Bought some fresh Mozzarella a few weeks ago (sell by date 7/18). It isn't the kind that sits in a lot of water. One of those bigger chunks that are individually wrapped... I did some research online and it said if it has mold or a bad smell, toss it out. Also, a couple of websites suggested that if it is past expiration date to throw it out... Well, there is no expiration date on it, just a sell by date... And there's no bad smell or mold, but I THINK it tastes a LITTLE bit off, but I don't know for sure...
Anyone have more insight on this? I was REALLY looking forward to a tomato, basil and mozzarella salad with olive oil and salt... as is the whole family...
Thanks!
Half said eat it, half said don't!
THANKS:) I tasted a bit of it again, and then had my husband taste it. I don't think it was a bit off anymore. There was no swelling of the packaging, and the sell by date IS different than expiration.
SO, I made it, and all of us ate it... I wanted to wait a couple days before posted a response on the situation (just in case we all got sick- but not one of us got sick, and we all enjoyed it). It tasted 100% normal especially with the other ingredients. Thanks for the advice, and I did consider NOT eating it, so thanks for the warnings as well.
I think it was M. L.'s cheese scientist friend advice that won me over... and the fact that when I gave it another try I didn't think it tasted "off" anymore... oh, and also, the cheese was wrapped exceptionally well! It took me an hour just to unwrap it (well, not a FULL hour, LOL)
I don't even look at the dates, you can tell when it is bad. So long as the package is still sealed, and you see no visible mold, and lord it grows fast in fresh mozzarella, you can still use it.
Hmmm- I wouldn't use it.
An acquaintance is a cheese scientist... literally, he has a PhD in diary sciences or something and is a chemist for a leading dairy and cheese company. I'm pretty sure he would say it's fine. Cheese can last a long time after the sell by date, especially if it is very tightly wrapped and hasn't been opened yet.... but Mozzarella goes bad faster than other cheeses so that is something to consider. Was the wrapping swelled or starting to balloon at all? If so, I wouldn't eat it. If it tastes nasty, don't eat it, your whole meal will taste nasty.
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/food_product_dating/i...
It's been a few weeks and it tastes off means I would throw it out. The link is the info from the gov
I'd probably eat it. If it doesn't smell bad, go for it. You can always give a piece to a kid without clueing them in and see if they turn their nose at it...then it probably is bad! ;)
Isn't cheese curdled milk to begin with? If there isn't any mold, enjoy it. Fresh mozzerlla tastes a lot different from the more commercial brands.
If it tastes a little off - toss it...next time freeze it when you get home...a quick defrost? put it in the sink with hot water - will defrost quickly!!!
SORRY!!!
oh man, sorry but if i thought it was a Little bit off - I'd toss it :-(
Dont want to make anyone sick.
Run to the market :-)
The sell by date should be treated as the expiration date. Typically if there's no bad smell you can go three days past the expiration date. But you're REALLY past the sell by aka expiry date. Don't use it since it tastes off.
Next time, use it within the expiry date or freeze it and then use it within 48 hours after taking it out of the freezer.
