Think there’s nothing better than cheese?
Reconsider. String cheese unites cheesy excellence, satisfying stringiness, and easy portability.
You are just about to enjoy your string cheese or pack it in your kids’ lunches, but on second thought, you realize it is past its sell-by date.
How long does string cheese last? Does string cheese have a different shelf life than other dairy products? Is it still safe to consume?
Here is the short answer: string cheese has a longer shelf life than buttermilk or half-and-half and can last up to 2 weeks past its sell-by date if unopened.
How To Tell If String Cheese Has Spoiled
The best bet to tell if your string cheese has gone bad is to use your senses. If you find that your string cheese has a strange smell, growths, or bluish-grey specks on the surface, it is best to discard it.
Also, be careful if you have stored the string cheese for a long time. Check for any visually detectable impurities and, if there are none, rely on the taste to determine if you should hold onto it. If it tastes like spoiled milk, give it a toss.
Remember that old string cheese will not be the best quality, so you may want to throw it out anyway. No one wants string cheese that tastes like milk gone bad anyway.
How To Store String Cheese
When it comes to keeping your string cheese as fresh as possible, do not open the package until you want to use it. This keeps it fresher for longer, as the packaging acts as a seal against your string cheese and the outside world.
Like all cheeses, store your string cheese in the fridge, as it can go bad in warmer temperatures. It should be sealed tightly in its original packaging. If that is not possible, store it in your own airtight package or container.
Here is a tip to lengthen the shelf life of your unopened string cheese: freeze it. String cheese has a low water content, so it freezes well. Don’t worry – your string cheese will still have its stretchiness and flavor after you’ve thawed it at room temperature for a couple of hours.
What Is The Shelf Life Of String Cheese
If your string cheese is unopened, it can last two weeks past its sell-by date. Once you open the string cheese packet, it should be consumed within a week for the best quality. Unopened frozen string cheese can last for a couple of months.
But always store your string cheese correctly to ensure the greatest quality for the longest possible time.
In Conclusion
To retain its quality, consume string cheese seven days after opening and within two weeks past the sell-by date. You can also freeze it to maximize its storage time.
If you ever feel guilty as an adult that munches on string cheese, here’s some information to help ease the guilt. String cheese was not originally made with children in mind. So enjoy your string cheese snack whether you’re an adult or not.
