The Truth About Moldy Cheese
By Lana Bandoim
Instead of making a complicated meal or ordering fast food, sometimes it is easier to grab a quick snack from the fridge. Cheese is a healthy option and easy to grab. What happens when you discover the block of sharp cheddar is growing mold, and the goat cheese has suffered a similar fate?
The Type of Cheese
It may be tempting to throw away any piece of cheese that starts to show the first signs of mold. You care about the family’s health and want to avoid food poisoning. However, wasting food is also a concern for most people. No one wants to see good groceries end up in the trash.
Before throwing away the cheese, examine it. Is it one of the types that has mold growing on it naturally? Blue cheese is sold with veins of mold, and it is not a sign of spoilage. Brie and Camembert are other common varieties of cheese that have mold.
Hard Cheese vs. Soft Cheese
If you have determined that the type of cheese in the fridge should not have mold on it naturally, then there is another step to consider before throwing it away. Is the cheese considered soft or hard? Hard cheese is aged and includes cheddar. Parmesan is another popular aged cheese. Soft cheese includes ricotta, goat and cottage cheese.
In general, mold that grows on a small part of hard cheese can be cut away, and the rest of the block can be saved. However, mold that grows on soft cheese means the entire block or container should be thrown out. If you are worried that the mold has spread too far into the hard cheese, do not risk food poisoning and get rid of it.
Avoiding Mold
No one wants to throw delicious cheese into the trash without eating it. The key is to prevent mold before it starts in the varieties that do not have it naturally. This means carefully selecting the cheese while shopping and storing it properly. Keep it refrigerated, sealed and wrapped tightly in packaging. Pay attention to the expiration dates, especially on soft cheese, because they can vary.
Pay attention to the food in the fridge and throw away the things that are spoiled on a regular basis. Before throwing away any cheese, make sure it is not the type that naturally has mold. Your family may not forgive the loss of an expensive piece of blue cheese.
To learn more about your health and wellness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Phoenix, Ariz.