Without a slice of deli cheese inside, how can you even conceive a traditional American burger? However, there is little chance you can eat all your sliced American deli cheese in one sitting.
So, you may want to know, how long is sliced deli cheese good for? To many, deli cheese isn’t like real cheese. However, even if it isn’t a good cheese compared to some, it can transform grilled cheese sandwiches.
In our guide, you can learn more about how long does sliced cheese lasts and can it last long enough to use after the sell-by date? By the end, you’ll see how long this and other cheese can last with the correct storage and how long the shelf life will be using the proper storage methods. (Read Are Pickles And Cucumbers The Same)
What Is Sliced Deli Cheese?
Deli cheese is not renowned for its great quality, just like any other processed product. It’s excellent for giving your burger or sandwich some texture.
We need to comprehend how cheese is made to explain this. To make curd from milk, you must add rennet or another enzyme. After that, the curd and water are separated and pushed together. The curd is made and kneaded to create haloumi, mozzarella, and queso fresco. Other cheeses undergo a process that is significantly more involved. A whole unique process is used to make aged or hard cheese.
However, sliced deli cheese is not made using traditional techniques for manufacturing cheese. However, it begins with actual cheese. But after that, a ton of flavoring ingredients are added, and the entire thing is mixed into a paste. It must go through this process to become meltable. Otherwise, when heated, it would become a greasy mess.
You might be shocked to learn that the Swiss invented the process for making American cheese. Their intention was to offer a longer shelf life. Hence, deli cheese was created.
How Long is Deli Cheese Good for?
Deli cheese was explicitly made to survive longer in our pantry. So you can’t compare this with normal soft cheeses. How long does Deli cheese last in the fridge? Quick answer: three weeks.
We all choose sliced deli cheeses even though there are also unsliced options since they are the most practical. Sliced American deli cheese can be frozen to extend its shelf life.
By storing your deli cheese in the refrigerator, you can extend its shelf life. Do not store your cheese anywhere else. High temperature is the primary cause of spoiled deli cheese. If you open the package, use plastic wrap to cover the cheese tightly.
Deli cheese can last up to 4 weeks past its expiration date if you keep it properly stored. The sell-by date is a mere suggestion. Your cheese can go bad before the date too. It all depends on how you store your deli cheese. (Read Can You Freeze Cotija Cheese)
How Long Does Vacuum Sealed Cheese Last Refrigerated?
Cheese often keeps for up to two weeks when kept in an airtight container and bags. However, when refrigerated, it can be kept for up to eight months in heavy-duty freezer bags or heavy-duty sealed containers.
By preventing airborne contamination, when you vacuum seal the bag, it helps to protect your old cheese and maximize its shelf life. It stops moisture from evaporating. Your food’s shelf life may be increased by up to five times.
What about Swiss Cheese: How Long Does It Last?
Another common ingredient in most of our homes is Swiss cheese. Swiss cheese can last up to 3–4 weeks when kept in the refrigerator.
Swiss cheese can be frozen to maximize the shelf life. Swiss cheese can last up to two months in the refrigerator. However, the ideal range for Swiss cheese is between 5°C and 10°C.
Tell Deli Cheese Is Spoiled
If you have had your sliced American deli cheese for a while, you may want to know if it has spoiled.
Here’s a quick list of ways to see if your Sliced American deli cheese is still safe to eat.
- Smell your cheese. The cheese is past its prime if it smells strange or funky. Cheese can have a distinct nasty scent, but deli cheese doesn’t. Deli cheese has a creamy, almost sweet aroma.
- Deli cheese is pale in color. It is no longer safe to consume if it turns orange.
- Avoid eating cheese if you see any mold or fungus developing on it. Discard the entire thing.
Deli Cheese Shelf-Life Tips
Besides knowing how long does deli cheese last, you’ll want to see how you can extend the shelf life of your pre-sliced cheese. You extend the shelf life of your sliced American deli cheese inside your freezer.
However, to ensure the cheese will remain safe, double-wrap the sliced cheese in heavy-duty aluminum foil or place it in heavy-duty freezer bags. (Read Can You Freeze Feta Cheese)
Here’s more on the storage and use and how long will deli cheese last when you care for it to maximize the shelf life.
