Does Velveeta Cheese Go Bad?

Not many people know about Velveeta cheese outside of the United States. It is even rare to find it in Canada.

So, what is Velveeta cheese, and what can you use it on? 

Well, Velveeta cheese is like cheddar cheese if it was made to be softer and smoother, and lighter in flavor.

The most surprising thing about Velveeta cheese is that it can sit on a shelf for about six months without needing to be refrigerated.

That may sound weird to most people, who know that cheese must be in the fridge so it will not rot. 

Does Velveeta cheese go bad? Yes, Velveeta cheese does go bad, but it is difficult to know when it is rotting or not. So, most people just get rid of the cheese when it starts to lose its flavor. A brick of Velveeta cheese can sit in your cupboard for up to 6 months. Once you open the cheese, it must be placed in the refrigerator, and it will last 2 months.

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Does Velveeta Cheese Go Bad?

Yes, at the end of the day, Velveeta cheese is like any other cheese, and it does go bad. However, it does not go bad at the same rate as traditional cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese. The fact that it can sit on a shelf without refrigeration is a definite factor in how long it lasts. 

But once it passes the expiration date, it always needs to be monitored, and then it must be thrown out at the first sign of mold or rancidity. But detecting the signs that it is time to throw away a brick of Velveeta is not easy, as the signs are not obvious.

So it’s not a good idea to eat a 2 year old Velveeta.

How Long Does Velveeta Cheese Last?

So now that we know what Velveeta cheese is, how long does this cheese last? Well, Velveeta cheese can sit on a shelf for about six months at a time as long as its package has never punctured or opened. 

Six months is a very long time, considering that it is a cheese and cheese that usually belongs in the fridge. But Velveeta cheese has many stabilizers as part of its ingredients, so it can sit on a shelf for a long time without getting old.

But once a package of Velveeta cheese is open, it must stay in the refrigerator. The unsealed packets protect the brick of Velveeta cheese from bacteria and spoilage, and once that package is opened, it is far more susceptible to rotting. As long as the cheese is in the fridge, it will last for up to eight weeks. So, it lasts longer than most cheeses, whether or not it is in the fridge. This is one of the reasons why people prefer to eat Velveeta compared to other cheeses. 

How Long Does Velveeta Cheese Last? [Chart]

How to Know if Velveeta Cheese has Gone Bad

Lack of flavor: Because of the way Velveeta cheese is designed, it is difficult to know if the cheese is going bad. So, while you may be looking for mold or a terrible smell, those are not the signs that will be most obvious. 

Because of how hard it is to detect its age and rancidity; you should go by the expiration date. You can only eat Velveeta cheese up to 2 months after it expires, so be sure to know when that is. Also, constantly check the flavor of the cheese and see if it is degrading and no longer as potent as it once was. The lack of flavor is perhaps the best way to know if it is time to replace your Velveeta cheese with a new one.

Tastes fishy: if you have a package of Velveeta in the back of your fridge, take off a piece to taste it. If it has a fishy taste, throw it away. Not only has the Velveeta cheese been sitting in the back of your fridge for months, but there is now bacteria changing the flavor of the cheese.

Best Cheese Substitute if Velveeta Cheese is Expired

Since Velveeta cheese is like cheddar cheese that is softer and less intense, a great substitute for Velveeta cheese is Cheez Whiz. Although Cheez Whiz is pasty and softer than Velveeta cheese, it comes extremely close to replicating its one-of-a-kind taste.

Another great cheese to use as a substitute for Velveeta cheese is Monterey Jack cheese. Monterey Jack has a lot of cheddar flavors, but it is not so intense. The only thing is that Monterey jack is thicker than Velveeta cheese, so you’ll have to melt it first before you use it.

Velveeta cheese is famous for being used in mac and cheese recipes, so if you need a Velveeta substitute cheese for mac and cheese, it should have a little bit of milk added to it so that it is not so thick. 

Can You Eat Velveeta Cheese After the Expiration Date?

Yes, you can eat Velveeta cheese if it is past its expiration date. But do not eat it for a long time afterward. It is best if you only eat Velveeta cheese two months after its expiration date. 

It is difficult to detect the signs of rotting or acidity in Velveeta cheese because of how it is made. Most people just throw out Velveeta cheese when the flavor starts to turn bland. So, while it is fine to eat Velveeta cheese after the expiration date, when its flavor starts to go, throw it out.

How to Store Velveeta Cheese

When you bring a brick of Velveeta cheese home from the grocery store, all you need to do is place it in your cupboard or pantry. Then, wait until you want to eat the cheese to open up the package. If you have a bug or roach issue, it is recommended that you place the cheese in a heavy-duty Ziploc bag so the bugs cannot eat through the thin plastic.

Once you open the package of Velveeta cheese, store it in the refrigerator. Do not store it on the door because every time you open up the fridge, it will be exposed to warm air. The best place to store any cheese is in the meat drawer.

Conclusion

• Not many people know about Velveeta cheese outside of the United States.
• It is a very different cheese because it is shelf-stable for six months, while most other cheeses must be stored in the refrigerator.
• After you open a package of Velveeta cheese, place it in the fridge so it will be protected from heat and bacteria.
• Most people throat out Velveeta cheese when it starts to lose its flavor. Detecting if it is rotting or not is hard.
• One obvious sign that Velveeta cheese is old and not safe to eat is if it has a fishy taste.