Cream cheese is an ingredient that you can use in savory dishes but also sweet bakes. Cream cheese can make a perfect spread but also a great topping for cakes like red velvet. Knowing how to tell if cream cheese is bad is crucial as you could prevent yourself from feeling very unwell.
In this article we will explore if you can eat cream cheese past its expiration date and what are the signs that your cream cheese has turned bad.
Table of Contents
- Is It Ok To Eat Expired Cream Cheese?
- Can Expired Cream Cheese Make You Sick?
- What Happens If You Eat Bad Cream Cheese?
- What Does Bad Cream Cheese Taste Like?
- How To Tell If Cream Cheese Is Bad
- How To Tell If Spreadable Cream Cheese Is Bad
- How To Tell If Unopened Cream Cheese Is Bad
- FAQs on Cream Cheese Expiry
- Look Out For The Main Visual Signs That Cream Cheese Has Turned Bad
Is It Ok To Eat Expired Cream Cheese?
Has your cream cheese remained in its airtight packaging? Has it not been opened at all? Then your cream cheese can last for up to three or four weeks past the printed expiration date that is on the package.
We advise that if you are going to consume cream cheese after its expiration date, look for signs of spoilage first. This is just to make sure that your cream cheese has not actually turned bad.
Can Expired Cream Cheese Make You Sick?
The quick answer is yes, eating expired cream cheese if it has spoiled can make you sick.
Many people that end up eating off cream cheese will end up with symptoms of food poisoning. These can include an upset stomach and digestive issues.
Cream cheese can spoil easily. It needs to be refrigerated to be able to slow the rate of bacteria growth. Cream cheese spoils quickly as it is made from dairy products that also spoil quickly.
What Happens If You Eat Bad Cream Cheese?
If you eat cream cheese that has expired and turned bad, it could lead to food poisoning. Food poisoning can result in nasty symptoms such as upset stomach, diarrhea and nausea. If you believe that your cream cheese has turned bad, it is best to discard it immediately.
What Does Bad Cream Cheese Taste Like?
What does expired cream cheese taste like? Cream cheese will taste sour if it has turned bad. It will also smell awful.
If you have noticed signs of spoilage on your cream cheese, you should not try it. But, if your cream cheese appears to be fine then tasting it could be the answer to whether it has gone bad.
How To Tell If Cream Cheese Is Bad
It can be very visible if your cream cheese has started to turn bad. The spoilage signs can show themselves in many forms.
Here are the top signs to look out for that will show if your cream cheese has turned bad:
- Change in appearance: This is the first change that happens to your cream cheese if it has turned bad. Cream cheese that has gone off will start to look greenish and yellowish on the surface and may also start to turn slimy on top.
- Change in texture: Texture is one of the spillage signs that can appear early on if your cream cheese has turned bad. Your cream cheese may start to crack and turn slimy. The top layer of your cream cheese may also start to crumble if it has turned bad.
- Change in taste: If the taste of your cream cheese has altered, even slightly then this is a clear sign that your cream cheese has turned bad and you will need to throw it away.
- Visible mold: Mold can grow if the bacteria on your cream cheese has started to grow. If mold does appear, this means there is dangerous bacteria on your cream cheese that could harm you and therefore it is best to discard your cream cheese straightaway.
- Off smell: Another sign of spoilage can be the smell of a food. If your cream cheese has start to smell foul or now has a very strong smell compared to when you first bought it, this is a clear sign that your cream cheese has turned bad and is no longer safe to consume.
How To Tell If Spreadable Cream Cheese Is Bad
The most obvious way to tell if your cream cheese has turned bad is if mold starters form on top or in the cream cheese.
The texture of your cream cheese will start to break if mold has started to grow. You should not consume the cream cheese if mold has started to appear.
Many people continue to use cream cheese once they have cut the mold area from the surface of cream cheese but this is dangerous. There can be mold growing that will not be seen by the human eye. Consuming moldy cream cheese can lead to food poisoning.
How To Tell If Unopened Cream Cheese Is Bad
You will find that most cream cheese will be stored in an airtight packet when it is sold to you. This airtight packet can help protect the cream cheese from spoiling and growing nasty bacteria that can make you sick. If you notice there is a change in texture in your unopened cream cheese, this may mean that the unopened cream cheese has turned bad. This change in texture may show as lumps or crumbs on the surface that you will be able to feel through the packet.
Here is ideas on how to prevent food from spoiling
FAQs on Cream Cheese Expiry
Why Is There Liquid In My Cream Cheese?
If there is clear liquid in your packets of cream cheese that can be normal and will be a result of syneresis. This is a term to explain the separation of the liquid from the cheese and should not affect the quality of the cream cheese. If you believe that the cream cheese has turned bad, then look for other signs of spillage and throw it away if you are in any doubt.
Look Out For The Main Visual Signs That Cream Cheese Has Turned Bad
The first thing to look for when looking to see if your cream cheese has turned bad is if the appearance of your cream cheese has changed. This can be in texture or visuals. If your cream cheese is starting to look crumbly or slimy, this is a sign that your cream cheese has expired. If your cream cheese has changed slightly in color or is starting to grow mold, discard the cream cheese immediately.
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