Will Expired Velveeta Make You Sick? Here’s What You Should Know

Most processed foods are capable of remaining fresh well past their expiration date. But what about cheese products like Velveeta? Will expired Velveeta make you sick? While cheese certainly does expire, there are some of which you can continue to eat even after they’ve expired, according to the date printed on the packaging. But there are a few important things to consider before doing so!

Table of Contents

• What is Velveeta Cheese?
• Will Expired Velveeta Cheese Make You Sick?
• How Long Will Velveeta Shells and Cheese Last After the Expiration Date?
• How Long is Velveeta Good For Past Its Expiration Date?
• Does Velveeta Have to be Refrigerated?
• How Long After Expiration Date Can You Eat Velveeta Mac and Cheese?
• How Long is Velveeta Queso Good For?
• How Long is Unopened Cheese Good For?
• Types of Products You Can Eat After The Expiration Date
• So Will Expired Velveeta Make You Sick?
• Will Expired Velveeta Make You Sick – FAQs

What is Velveeta Cheese?

Velveeta cheese is a type of processed cheese product that is quite similar to American cheese. It is made from substances like whey, milk, milk protein concentrate, modified starch, canola oil, and cheese culture. The proteins help extend the shelf life of Velveeta cheese. Which is why you’d often find blocks of Velveeta cheese stacked on supermarket shelves instead of in the refrigerator.

Expiration Date vs Best Before Date

The expiration date reveals the last day that a certain product is safe to consume. While the best-before date tells us that the food has passed its prime from the date on the packaging. This means that it may lose its freshness, taste, aroma, or nutrients.

Will Expired Velveeta Cheese Make You Sick?

As with any expired product, consuming expired Velveeta cheese is very likely to make you feel sick or unwell. If the taste of the cheese seems fine, and there’s no sign of odd growth, then the cheese is good to eat.

How Long Will Velveeta Shells and Cheese Last After the Expiration Date?

Typically, unopened Velveeta shells and cheese last up to 6 months after the date of manufacture, although you must pay attention to the “use-by” date printed on its packaging. The product should remain perfectly edible a few weeks after the date provided, and the product will taste as good as new.

Can Shells and Cheese Expire?

This will depend on how it was stored. An unopened box of Kraft Mac and Cheese can be stored for up to two years in a cool, dry place, however, before deciding whether it is appropriate to consume after the expiration date, it’s best to check whether the macaroni seems edible.

How Long is Velveeta Good For Past Its Expiration Date?

Unopened Velveeta cheese lasts up to 6 months past its expiration date. Despite this, once you’ve opened the expired processed cheese you’ll reduce its shelf life to 8 weeks, whereupon it’ll rapidly start to lose its quality. To remain on the safe side, it’s best to check if your Velveeta cheese looks and tastes good before using it.

Does Processed Cheese Expire

Naturally, all cheese must expire, although you can temporarily extend its shelf life depending on where you store it. For instance, unopened processed cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks and remain good to eat. Although, if you were to store the unopened product in the freezer, then it can last months while retaining its quality. The reason why cheese doesn’t last long when refrigerated is mainly due to its dry environment, which can dehydrate the cheese. Consequently making room for mold to appear.

How Do You Know if Processed Cheese is Bad?

If you’re wondering whether your cheese has gone bad, then know that signs of expired cheese are very obvious. Cheese that has gone bad harbors a very strong odor, a harder texture, along with a darker hue. Once you find mold growing on your cheese, it’s time to throw the whole thing away.

Can Cheese Spoil Without Mold?

Yes, you don’t always require the appearance of mold to reveal that your cheese has expired! You can always tell that your cheese has spoiled by the off-putting smell, discoloration, and hardened texture. To avoid this, always store your cheese in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight to retain its quality.

How Long Does Powdered Cheese Last?

When kept and sealed in an oxygen-absorber-lined bag, powdered cheese can be kept fresh for up to 15 years! Cheese powder that is stored in plastic bags or containers usually remains good for about a year, before it must be opened. So the way in which you store your cheese products will impact their longevity.

Does Velveeta Have to be Refrigerated?

Unopened Velveeta cheese can be stored in a cool dry place, and away from heat, although you must store Velveeta in the refrigerator once it has been opened.

