All About Shredded cheese
Your complete guide to shredded cheese - discover how to store it properly, identify when it's gone bad, and find the best substitutes for your recipes.
How Long Does Shredded cheese Last?
Storage times and freshness tips for shredded cheese in different conditions.
Safety first: This guide provides general information. When in doubt, throw it out! Trust your senses and err on the side of caution. If something smells, looks, or tastes off, don't consume it.
opened fridge (refrigerated)1-2 weeks after opening.
Signs of Spoilage
Visible mold (fuzzy spots of any color), strong sour, yeasty, or ammonia-like smell, slimy or overly hard/dry texture, discoloration (e.g., dark yellowing, browning, or green/blue patches).
How to Check
Visually inspect all surfaces of the cheese for any fuzz, spots, or discoloration. Smell the cheese directly – it should have a mild, pleasant dairy or cheesy aroma; any pungent, sour, metallic, or 'off' smell indicates spoilage. Touch the cheese (with clean hands or a clean utensil) – it should not feel slimy, sticky, or unusually hard/crumbly. If any of these signs are present, it's best to discard the cheese. Small amounts of mold on hard cheese might be cut off, but for shredded cheese, due to its increased surface area, it's safer to discard the whole package if mold is present.
Storage Tips
To extend freshness, reseal the original bag tightly, or transfer the cheese to an airtight container or a new zip-top bag, pressing out as much air as possible before sealing. Store away from strong-smsmelling foods, as cheese can absorb odors. Avoid cross-contamination by using clean utensils each time you access the cheese.
unopened fridge (original packaging)Until the 'Best By' or 'Use By' date on the package, typically 1-3 weeks past purchase if date is far off.
Signs of Spoilage
Visible mold (green, blue, black, pink, or white fuzzy spots), strong sour or ammonia-like smell, slimy texture on the cheese, significant discoloration beyond normal cheese color.
How to Check
Always check the 'Best By' or 'Use By' date first. Visually inspect the entire package for any signs of mold or unusual colors. Gently sniff the package (if it has a vent or if you open it slightly) for any sour, pungent, or off-odors. The cheese should smell mildly milky or cheesy.
Storage Tips
Keep the package sealed until you are ready to use it. Store in the coldest part of your refrigerator, typically the back of a shelf, to maintain its temperature consistently.
freezer (long-term storage)3-6 months for best quality; safe indefinitely from a food safety perspective.
Signs of Spoilage
Quality degradation rather than spoilage. Excessive ice crystals, freezer burn (dry, discolored, leathery spots), crumbly or overly soft/mushy texture upon thawing, diminished flavor, or altered melting properties.
How to Check
Visually check for excessive ice crystals or areas of freezer burn. While these don't make the cheese unsafe, they indicate a loss of quality. Upon thawing, observe the texture; it may be more crumbly or less firm than fresh cheese. The primary check here is for quality compromise, not spoilage in the microbial sense.
Storage Tips
Freeze in its original packaging if it's freezer-safe, or transfer to a heavy-duty freezer bag or airtight container. Squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Label with the date. Freezing can alter the texture of cheese, making it more crumbly, so it's generally best used for cooked dishes (casseroles, sauces, pizzas) rather than eating raw. Thaw frozen shredded cheese in the refrigerator overnight. Do not refreeze cheese once it has been thawed.