Can crumbled feta cheese last almost a year?

Question

This question talks about feta cheese in a brine or milk bath lasting up to three months. What about crumbled feta?

I was looking through the fridge, and found a 1/2 pound open container of crumbled feta. I have only used about an ounce of it. There is no sign of mold on it, and it smells like feta cheese. A small sample tasted okay. The amazing thing is that I bought it in October or November: 8-10 months ago!

I have a recipe that calls for almost a 1/2 pound of feta, and I will be the only one eating it (so I'm not trying to impress anybody!).

I dislike wasting food, but I dislike being sick even more!

Is it safe to use dry crumbled feta that is so old?

Did you end up eating it? How did it turn out? – Nicholas Pipitone Mar 29 '19 at 18:24 — Nicholas Pipitone, Mar 29 '19 at 18:24

score 7 · Answer 1 · answered Aug 11 '15 at 17:43

I wouldn't claim to be an expert, nor would I want to give bad health advice. But generally, it's easy to tell if a cheese is still safe to eat - if, as you said, it doesn't have mold that isn't supposed to be there, and doesn't smell. If it were me, I'd eat it as long as it still has the same texture, color, and smell as it started with.

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited Jul 28 '21 at 12:53

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I have eaten feta cheese for years after the expiration date. The feta is refrigerated tightly closed in the same container purchase and it’s crumbled feta. I have never seen signs of mold, as a matter of fact the older the feta the better it tastes. I purchased it from Sam’s wholesale and feta lasts for years. I haven’t had a problem but I don’t recommend it. However, it's my method and it works for me.

edited Jul 28 '21 at 12:53

Anastasia Zendaya

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answered Jul 27 '21 at 21:34

Rosetta C.

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Thank you Rosetta. If you have a moment, can you edit your post for clarity? I'm having a little trouble understanding the part that states "I have never seen signs of mold matter of fact the older the feta the better it taste". Since you are a new user, I don't know if you have sufficient rep to edit even your own post. I upvoted your helpful post to get you started with a little rep to hopefully resolve that possible issue. – RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket Jul 28 '21 at 04:41

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 23 '16 at 08:01

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No, feta does not last that long. Once it is out of the brine, you have to treat it as a perishable food.

answered Jun 23 '16 at 08:01

rumtscho

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But crumbled feta is often sold without the brine to start with... – Robert Jun 25 '16 at 16:47
@Robert I have never seen feta without brine sold without refrigeration, crumbled or not – rumtscho Jun 25 '16 at 16:48
Right, but the OP said it was in the fridge. – Robert Jun 25 '16 at 16:49
And perishable food lasts a few days to weeks in the fridge depending on what kind it is, but never a year. Feta tends to get maybe 10 days in the fridge when open and brineless. – rumtscho Jun 25 '16 at 16:49
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The crumbled non-brined feta in my fridge is good till July 19, so about a month to go. We bought it about 3 or 4 weeks ago, and I doubt it came fresh from the factory at that point. – Robert Jun 25 '16 at 16:52
Expiration dates on food apply to unopened food. Many milk products are packaged under sterilized conditions. It is like milk - the expiration date can be weeks in the future, but once you open it, it is only safe for 3-4 days. – rumtscho Jun 25 '16 at 16:53
Let us [continue this discussion in chat](http://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/41666/discussion-between-robert-and-rumtscho). – Robert Jun 25 '16 at 17:46

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 13 '15 at 01:19

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According to eatbydate.com Feta Cheese should last a week past its printed date in the refrigerator unopened. The site suggests that soft cheeses do not have a long shelf life.

answered Aug 13 '15 at 01:19

LinLane

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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 22 '16 at 23:42

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Should be fine. You have seen no sign of change in the cheese. Remember, making cheese is a way of preserving milk. And feta is cured in brine -- salt is a further preservative.

answered Jun 22 '16 at 23:42

Aileen Hampton

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Surely there's a difference between feta that's still in brine and feta that's sitting in a tub of air? – Catija Jun 23 '16 at 22:03

score 0 · Answer 6 · answered Nov 06 '17 at 22:30

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Soft cheeses are the #1 cause listeria if not handled properly. Feta typically has a 5-7 day shelf life, once opened, no matter what the expire date says. I would not risk eating any soft cheese that has expired shelf life.

answered Nov 06 '17 at 22:30

dvpam

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score -1 · Answer 7 · edited Jun 09 '21 at 19:35

I have been eating crumbled and block feta cheese at least two weeks after opening for years. We have never gotten sick although I have thrown it out if it became mushy or got a yellowish tint to it. I am just learning about getting listeria (scarey). I don't like wet feta; I like it dry on my salads, unless of course I put it in an omelet or extra inside spinach pie. In any case I am not saying you should do what I do but I do not agree that it only lasts 5-7 days after opening. Now as far as deli counter feta that's in brine I always ask for a certain size chunk and this kind does get dry and tinted after about 10 days so I throw it out. It's a rough judgement but good luck everyone and stay safe and healthy.

Can crumbled feta cheese last almost a year?

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