Parmesan is delicious a delicious cheese that has so many good uses. Whether you are adding it to your pasta, mashing it into your potatoes, or sprinkling it on your pizza, you want to be certain that it’s safe to eat.
Does parmesan cheese expire? Parmesan cheese does expire, but it takes a very long time for this to happen. Unopened parmesan can last from 7 months to 1 year and stay very fresh. Opened parmesan will generally last about 3 months before starting to lose its freshness but will still stay safe to consume for much longer.
The rest of this article is going to teach you all about parmesan cheese and how to tell if it’s gone bad so that you can simply enjoy your parmesan without any worries having to do with quality.
How Should You Store Parmesan to Keep It Fresh?
For the best possible results, you should store parmesan cheese in your fridge. Whether it’s grated or a block of parmesan, storing it in the fridge will keep it the freshest and prolong its shelf life. The cheese can be kept in its original packaging, or if it’s a block, put in an airtight container or wrapped in aluminum foil or parchment paper.
Keeping your block of parmesan at room temperature is definitely possible, but it will still only stay good for about 2-4 weeks. If you put it in the fridge instead, the parmesan will stay good for about a year. This is because the cold of the fridge will slow down bacteria growth, and it’s why putting parmesan in the fridge is so beneficial.
Grated parmesan is a little different because it has been processed and doesn’t go bad as easily as block parmesan. You can store unopened grated parmesan at room temperature for about a year and it shouldn’t go bad.
However, storing parmesan in the refrigerator is still your best bet if you want it to maintain a nice fresh quality and stay good as long as possible (or if it’s opened).
If you don’t have a fridge to store the cheese in or for some reason don’t like the idea of keeping it in the fridge, just make sure to store it in a cool and dry place. Whether the parmesan is a block or grated, it’s important to keep it tightly sealed when storing it at room temperature so that bacteria has a harder time getting in and growing.
How Do You Know If Parmesan Has Gone Bad?
It’s important to look for signs that will help you tell if your parmesan is good or not, and luckily, this is pretty straightforward.
The easiest way to tell if your parmesan is expired is looking for mold or discoloration, smelling the cheese, and feeling the texture. If the cheese is off in color, has mold, or feels different than it should, it’s probably gone bad.
If there is mold on your block of parmesan cheese and that is the only sign of it going bad, you can simply cut off the moldy spot and eat the rest of the cheese. Since no other parts have been contaminated with mold, they should still be good to eat. However, if there is mold on your grated parmesan, it should be thrown out.
Parmesan is usually white or light beige, though if you have a block there will be a darker “rind” on the outside. If any other parts of your cheese look dark or yellow, it’s a sign that the cheese is going bad and it might be a good idea to throw it out.
Another sign that your cheese has gone bad is if it smells different. If your parmesan is smelling gross and sour, it is most likely expired.
Lastly, grated parmesan often changes texture when it goes bad. If your grated parmesan feels wet or squishy, it’s best to get rid of it.
Will Expired Parmesan Make You Sick?
In most cases, parmesan that has gone bad won’t make you sick. It will probably taste gross and you won’t want to continue eating it, and that’s about all that will happen. Though it is possible to get sick from parmesan, especially if you eat moldy spots, it’s very unlikely.
If you accidentally eat moldy parmesan, it won’t necessarily make you sick. However, there are many different types of mold, and some types hold a lot of bacteria. If you happen to eat parmesan cheese with mold, it’s possible that you will get a slightly upset stomach or food poisoning.
All of this being said, it’s pretty easy to tell when something is off with your parmesan. If you see mold you can simply cut it off or throw out the cheese, and you will avoid getting sick. Again, it’s very rare for people to get sick from expired parmesan, and if you take the right precautions you will be fine.
Can You Eat Parmesan After the Expiration Date?
When it comes to parmesan, the expiration date is just a guideline. As long as it isn’t exhibiting any signs of going bad, you can certainly eat your parmesan after the expiration date. In some situations, parmesan can last about a year after this date and still be completely fine to eat.
Your parmesan may lose its quality and freshness as time progresses, but it will still be consumable for a while after this. Just check for mold, smells, or discoloration, and if the cheese seems to be doing good, it’s still edible even if the expiration date has passed.
Final Thoughts
Overall, parmesan is a pretty safe food to eat and you don’t really have to worry about getting sick. As long as you properly store it, preferably in the fridge, it will last for a very long time without any issues.
Parmesan is a great cheese that can be used in so many different ways, and it’s easy to tell if it’s gone bad. As long as it looks good, add that parmesan to your food and dig in!
