When is ricotta cheese bad

Unlike many cheeses that naturally have a pronounced odor, ricotta cheese has almost no odor. Ricotta is a mild, soft cheese that tastes and smells mostly of milk. If you notice a sour or fermented odor, throw discard it. Ricotta cheese is highly perishable and should always be stored covered and in the refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or cooler.

When handling ricotta, use a clean serving spoon to scoop out a portion. Cover the container and refrigerate it promptly. Even with this careful handling, an opened package of ricotta will only last one to two weeks, according to the U. Department of Agriculture. To be on the safe side, discard ricotta cheese that's been in your fridge for longer than two weeks after opening it.

If you can't remember when you bought the ricotta, throw it out. More on how to store it in a bit. For longer storage periods, consider the freezer, where your ricotta cheese will last for up to 3 months. Room temperature is the enemy of ricotta, encouraging bacterial growth. Either reseal the packet if it is resealable or transfer your ricotta to an airtight container, before returning it to the fridge. You can also freeze ricotta cheese.

Either pop it in the freezer in the original packaging or freeze it in an airtight container. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator. Now, a little separation is completely normal. Smell the ricotta cheese. Ricotta cheese that is safe and suitable to use does not have much of a discernible scent. If you smell the ricotta cheese and you detect a spoiled dairy smell, do not use the ricotta cheese.

Ricotta cheese kept cold in the refrigerator should stay fresh for two weeks unopened and one week after opening. Always check the sell by date on the ricotta cheese container.

Ricotta cheese will usually stay suitable to eat for approximately one week past this date. Kathryn Hatter is a veteran home-school educator, as well as an accomplished gardener, quilter, crocheter, cook, decorator and digital graphics creator.