cheese that acquires a pungent ammonia-like stench may be ruined. Food poisoning can be caused by eating spoiled blue cheese; symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps.
Mycotoxins are harmful substances produced by certain varieties of mold that can decrease immunological function, cause digestive irritation, and even lead to cancer. The most straightforward approach to avoiding these undesirable side effects and enjoying blue cheese safely is to store it correctly and practice food safety.
Why does Blue Cheese Smell So Bad?
The mold and bacteria allowed to develop on the cheese give it its distinct aroma: the bacterium Brevibacterium linens, for example, is responsible for the scent of many blue kinds of cheese, as well as foot odor and other human body odors.
It’s created with cultures of the edible mold Penicillium, which give it blue or green spots or veins throughout the cheese. It has a characteristic odor caused by decay or a variety of carefully grown bacteria like Brevibacterium linens, which also cause foot odor and other human body scents.
Is Blue Cheese Bad for you?
While blue cheese is not dangerous when it’s fresh, it can quickly become spoiled and cause sickness if left out for too long. To avoid this, make sure to store it in the refrigerator. It’s essential to wrap it well and allow it to breathe. Otherwise, it will begin to develop mold and may turn into an unsafe food product. Also, keep blue cheese in the fridge from eight to 13degC.
The shelf life of crumbled blue cheese varies considerably based on the temperature and humidity of the container. When it comes to freshness, the good news is that blue cheese can last up to a year if stored properly. However, don’t be fooled into thinking that the cheese is past its best date simply because it has gone wrong. Instead, look for the first signs of mold or a musty smell.
Conclusion
Blue cheese can last about two weeks. It can last up to four weeks when stored properly, increasing its shelf life. Wrap it tightly in wax, parchment, or foil to preserve it. When holding it, look for the sell-by date on the label. You can usually keep it for a week or two after this date, but it’s still best to discard any blue cheese that has developed mold.
Further, if the cheese starts to change color or ooze, you should throw it away. Once you’ve found a bad blue cheese, you’ll need to store it in a cool, dark place. Blue cheese does not hold well if left out on the counter. You can keep it in the refrigerator, but this will reduce its creaminess and intensity of flavor. While blue cheese keeps well for many months, you should eat it within a few weeks of purchase. If you have difficulty telling the difference, try freezing it in smaller portions.
