Cottage cheese is one of those foods that people either love or hate—much like cilantro, licorice and olives. If you happen to be a lover of the soft curdled cheese, you likely have at least one container on hand at all times to snack on, eat with your breakfast or use in your favorite recipes that call for cottage cheese. So it's a serious bummer when you discover you haven't used it up before the expiration date, leaving you wondering, Is this cottage cheese still safe to eat?
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How Long Does Cottage Cheese Last in the Fridge?
Because cottage cheese falls into the soft cheese category, it doesn't last as long as some aged hard cheeses like Parmesan and manchego. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services says cottage cheese that's kept refrigerated at the safe temperature of 40º F or lower should be consumed within two weeks, if unopened, and a mere one week once opened.
But that doesn't mean you have to toss it out the day it expires. If it's been stored in the coldest part of the refrigerator (hint: not on the doors) or hasn't been opened yet, chances are you have a little more time to enjoy it before it really goes bad.
How Long Does Cottage Cheese Last after Expiration?
While there's no exact number of days that it's safe to eat cottage cheese past its expiration date, a good rule of thumb is 7 to 14 days past the printed date, which will typically be denoted by a "sell by," "use by," "best if used by" or "best before" label. Again, that range will depend on a few things: Was it refrigerated immediately after purchase? Is it sealed, or has it already been opened? Well-preserved cottage cheese that has been kept sealed can usually stretch the full two weeks.
How Do You Know If Cottage Cheese Is Spoiled?
As with many foods, your eyes and nose will be your best resources for determining whether your cottage cheese has gone bad or is still safe to eat—and, if you're brave, you can always do a small taste test.
Appearance
Most fresh cottage cheeses have a semi-creamy consistency with fairly uniform lumps called curds. When past its prime, cottage cheese can develop a grainy texture and may even begin to look watery.
Mold spots that look like grayish-green or even black fuzz can also begin to form on the surface of the cottage cheese or on the inner lid and sides of the container. Unlike some hard cheeses where it's generally safe to cut away areas with mold, mold on soft cheeses tends to spread in "threads" that, although mostly invisible, contaminate the entire batch, making it unsafe to consume.
Smell
Take a whiff of the cottage cheese. If it has an overly sour, yeast-like or overall rancid smell, toss it.
Taste
If the cottage looks and smells OK but is well past its expiration date, taking a very small taste can help you further determine if the cottage cheese is spoiled. And it won't be hard to tell, since cottage cheese that's gone bad will have a distinctly sour taste—not the slight tang this cheese is known for, but rather a very unpleasant sourness that you'll want to immediately spit out.
Why Does Cottage Cheese Get Watery?
As cottage cheese ages, or if it's been exposed to warm temperatures, the curds tend to separate from the whey, forming a soupy appearance. And it's the same stuff you've probably seen floating on the top of yogurt; simply the leftover water in the milk and a by-product of the cheese manufacturing process. While it does contain some minerals and nutrients, it can also be a sign of spoilage when coupled with off textures, smells or tastes. If the cottage cheese otherwise looks, smells and tastes fine, you can simply stir it to at least partially reincorporate the liquid into the cottage cheese.
Can You Still Use Expired Cottage Cheese?
Expired cottage cheese that's still safe to eat, as opposed to spoiled or rotten cottage cheese, can still be used. If it comes down to just the flavor being slightly off, eating it plain may not be the best way to enjoy it, but using it in recipes where it will be cooked, such as in lasagna or mixed into scrambled eggs, is a great way to prevent expired cottage cheese from going to waste.
Bottom Line
Here's the deal, you're going to want to trust your gut on this one, or literally be sure not to risk your gut, since spoiled cottage cheese can cause food poisoning, among other potentially harmful consequences. So, to recap: If it looks, smells and tastes OK and isn't too far past its expiration date, go ahead and use it up; if it looks like a science project gone wrong or has a smell that makes you gag, toss it.
Recipes That Call for Cottage Cheese
Cottage cheese can be a healthy addition to your diet, and since it's lower in saturated fat than many other popular cheeses, including mozzarella, it's often a great substitute for those on restricted diets. And these favorite EatingWell recipes make brilliant use of the cute curds:
- Easy Lasagna
- Classic Greek Spanakopita
- Cottage Cheese Ice Cream
Wondering what brands are best? Take a peek at our tried-and-tested cottage cheeses.