How Long After Expiration Date Can You Eat Velveeta Mac and Cheese?

Typically, Velveeta mac and cheese is only good for 2 months after its expiration date. Normally, we’d look for signs of mold and a lingering smell when we’re trying to figure out if something has expired, however, when it comes to Velveeta mac and cheese this isn’t the case. It’s quite difficult to tell whether a product like this has expired, so it’s best to consume it before the expiration date.

How Long is Mac and Cheese Good For After The Expiration Date?

Shelf-stable foods like boxed mac and cheese can be stored for a long time. In some cases, food that has been unopened and untouched for more than a year after its expiration date was still deemed edible.

Does Boxed Macaroni and Cheese Go Bad?

It’s possible to have your boxed mac and cheese in good quality for up to two years. In order to achieve this, you must ensure that the packet remains dry and fresh from the inside, before storing it, as it will taste good, and not like it had been purchased two years ago!

What Happens If You Eat Expired Pasta?

There are many foodborne illnesses that can cause an upset stomach, diarrhea, and nausea, especially if you’ve consumed expired pasta. Before eating the pasta ensure that it has been cooked thoroughly, whilst checking for signs of spoilage.

How Long is Velveeta Queso Good For?

Velveeta cheese contains many preservatives, permitting the product to remain edible for up to 6 months if unopened, and about eight weeks after opening. You should always check the “use-by” date before eating as this can indicate whether the cheese is good to eat or not.

How Long is Unopened Cheese Good For?

Generally, cheese tends to have a long shelf life, which means that it can remain eatable past its expiration date. Did you know that cheese that has grown mold can also be salvaged? Simply cut the molded parts away, and enjoy the clean and sliced cheese!

How Long Does Unopened Cheese Last in The Fridge?

When stored appropriately, an unopened package of cheese can last between 2-4 months in the refrigerator. On the other hand, an opened package of Parmesan cheese or a block of cheddar remains good enough to eat for about six weeks when refrigerated.

Can You Get Food Poisoning From Expired Cheese?

Yes. Consuming any type of expired product can make you sick, and cheese is no exception. Moldy cheese is extremely dangerous to eat. Moldy cheese is filled with harmful bacteria, including E.coli. Listeria, Salmonella, and Brucella can lead to food poisoning. You may experience vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea, so to prevent days of pain and discomfort, avoid moldy cheese!

Types of Products You Can Eat After The Expiration Date

Many of us habitually throw food away once we notice that they have expired according to the expiration date printed on the product packaging. However, the expiration date or use-by date lets us know how long the product will remain fresh. Foods that are unsafe to eat often appear different, and smell odd.

Some of the foods that you can eat comfortably after they have expired are outlined below:

Bread

Unless your bread has any signs of mold, it is safe to eat after the expiration date. Alternatively, if you wish to extend the life of your bread then you can freeze it. Moreover, you can preserve your bread by making croutons and freezing them for later use.

White bread will typically last for 5-7 days when stored at room temperature. If the bread is refrigerated, it will remain fresh for 3-4 more days before going stale.

Butter

Butter lasts a long time, although you must keep it refrigerated. If you wish to preserve its quality for longer, then feel free to freeze it.

Canned Foods

We often dispose of our canned foods according to the expiration date. But did you know that the date printed on the can was placed 3 years before it was shelved at the grocery store? You can easily use the food in the cans for 2-5 years past the date, as long as you’ve kept them in a cool, dry place.

Canned foods typically last longer than most foods, although they won’t last forever. Canned fruits, vegetables, and certain soups can be eaten up to 5 years past their expiration date.

Cereal

Don’t be tempted to toss the boxes of cereal once they’ve reached their expiration date. If the cereal has been kept in your cupboard unopened and untouched, then the cereal will remain fresh and good enough to eat from 6-8 months past the expiration date. However, if the box has been opened, then it will last between 4-6 months.

Cheese

Cheese can easily be eaten a month after its expiration date. If you happen to spot some mold growth on your cheese, simply cut it off before eating.

So Will Expired Velveeta Make You Sick?

All expired foods are unsafe to consume and must not be eaten especially if they carry an unpleasant smell or signs of molding. Although processed foods may last longer, due to the additional preservatives for long shelf life.

Will Expired Velveeta Make You Sick – FAQs