If you want to know how to tell if goat cheese has gone bad, in this article, you will get all the crucial information. Goat cheese is a terrific complement to any cheeseboard because it is creamy, tangy, and flavorful. Goat cheese melts beautifully and can be substituted for other well-known cow or sheep milk cheeses while cooking. Almost everything and anything pairs well with goat cheese. That cheese in your refrigerator also has an expiration date, just like any dairy product. How can you know whether goat cheese is spoiled? We will help you to find out whether your cheese is still good or not. 
You can always find a way to include goat cheese in your meals, whether it’s for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Therefore, everyone can find a restaurant with goat cheese, whether they have a sweet palate or prefer something more savory. Given how well-liked and delectable goat cheese is, there may have been numerous occasions when you couldn’t help yourself and purchased an abundance of it from the supermarket.
What is Goat Cheese?
Several things set goat cheese apart from cheeses made from cow’s milk. Due to a lower casein content than cow’s milk cheese, which becomes solid when mixed with acids or curdling agents like rennet, it is often softer. Since goat cheese is high in caproic, caprylic, and capric acids—medium chain fatty acids that also contribute to the cheese’s distinct goaty aroma—it contains more fat than cow’s milk cheese and a tangier flavor.
The color of goat cheese is initially white and gradually turns slightly yellow as it ages. Although goat’s milk has almost as much lactose as cow’s milk, the fat molecules are smaller, which may be why goat’s milk products are simpler for lactose-intolerant people to digest than cow’s milk.
Instead of melting when heated, it softens. Like cheddar, the term “goat cheese” (or “chevre”) refers to all cheeses manufactured from goat’s milk rather than just one particular variety. They are everywhere. Frequently, the label has only the word “goat cheese” and no additional details. To proceed, you usually need to know what kind of cheese it is (soft, semi-soft, complicated, or complex).
Goat Cheese Nutrition Facts
| Nutrient | Amount per Serving (100g) | % Daily Value* |
| Calories | 364 | 18% |
| Total Fat | 29g | 45% |
| – Saturated Fat | 20g | 100% |
| – Trans Fat | 0g | |
| Cholesterol | 100mg | 33% |
| Sodium | 430mg | 18% |
| Total Carbohydrates | 1.8g | 1% |
| – Dietary Fiber | 0g | 0% |
| – Sugars | 1.8g | |
| Protein | 22g | 44% |
| Vitamin D | 0.1mcg | 1% |
| Calcium | 364mg | 36% |
| Iron | 1.3mg | 7% |
| Potassium | 142mg | 4% |
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
How to Tell if Goat Cheese has Gone Bad?
Good old goat cheese pairs perfectly with a fine glass of wine and some fine crackers. Goat cheese stinks a little bit more than cheeses like cheddar. The goat cheese’s look is the best sign that it has degraded. If the goat cheese has mold and looks slimy, that is a good indication that it is terrible and shouldn’t be eaten.
The second-best technique is to smell it. There are a few different ways to identify faulty goat cheese, and I examine it in three distinct ways before using it. You are welcome to sample the cheese, but you might not like it. You might be taken aback if you’ve never smelled or eaten goat cheese.
It should have a scent somewhat akin to a grassy farm smell. Although it may sound strange, goat cheese often smells more earthy. Compared to mozzarella, feta, cheddar, and Brie, goat cheese tastes a little weird. If it smells musty or moldy, it may be past the point where you should avoid eating it. Mold is known to develop on cheese.
How do you determine what kind of mold is present?
The best approach is tossing anything with mold if you notice it. Eating cheese with mold on it is not worth the risk. It is best to avoid consuming cheese if it also appears slimy or has been out for a long time to avoid contracting a foodborne illness. If you choose to grate your cheese, I can offer some advice on doing so without a grater. There are a few things to perform when determining if your goat cheese is still safe to consume:
Begin by checking out for mold that is not typical of this cheese. It’s non-native mold if the rind was once white but has since developed some green fuzz. Or if any mold forms on your spreadable goat cheese. If the cheese is hard or semi-hard, you can remove the mold and some extra and eat the remaining cheese. Otherwise, throw it away. The fragrance is the next, and it’s most likely time to get rid of something if it smells “strange” or unpleasant. Unless, of course, you didn’t wrap it securely, and it absorbed the smell of the refrigerator.
How Long Does Goat Cheese Last?
The soft and fresh goat cheese keeps for a few weeks after its expiration date and roughly a week after opening. They are comparable to cream cheese in terms of how you approach them, and this is the case if yours has the word “spreadable” or has a cream cheese-like appearance.
Goat cheeses that have been soft-ripened resemble Brie in appearance and functionality. It doesn’t matter when you open the package; they only last for about a week beyond their expiration date and ripen whether or not they are spread over time.
Semi-hard to semi-soft goat cheeses have their best quality for a few weeks after expiration and one to three weeks after opening. The quality of cheese degrades more quickly, the softer it is. Bucheron, Crottin, and numerous other words fall under this category. If yours resembles Roquefort or Gouda cheese, it unquestionably belongs in this category.
