Does Parmesan Cheese Go Bad? How Long Does It Last?

I am a big fan of parmesan cheese. This is why I buy multiple blocks and store them in my house. Let’s say you bought multiple blocks of cheese on a good sale. You stored them and wondered as you sit on your couch “Does Parmesan Cheese Go Bad?”

I was there and I get you. This is why I wrote this article so I can help you answer that question. We will also talk about how long parmesan cheese lasts. That’s also alongside a small talk about how to tell if your blocks of cheese went bad, so you can avoid eating spoiled cheese. Follow along!

Does Parmesan Cheese Go Bad?

Sadly, just like Blue Cheese, Parmesan cheese does go bad and spoil if it isn’t stored properly.

Mold spores are everywhere and only when given enough time and moisture, they start to grow and consume the cheese, causing it to spoil and go bad. This is why proper storage and taking care of your block of cheese is important to avoid it going bad.

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How To Store Parmesan Cheese?

Now that we know that your cheese can go bad, it’s important to learn the proper storage of parmesan cheese to avoid spoilage.

How do you store it? Here are the simple hints to keep your blocks of cheese fresh for the longest time.

First of all, cheese needs cold temperature, no matter what type is it. Parmesan cheese is no different, so you have to keep it in the fridge once you come home.

The conditions may change slightly based on the state of the cheese. Opened parmesan needs more delicate care than unopened one. Here is how to take care of it:

Just wrap it

If you want a quick and easy fix for the leftover cheese you got, wrapping is your way to go. Simply get the aluminum foil and wrap your cheese in it. Toss the cheese into the fridge and you are good to go.

No aluminum foil? no problem! just use cheese paper or simply parchment paper. Simply covering the cheese will go a long way with whatever you have at hand.

Airtight container

A better option compared to just covering the cheese. Using an airtight bag or container, put the cheese in it and close it tighlty. Make sure no air makes its way inside the container and leave it till your next cooking adventure or your tasty meal.

Freezing

We kept the best for last. Freezing is indeed the best option you have for storing your parmesan cheese. and it’s not that hard either. Put the bag into the freezer and that’s all you need for the longest longevity of all storage options for your cheese.

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How Long Does Parmesan Cheese Last?

So you have some cheese laying around for a while. You totally forgot about them in your fridge, and now you ask yourself: How long do they last?

Well, the answer to this question depends on the kind of cheese we are talking about.

Unopened Parmesan cheese

Good storage conditions can extend the longevity of your unopened parmesan cheese for up to 9 months. That’s of course depends on how well the cheese was stored in the store, so take note of this.

Opened parmesan cheese

Once you open your cheese, the quality of the cheese start to drop. The cheese will be as good as fresh after a month of opening but will start to degrade for up to 6 months according to Parmigiano FAQ about their products. This is why it’s best to consume the cheese as soon as possible upon opening it.

Unopened shredded cheese

The thing about the shredded variant is that it has more space. This allows air to go between the pieces. This impacts the longevity a lot and makes that type of cheese not last as the regular variant.

You can trust it to last up to the date written on the package, and even an extra week after the date has gone by.

Opened Shredded cheese

Shredded cheese is a different story. Due to the fact that shredded cheese has a shorter lifespan compared to whole cheese, they barely last more than a week after opening the package.

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Parmesan Cheese Shelf Life [Full Chart]

Note :  The Periods Above are Estimates

How To Tell If Parmesan Cheese Has Gone Bad?

You followed all the steps of storage and made sure to check the date. Everything is good till you forget that you have a lot of parmesan cheese laying in the fridge. You discover them after the best-by date and you wonder: Did this cheese go bad?

Don’t worry about the answer to this question, we will tell you the signs of spoilage in the following paragraph:

Visual signs

This is an easy one, simply take a good look at your cheese. Does it have signs of mold? or black parts? If so then you have two options: You can cut out the spoiled part of the cheese, or you can throw it and get a better one.

If you decide to cut it, then ensure that you cut an extra part alongside the spoiled part. Better be safe than sorry.

shredded parmesan can change color when spoiled, it will go darker the more it spoils. Once you notice the discoloration, make sure to throw it away.

Smell

One extra way to tell if parmesan cheese has spoiled is by smell. Usually, cheese has a very distinct smell, but when spoiled, the smell can be “funny” and weird.

A bad-smelling cheese is not worth eating, throw it away and get yourself a brand new one.

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Wrapping Up

Now you know the answer to “Does parmesan cheese go bad?” as well as how to store your parmesan in a way that preserves it for the longest time. We also covered the signs of a spoiled parmesan you can be safe while eating your favorite type of cheese.

If you have any questions you would like to ask, feel free to ask in the comments below and we will reply as soon as possible. Thanks for reading and have a great day.

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