Unopened shredded cheese gets soggy in the fridge
I just moved out of my parents house and I'm fairly new to cooking and how to store stuff.
I bought a package of shredded mozzarella like a week or so ago and put it in the fridge. Today I was planning to do something with it but I realized that the inside of the package it wet and some part of the cheese is soggy. There is still 4 months to the expiration date so I don't think it is spoiled and it kinda make sense that it's wet because of the condensation in a cold environment. I just wanted to make sure if it is safe.
Is this normal? If it is, is it safe to use the soggy parts? and how can I prevent this from happening? How should I store these shredded cheeses if I want to buy them when they are on sale and use them later on?
Thanks in advance and sorry if I'm asking something stupid or so obvious, as I said I'm fairly new.
Best Answer
Traditionally, mozzarella is sold extremely fresh - as in made that day or the day before. If it's held for more than a day or so, it comes packaged in a brine. Most of the American stuff is just too soft to be held for packaging like other shredded cheese in the mega-mart.
In the US, being extreme gluttons for convenience, we tend to make do with part-skim shredded mozzarella instead of the good stuff. Slight temperature variations can make the shreds stick together in a globby mass. It's harmless from a safety point of view, and the expiry date can be long after the occurrence of perfectly safe globbiness.
Pro-Tip: Put the globby pieces in the freezer for 20 minutes, and then shred it like a block of harder cheese. Upon heating, it will melt (almost) as if the the globbiness had never happened. I have taken advantage of a few good sales that way. Mozzarella will become... ehem... colorful before it becomes unsafe.
While this answer is more for mozzerella than for other types of cheese; the last paragraph works for any mega-mart shredded cheese.
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Why does shredded cheese get wet in fridge?
Traditionally, mozzarella is sold extremely fresh - as in made that day or the day before. If it's held for more than a day or so, it comes packaged in a brine. Most of the American stuff is just too soft to be held for packaging like other shredded cheese in the mega-mart.Why is my unopened cheese wet?
No need to worry \u2013 the liquid on the outside of your cheese is just excess moisture, or liquid whey. Wipe off your cheese with a napkin or paper towel and enjoy! It's common for naturally-aged cheeses to develop a small amount of moisture inside their packaging.How long does unopened shredded cheese last in the fridge?
To maximize the shelf life of shredded cheddar cheese, do not open the package until ready to use. Properly stored, an unopened package of shredded cheddar cheese will last for about 1 week after the \u201cSell By\u201d or \u201cBest By\u201d date on the package.Does shredded cheese go bad in the fridge?
Properly stored, an opened package of shredded cheddar cheese will last for about 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator. Once the package is opened, consume or freeze the shredded cheddar cheese within the time shown for refrigeration, even if the "Best By," "Best if Used By," or "Use By" date has not yet been reached.10 Year Old Me Going To Get shredded Cheese Out Of The Refrigerator At 3AM
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