- How long does sliced American deli cheese last in the freezer? Properly stored, you can maintain the best quality for 8 months, although frozen cheese will remain safe past this date.
- The freezer time or the sell-by date on the package only shows the best quality, although American deli cheese or packaged cheese kept constantly frozen at 0°F will remain safe to use indefinitely.
- How long does sliced American deli cheese last after frozen and thawed? Sliced American deli cheese that has thawed can be kept for another 3 to 4 days in your refrigerator.
- Frozen cheese can become crumbly and lose some flavor; the thawed slice of American deli cheese best suits cooked dishes, like sauces and casseroles.
- How can you tell if sliced American deli cheese is bad? The best way to tell is to smell and look at the cheese. Does deli cheese smell when off? It will have an odor and flavor or an unpleasant appearance. If mold appears, toss all your sliced American deli cheese.
FAQs On How Long Does Deli Cheese Last?
How Long Does Unopened Cheese Slices Last?
Sliced cheeses, such as sliced Gouda or cheddar, stay fresh for a few weeks to as long as two months if they are not opened or wrapped in aluminum foil, wrap, or freezer bags.
Does vacuum-sealed cheese go bad?
Vacuum-sealing cheese locks in moisture and keeps out air. The paper absorbs excess moisture and keeps cheese fresh for months. This is the best technique to store cheese for long periods.
How do you know when cheese goes bad?
If you find mold on hard cheese, it’s normally safe to chop off the moldy area and consume the rest. The spores likely won’t have traveled throughout the cheese.
Bad cheese has a sour milk smell or taste. A good example would be cottage cheese; as this, you can’t seal it effectively after opening it.
How long does deli cheese last after the sell-by date?
Properly maintained deli cheese can survive 4 weeks after the expiration date. Aged cheese can last for much longer.
What happens if you eat expired processed cheese?
Cheese is fine if you like the taste. Most cheeses improve with age.
How long can sealed cheese last?
- Hard cheeses: 3 -4 weeks
- Soft cheeses such as cream cheese last 1 week after opening.
How long does American cheese last in the fridge once opened?
Open and unopened packaged foods such as American cheese slices can last 2-3 weeks past their best-before date.
How do you store sliced cheese in the fridge?
Whatever the cheese, store it using the vegetable crisper in your refrigerator. Use clean plastic wrap or wax paper and wrap the cheese after you use it.
How long does cheddar cheese last in the fridge?
Once opened, hard cheeses like cheddar and Swiss keep their freshness in your refrigerator for three to four weeks.
Can you freeze Monterey cheese?
It will keep its best quality for around six months if properly stored, but it will remain safe. The shown freezer time is solely for optimal quality. (Read Can You Freeze Cottage Cheese)
Do cheese slices go bad?
After sliced American deli cheese is purchased from the deli, you can refrigerate it for 2 to 3 weeks. During that time of storage, the cheese’s “sell-by” date may pass, but because it was stored properly, the cheese will still be fine and safe to eat.
Does mozzarella cheese go bad if unopened?
Assuming it is salted, vacuum-sealed containers of an unopened package of chilled fresh mozzarella typically last up to four to six weeks from manufacturing. It must be refrigerated after being opened and consumed within four to seven days.
Can I freeze packaged cheese?
Slip the package of premade sliced cheese into a freezer bag and put it in the freezer. A sheet of parchment paper should be inserted between each slice of cheese when using deli-sliced cheese.
What kind of cheese doesn’t need to be refrigerated?
Good news first. Unrefrigerated cheeses: Goudas, Parmigiano Reggiano, Piave, Grana Padano, and Mimolette are super-aged and don’t need refrigeration.
Can you freeze vacuum-sealed cheese?
Cheese can be frozen for up to two months if well-wrapped (or vacuum-sealed) to prevent freezer burn. After freezing, even extra-sharp cheddar softened.
Can you eat cheddar cheese after the expiration date?
Hard cheeses like cheddar and Parmesan can be eaten after their best-before dates, unlike soft cheeses like Camembert. Even if they’re moldy, the inside is safe to eat for up to six weeks.
How long does cheese last in the fridge?
Hard cheese is safe for six weeks once opened. Gruyere and Gouda can be refrigerated for two to three weeks after opening. This cheese can be frozen for two months if the packet is intact.
