Storing Fresh Mozzarella: How Long Can You Keep It?

Fresh mozzarella is a soft, creamy cheese that is best eaten on the same day it's purchased. However, if stored properly, it can be kept for a few days. The storage method depends on whether the mozzarella is sold in liquid or vacuum-packed. When stored in liquid, it can be kept for up to 5 days, while vacuum-packed mozzarella can last for 3 weeks. Freezing is not recommended for fresh mozzarella as it affects the texture and flavour.

Fresh mozzarella should be refrigerated at all times

Fresh mozzarella is best eaten the day it's made, but if you want to keep it for a few days, it's important to store it properly. The key to maintaining the quality of fresh mozzarella is to keep it refrigerated at all times.

The Importance of Refrigeration

Refrigeration is essential to prolonging the shelf life of fresh mozzarella. While some purists may argue that refrigeration affects the texture and flavour of the cheese, it is the best way to ensure its safety and prolong its freshness. At room temperature, mozzarella can spoil quickly due to its high moisture content and insufficient salt or acid to preserve it.

Proper Storage Techniques

To maintain the quality of fresh mozzarella, follow these storage guidelines:

• Keep it refrigerated, even if the package is unopened.
• Once opened, wrap the original packaging tightly in plastic wrap or aluminium foil. For added protection, first wrap the cheese in wax or parchment paper before covering it with plastic wrap.
• If you prefer to avoid plastic wrap, you can use a reusable freezer bag.
• For longer storage, consider freezing the cheese. Cut it into portions no larger than 1/2 pound each and wrap them tightly in heavy-duty aluminium foil, plastic freezer wrap, or place them in a heavy-duty freezer bag.
• Frozen mozzarella is best suited for cooked dishes, as it may become crumbly and lose some of its flavour.
• Fresh mozzarella stored properly in the refrigerator will typically last about 1 to 2 weeks.

Signs of Spoilage

It's important to regularly check the quality of your fresh mozzarella, even when stored in the refrigerator. Here are some signs that your mozzarella has spoiled:

• The presence of mold. If you see any mold, discard the cheese entirely.
• An off or sour smell. If the cheese or the liquid it's stored in smells sour, it's time to discard it.
• A sour or bitter taste. If the mozzarella tastes sour or bitter, it has spoiled and should be discarded.

It will last 1-2 weeks in the fridge

Fresh mozzarella is best eaten on the same day it's purchased. However, if stored properly, it can last for about 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.

The key to extending the shelf life of fresh mozzarella is to minimise its exposure to oxygen, as Cathy Strange, the global cheese buyer for Whole Foods Market, explains: "Cheese is alive. Once it’s exposed to oxygen, it attracts bacteria."

To properly store fresh mozzarella, you should keep it in its original packaging, ensuring that it is tightly sealed. If the original packaging is not available, you can wrap the cheese in plastic wrap or aluminium foil. For even better protection, wrap the cheese first in wax or parchment paper and then cover it with plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator.

Additionally, it is important to note that fresh mozzarella should be kept refrigerated at all times. If you want to further extend its shelf life, you can freeze it, but this may affect its texture and flavour.

It can be frozen, but it may become crumbly

Fresh mozzarella cheese is best consumed as soon as possible after purchase, ideally the same day. However, if stored properly, it can last for about 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. The exact duration depends on storage conditions, and it's important to keep the cheese refrigerated at all times.

To extend the shelf life of fresh mozzarella cheese, you can freeze it. Freezing can be done by cutting the cheese into portions no larger than half a pound each, then wrapping them tightly in heavy-duty aluminium foil or plastic freezer wrap, or placing them inside a heavy-duty freezer bag. Properly stored, fresh mozzarella cheese will maintain its best quality for about 6 months in the freezer, but it remains safe to consume beyond that period.

However, it's important to note that freezing fresh mozzarella may alter its texture and flavour. Frozen cheese tends to become crumbly, and it may lose some of its flavour. Therefore, it is best suited for cooked dishes, such as sauces, soups, and casseroles, where its texture and flavour can be incorporated into the dish without affecting the overall quality.

When thawing frozen mozzarella, it is recommended to defrost it in the refrigerator, which can take a day. Fresh mozzarella that has been defrosted in the fridge can be kept for an additional 3 to 4 days before using it. If you're in a hurry, you can also thaw it in the microwave or cold water, but it should be used immediately after.

Fresh mozzarella is packaged in liquid

Fresh mozzarella is one of the few types of cheese that is packaged in liquid. This liquid can be either water or brine (a mixture of water and salt). This packaging is necessary because fresh mozzarella has a high moisture content, which gives it its soft texture.

When storing fresh mozzarella cheese, it is important to keep it refrigerated at all times. If the package is unopened, refrigeration is all that is needed. However, once the package is opened, you have a couple of options for storing the leftovers.

One option is to wrap the cheese tightly in plastic wrap or aluminium foil, ensuring that there are no air pockets. This will prevent the cheese from drying out and help it retain its quality for a couple of days. If you don't like using plastic wrap, you can use a reusable freezer bag instead.

Another option is to store the leftover mozzarella in liquid, just like it was packaged. First, you need to check whether your mozzarella was originally submerged in water or brine. You can do this by reviewing the ingredients list on the label or tasting the liquid.

If your mozzarella came in water, you can prepare a similar liquid by covering the cheese with water in a container and adding about one teaspoon of salt for every cup of water. On the other hand, if it was packaged in brine, you can simply cover the cheese with water.

Submerge the mozzarella in the liquid, seal the container, and put it in the fridge. Remember to replace the liquid regularly, ideally every day or every other day. Storing the cheese in liquid will give you a couple of extra days of storage time.

If you need to store the mozzarella for a longer period, you can freeze it. Cut the cheese into portions no larger than half a pound each and wrap them tightly in heavy-duty aluminium foil, plastic freezer wrap, or place them in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Properly stored, fresh mozzarella will maintain its best quality for about six months in the freezer but will remain safe to consume beyond that time.

It will last 3-6 months unopened

Fresh mozzarella cheese is best eaten on the day of purchase. However, if stored correctly, it can last for 3-6 months unopened.

Fresh mozzarella is usually packaged in liquid, which helps to keep the cheese moist. If you're storing unopened fresh mozzarella, all you need to do is keep it refrigerated.

To maximise the shelf life of fresh mozzarella cheese, it should be kept refrigerated at all times. The refrigerator temperature should be maintained between 34 and 40 °F (1 and 4 °C).

If you want to keep mozzarella for a few days, it's important to know how to store it properly. Once the package is opened, the cheese will only keep for about one to two weeks in the refrigerator.

To extend the shelf life of fresh mozzarella cheese, it can be frozen. When freezing, cut the cheese into portions no larger than half a pound each, and wrap it tightly in heavy-duty aluminium foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place it inside a heavy-duty freezer bag.

Frequently asked questions