You may be in a position where you’re preparing to eat your Velveeta cheese, but you remember that it’s been on your counter for quite some time.
You start to doubt that the cheese is still good. Is its lifespan different from that of regular cheese?
The cheese may be stored for up to six months if left unopened and for around eight weeks if it is opened because it is prepared with several preservatives. Numerous factors affect this longevity, however, it is best to consider the “use-by” date.
We’ll learn everything there is to know about Velveeta cheese, including how to prevent spoiling and how to preserve it.
What is Velveeta Cheese: Is it Distinct from Other Cheeses?
Outside of the United States, few people are familiar with Velveeta cheese. What is Velveeta cheese, exactly?
It is similar to cheddar cheese, except it is lighter, smoother, and milder flavor. It’s not an actual cheese; instead, it’s a manufactured version that melts faster than ordinary cheese and has a velvety texture.
It has the flavor of American cheese, yet it melts without clumps.
Related: 7 Best Velveeta Cheese Substitutes
Does Velveeta Cheese Spoil?
The cheese can go stale. However, it’s tough to tell whether it is deteriorating or not. As a result, most people discard the cheese immediately it begins to lose its taste.
A packet of Velveeta cheese can last up to six months. Once you open the cheese, you can store it in the refrigerator for about 2 months.
Velveeta is pasteurized, making it have a long lifespan. Nevertheless, the cheese contains a lot of milk in it, so it’ll go sour eventually. If it is stored and cared for properly, your product will end up lasting for months.
Moreover, the ingredients in this product make it even more prone to spoilage. It contains; protein concentrate, annatto, 2% of salt, cheese, lactic and sorbic acid, calcium and sodium phosphate, milk fat, sodium citrate, enzymes, alginate, and food color.
What is the Longevity of Velveeta Cheese?
The lifespan of unopened Velveeta cheese is generally around six months from the manufacturing date. As is customary, the “best by” date on the container is the best to follow.
Furthermore, it’ll undoubtedly keep past that date because it is prepared with extra preservatives.
Opened Kraft Foods cheese, for example, preserves its quality for around eight weeks. For Velveeta, it could be approximately a month at the very least. If it’s past this date, open the packaging and inspect the contents for quality.
However, following the instructions is crucial because the information may differ from one product to another.
You shouldn’t expect the most incredible quality for such a long period if you open the item near or after the expiration date. Nonetheless, it’s a processed product, so it will take time to diminish.
To put it another way, utilize it for as much as you like the quality.
How to Determine whether the Cheese You’re Eating is Bad?
If the expiration date or six months past the manufacture date is nearing, spend a few minutes scrutinizing the cheese before incorporating it into your menu. These are some of the things you can check;
- Color: If the color of your Velveeta cheese changes from golden to something other, throw it away.
- Smell: Any foul odors indicate that your Velveeta cheese has gone bad, and it’s time to discard it.
- Texture: If the taste is mushy, it’s not safe to eat. If you see worn-out and stiffened spots, you can still eat Velveeta, but it’s advisable to toss it because the quality has decreased.
- Mold: If the cheese product shows any signs of decay, it’s time to throw it out.
If the options above don’t fulfill your curiosity, take a little bite. It should be okay to eat if it still tastes good.
Let us now turn our attention to the final piece of the perplexing: Velveeta storage.
How to Keep Cheese in Storage?
You do not need to refrigerate Velveeta Cheese because it’s pasteurized. However, you can store it in these different ways that are both safe and secure:
1. Room Temperature
Velveeta cheese can hold on to its freshness for a long time if kept in its original container at room temperature. But make sure it’s stored away from moisture and heat.
2. Pantry
The ideal place to store unopened processed cheese is in a warm pantry. You can place as many containers as you desire, and there will be no issues with their freshness for six months after purchase.
3. Refrigerator
You can keep both open and unopened Velveeta cheese in the refrigerator if you cannot use any of the above-recommended options.
Because you cannot reseal the original opened package, the most important thing is to completely seal the product before refrigerating it to avoid scorching and stiffening the edge sections. Additionally, the cheese is susceptible to absorbing the odors of the food around it.
Placing opened Velveeta in a ziplock bag or even a sealed container is the best approach. To keep it fresh, store it in the fridge for up to two months.
4. Freezer
It is recommended not to freeze cheese because it can alter the mouthfeel of the product.
However, if you purchased too much of it and won’t utilize it all before expiry- freeze it.
Take it off the packaging and wrap it in tinfoil. Double wrap the product if you will keep it in the freezer for an extended amount of time.
Put the cheese in a ziplock bag, press out the air, and close it tightly. If you take the product out of the freezer, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator.
The Dangers of Eating Velveeta Cheese That Has Gone Bad
After Velveeta cheese’s expiration date, you could still consume it. However, do not consume it for long. It is advisable to consume the product within two months before its expiry date.
Consuming moldy cheese will most probably cause stomach illnesses. Please take caution.
Is it Possible to Freeze Velveeta Cheese?
Freezing cheese is not recommended because it alters the taste and damages its key constituents when exposed to cold temperatures.
However, if you want to save a previously opened product that you won’t use any time soon, go ahead and do it. You can freeze Velveeta for up to six months.
Velveeta will not be protected in the freezer by its packaging because it is insufficient for freezer preservation. What you can do is split Velveeta into portions, cover it in cling film, store it in a sealed container or a zip lock bag then freeze it.
Related: Top Cheese Knives Reviews
Conclusion
If you want to eat Velveeta cheese, you must do so within eight weeks of opening it. However, always keep it inside the refrigerator tightly and secured. It should stay in the pantry till the expiry date, plus two to three weeks if it is unopened.
This product barely gets molds. If it does, you’ll have to discard it for its substandard taste because it’s already spoiled in the ordinary sense.
Please follow the guidelines on the packaging and the tips above to keep your Velveeta cheese from going bad.
Knowledge is power!
Related: Cheese Slicer Reviews 2022