Even though mozzarella is undoubtedly one of the most popular kinds of cheese throughout the world, not many people know a whole lot about it. For instance, one of the questions people wonder the most is just this simple:
How long can mozzarella cheese sit out? According to the USDA, mozzarella cheese cannot sit out for more than two hours to be entirely safe to eat. The reason for that is the extremely high activity bacteria have at room temperature.
This was just a really brief answer, though, because a more in-depth look is needed to understand this topic.
So let’s not waste any more time and just jump right into it!
Table of Contents
Does mozzarella cheese need to be refrigerated?
Yes, mozzarella cheese needs to be refrigerated if you’re planning on storing it for a while because, without refrigeration, it starts to turn bad in a matter of a few hours. When in the fridge, though, mozzarella cheese can stay good for even as long as three weeks.
How long does mozzarella last at room temperature?
According to the USDA, it is dangerous to eat any perishable food left out of the fridge for more than two hours. Therefore, at room temperature, mozzarella lasts just for two hours.
Does mozzarella cheese go bad quickly?
Because of the high activity bacteria have at room temperature, mozzarella cheese goes bad relatively quickly when it sits out – as the USDA says, it is not to safe mozzarella cheese that was left out of the fridge for more than two hours.
Can mozzarella cheese be left out overnight?
As we’ve explained in the previous answers, it’s dangerous to eat mozzarella cheese that was left out even just for two hours. So no, mozzarella cheese cannot be left out overnight because although it usually lasts a bit more than the mentioned two hours, that is simply far too long.
Is mozzarella cheese safe to eat if left out overnight?
According to the safety guidelines by the USDA, mozzarella cheese is not safe to eat if left out overnight because bacteria grow very quick at room temperatures. Because of that, you should rather throw the mozzarella out if it’s been sitting out for a while now – the maximum time it can safely be left out of the fridge is two hours.
How can you tell if mozzarella cheese is bad?
Telling if mozzarella cheese is bad or not is a pretty straightforward task – take a good look at it and also smell it. If you’ve noticed any disgusting smell, weird stains on the surface, or a weird change in its structure, the mozzarella cheese is bad, and you should toss it away.
How do you keep mozzarella cheese fresh?
If you want to make sure your mozzarella will stay in excellent shape, just putting it into the fridge isn’t enough. To keep mozzarella cheese fresh, you first have to seal it into some airtight containers carefully.
Just after that is done, it is now time to put it into the refrigerator. That way, it should stay good for at least two weeks.
What happens if you eat bad mozzarella cheese?
As we hope you all already know, eating bad food is more than likely to cause food poisoning. So if you eat bad mozzarella cheese, be prepared that you might have diarrhea or a stomach ache.
Summary
According to the United States Department of Agriculture guidelines, it is not safe to eat any perishable food left out for more than two hours due to bacteria proliferating at room temperature. Therefore, your mozzarella cheese can sit out for only two hours before eating it is dangerous.
Related:
- How Long Can String Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can American Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can Goat Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can Feta Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can Cream Cheese Sit Out?
Resources
Image credits – Canva
