My boyfriend says parmesan sprinkle cheese is bad because it has been in the refrigerator for a long time. But I still use it long past it's date and don't seem to have any problems with it. What do you think?
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The rule with hard cheeses is you don't want to eat the moldy bits. This is easy to avoid when the cheese is in a block because you can just cut the moldy part off. With already ground cheese, the whole can is suspect the second you see any mold at all. That said, the agreed upon time is 3 months past the date on the package. I've used the cheese for longer than that myself but I can't recommend doing so. |
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Cans of cheese sprinkles are made to be shelf-stable for a longer time than fresh or block cheese (often, this is because the sprinkles are not made with real cheese -- or, if they are, then they also contain a lot of preservatives). The sprinkles should be safe to eat at least through their expiration date if stored properly. That said, any fat in the sprinkles can go rancid and mold can take hold well before the expiration date. If the contents of the can smell bad or the color of the sprinkle changes, don't take any chances; the cost of replacing the can is far lower than the cost of sickness. |
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It lasts a long while as long as it's stored properly. I use mine up too fast to have a problem. You may want to freeze half so you don't end up wasting it. It freezes very well. |
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I forgot to mention that hard cheeses naturally contain a lot of salt. I buy the store brand and it contains no preservatives, just cheese and cellulose as a non-caking agent. |
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