Shelf Life of Goat Cheese:
You can instantly tell whether your goat cheese has gone wrong by looking at it and smelling it. Check the cheese’s exterior first for spots or mold. Goat cheeses with bloomy rinds are more likely to develop a surface mold. You can clip off the white or moldy bits of the cheese and eat the remaining cheese if it does not smell terrible.
However, the cheese should be thrown away if it has orange, blue, or red mold since those types are dangerous. Blue cheese already has a form of helpful blue or green-tinted mold. Don’t let it confuse you, then. If you notice any other kind of mold on its surface, in addition to that, it is better to toss it away.
You may always try a little taste test to determine whether your goat cheese has gone wrong if its appearance and scent aren’t clear. A rotting piece of cheese will taste unpleasant and perhaps burn your mouth. If this happens, spit it out immediately and discard the cheese.
How to Store Goat Cheese?
Goat cheese needs to be wrapped appropriately and refrigerated, and the latter is dependent on the kind of cheese in question. The optimum storage for soft, spreadable cream cheese varieties is in airtight containers. Nothing else needs to be done because they frequently arrive in resealable containers and seal them before putting them back in the refrigerator tightly.
One notable example is feta cheese, which is commonly produced using a combination of sheep and goat milk. Keeping it submerged in brine will retain quality much longer than if you don’t. Soft-ripened Goat cheeses that resemble Brie keep best when covered in wax or parchment paper. Frequently, you can repurpose the cheese’s packaging.
If you intend to leave it open for longer than a few days, put it (wrapped) in a freezer bag to prevent drying out. A freezer bag works well for goat cheeses that are firm or semi-hard. Wrap the cheese in cheese paper or similar material to preserve its highest quality. The same holds with sliced goat cheese.
Your goat cheese should be kept in the refrigerator for storage. In the container it comes in or another firmly sealed container, goat cheese should be kept chilled and sealed. It is advisable to keep the cheese in the refrigerator because it is a soft cheese like cream cheese, cottage cheese, and cheddar cheese. Keeping bacteria and mold from forming on your cheese is the goal.
What Happens if you Eat Bad Goat Cheese?
While eating goat cheese that has passed its expiration date is not always harmful, it should be avoided. The effects after eating can vary depending on the individual. While some individuals may experience minor to no adverse effects, others may experience severe discomfort and even risk losing their lives.
The amount of goat cheese consumed has similar products, and a modest amount of food may result in an unsettled stomach. Unfortunately, consuming a lot of spoilt goat cheese poses a severe health danger.
Any meal exposed to mold or an excessive amount of dangerous germs might have unpleasant digestive consequences or even food poisoning.
These symptoms include sweating, shivering, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and even fever. The presence of E. coli, Salmonella, Listeria, or Brucella bacteria can result in more severe cases of these symptoms. For safe and efficient treatment, any of these might need medical attention.
What can you Use Instead of Goat Cheese?
You can consume or prepare various substitutes if your goat cheese is no longer safe to eat or if it raises any concerns. Ricotta and cream cheese are excellent substitutes for fresh or creamy goat cheese, and both have a delicately balanced, somewhat acidic flavor and excellent spreading and cooking properties. You can use feta or blue cheese instead of firmer, stronger-tasting goat cheese if you’d like, and both choices can deliver the same robust and tangy flavor that works well as a garnish or on an after-dinner cheese board.
Even silken tofu can be used as a vegan substitute. This tofu has a mild flavor and is soft and creamy; it can be used in savory and sweet meals. Cheese, cream. What is the ideal goat cheese replacement? Although it’s typically a little stiffer, cream cheese has a comparable feel to butter.
Additionally, the flavor lacks that distinctive tang. You may mix a bit of Greek yogurt with the cream cheese to give it some tang while somewhat softening the texture. This can be used as a filling, such in Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates, a spread like Goat Cheese Bruschetta with Mushrooms, or in pasta dishes like Creamy Goat Cheese Pasta or Mushroom Pasta with Goat Cheese. Feta breaks down.
You might choose to use feta cheese instead of goat cheese crumbles in salads:
Although feta cheese has a more rigid consistency and a saltier flavor than tang, it has a comparable impact. This works with French Lentil Salad, Beet Salad with Balsamic Dressing, and Blackberry Salad that features crumbled goat cheese.
Labneh, a Mediterranean yogurt cheese, is an excellent substitute for goat cheese when used as a spread. It has a goat cheese-like thick texture and acidic flavor. Ricotta can be substituted for goat cheese in a pinch. Add some salt and mix it well! Ricotta must be salted to taste to add flavor because it is so bland. We would only recommend ricotta for spreads resembling those listed because it has a similarly very loose texture.
Conclusion
One of the cheeses that are regarded as being the healthiest is goat cheese. They are quite nutritious and have a great flavor. Due to their reduced amounts of lactose, goat cheese is a fantastic substitute for those who cannot consume dairy. Keep an eye out for weird patches or slimy molds on fresh or cleaned goat cheese surfaces.
Throw away your goat cheese if you notice any of these signs. The second choice is the cheese’s aroma. Cheeses often get a more pungent odor as they mature. So don’t mistake a strong smell for ruined cheese. Just make sure there isn’t anything off-putting or strange-smelling. You can always create delicious salads, pizzas, or dips with goat cheese. It might also be used in place of pizza, such as avocado and goat cheese pizza.
