What happens if you eat bad feta cheese?

What happens if you eat bad feta cheese?

You bought some feta cheese to make a quick recipe for a delicious pizza or a salad. The block you bought might be half gone and you aren’t sure what to do with the rest! Does feta cheese go bad? What happens if you eat bad feta cheese? Let us find out!

You will find the answers to your questions in this article about how to store feta cheese, the shelf-life of feta, and How to know if feta cheese has gone bad.

So, what happens if you eat bad feta cheese? There are serious consequences to eating feta after it has gone bad. If you eat too much bad feta, it can lead to listeria food poisoning. You can expect food poisoning if you eat foods contaminated with listeria monocytogenes bacteria. It is unlikely that your feta cheese will become contaminated if it has been pasteurized. You may feel nauseated by the flavor or texture of bad feta.

Storage Techniques And Tips For Feta Cheese – How to Store Feta Cheese?

Storing Feta is not like other types of cheese. It’s all about the brine.

Brine is a mixture of salt and water. As long as the feta is submerged in brine, it will last for a long time. You can either buy feta in blocks with brine or ready-to-use crumbled feta.

A refrigerator is the best place to store feta cheese. Both block and crumbled varieties of feta cheese require refrigeration. Let’s now discuss how to store each variety in greater detail.

Feta cheese blocks

If you’re looking for how long the feta cheese blocks last, as long the packaging is not opened, it will still be fine in its original packaging.

• After you have cut the block open and have any leftovers, it is time to take some quick and easy steps to make it last longer.
• You can wrap your cheese in plastic wrap or place it in a container that is airtight or freezer-safe.
• You can submerge the cheese in brine if you want to keep it longer.
• To make your own brine you need 1 teaspoon of salt to 1 cup of water. Mix them together and you are done!
• Make sure you have enough brine to cover the block. After you’re done, place the container in the refrigerator.

Crumbled Feta Cheese

It is a known fact that crumbled feta cheese leftovers don’t have a long shelf life. Perhaps there is a way to prolong their life?

• The method of operation is very similar if you purchased crumbled Feta cheese. After opening the package, seal it well before keeping it back in the fridge.
• If you want to keep the feta for a longer time, make enough brine to completely cover the cheese.

Note: It is possible to be worried that your feta might turn out too salty. However, you can correct this if necessary.

• Before you begin water treatment, you must first check the saltiness of the cheese.
• You can rinse your feta with water or submerge it in water for up to 30 minutes before you serve. The water will absorb some salt and your feta will taste better.

Shelf Life Of Feta Cheese – How long does Feta cheese last?

Traditionally made from goat’s or sheep’s milk, this cheese comes with a sell/use-by date. The cheese will surely maintain its quality for a certain time even after the date lapses. Let’s take a look at the shelf lives of different varieties.

Unopened Feta Cheese Blocks 

• Unopened blocks of feta lasts usually for about 2 to 3 months.
• The brine solution that the cheese is stored in preserves it well, so it should last from 2 weeks to one month after the date printed on the label has lapsed.

Crumbled Feta Cheese 

• We also often use crumbled feta cheese, which is great as a ready-to-use option. Well, as the name suggests, crumbles feta cheese is easy and quick to use but lasts only for a few days.
• Since crumbled feta is not sold in brine, it doesn’t preserve quality for a long time. It will keep fresh for about a week after the date printed on the label has lapsed.

Opened Feta Cheese 

Everything changes once you open the package. It all depends on whether you decide to keep it longer or use it as soon as possible. This is true for both crumbled and feta blocks.

• You can leave the cheese alone and seal or wrap it properly for up to seven days.
• You can keep the leftovers in brine up to a month if you do your own brining or use the brine solution that comes with it.

Signs Of Spoilage For Feta Cheese – How to know if feta cheese has gone bad?

Let’s begin with what feta should feel and look like. Feta cheese generally has a salty, tangy taste. The texture is creamy and smooth, making it easy to cut or cube. These qualities can slightly vary depending on whether the feta is Greek, French, or Bulgarian. Let’s now discuss how to identify spoiled feta.

• First, check for any mold and dark spots on the surface.
• Check the consistency and color of cheese that has been submerged in the brine. It should be thrown out if it has become slimy or darkened.
• It should be thrown out if it develops a sour cream-like aroma.
• Check the texture of your cheese if everything seems to be in order. If the cheese crumbles upon being picked, it is probably past its prime and better to throw it out.