How Long Can Mozzarella Stay In The Fridge: Your Guide

How long does mozzarella last in the fridge? How do you store mozzarella cheese? Can you eat expired mozzarella? These are common questions. The short answer is that how long mozzarella stays good depends on the type of mozzarella and how you store it. Fresh mozzarella has a shorter mozzarella shelf life than low-moisture mozzarella. You must keep all mozzarella cold in the fridge. Eating mozzarella after its date or if it looks or smells bad is risky and usually not a good idea. This guide will help you know the best ways to keep your mozzarella cheese and how to tell if it’s still safe to enjoy. We will look at the fresh mozzarella expiration date and the low moisture mozzarella storage time. We will also cover storing mozzarella in brine.

How Long Can Mozzarella Stay In The Fridge
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Getting to Know Your Mozzarella

Not all mozzarella is the same. The kind you have changes how long it will last and how you should keep it. There are two main kinds you will find.

Fresh Mozzarella

This is the soft, white cheese. It often comes in balls of different sizes. It is kept in liquid. The liquid can be water, salt water (brine), or a milky liquid. This cheese has a lot of water in it. Think of it like milk that has just turned into cheese. It is made to be eaten soon after it is made. It has a short soft mozzarella storage time.

Looks: Very white, smooth.
Feels: Soft, spongy, easy to tear or slice.
Comes in: Bags or tubs filled with liquid.
Best for: Eating fresh in salads (like Caprese), on simple pizzas where the cheese is added near the end, or on sandwiches.

Low-Moisture Mozzarella

This is the kind you see in blocks, shredded in bags, or in string cheese. It has been dried out more than fresh mozzarella. It has less water. Less water means it can last longer. This is the most common kind for cooking.

Looks: Yellowish or off-white, firmer.
Feels: Firmer, rubbery, hard to tear by hand, easy to shred.
Comes in: Solid blocks wrapped in plastic, or already shredded in bags.
Best for: Melting on pizza, in lasagna, baked dishes, quesadillas, and hot sandwiches.

The difference in how much water is in the cheese is very important. More water means germs can grow faster. That’s why fresh mozzarella doesn’t last as long as the low-moisture kind.

Keeping Unopened Mozzarella Safe

Storing mozzarella right starts before you even open the package. How you keep unopened mozzarella in fridge makes a big difference in its shelf life.

Unopened Low-Moisture Mozzarella Block or Shredded

This type is easy to store when it’s not opened yet.

Keep it cold: Put it in your fridge as soon as you get home from the store. The fridge should be at 40°F (4°C) or colder. This cold temperature slows down the growth of bad germs.
Keep it in its package: The original wrapping is made to keep the cheese fresh and safe until you open it. Don’t open it until you are ready to use it.
Check the date: Look for the date on the package. This date tells you how long the maker thinks the cheese will be best quality. For unopened low-moisture cheese, it usually stays good until this date, or maybe a little while after, if kept cold the whole time.

An unopened block of low-moisture mozzarella stored properly in the fridge can usually last for several weeks, often past the ‘best by’ date printed on the package. Shredded mozzarella might have a slightly shorter life once it hits that date because more of the cheese surface is exposed (even in the sealed bag), but it still lasts much longer than fresh mozzarella.

Unopened Fresh Mozzarella

This type needs more care, even when unopened.

Keep it cold: Always keep fresh mozzarella in the fridge at 40°F (4°C) or colder. Never leave it out at room temperature for long.
Keep it in its liquid: The liquid in the package is important. It keeps the cheese moist and helps protect it. Don’t drain the liquid until you need to use the cheese.
Check the date: Fresh mozzarella usually has a ‘use by’ date. This date is more important than a ‘best by’ date. Because it has so much water and is less salty, bad germs can grow faster. You should plan to use it by this date.

An unopened ball of fresh mozzarella in its liquid kept cold in the fridge usually lasts until the ‘use by’ date on the package. This is often just a few days or a week or two after you buy it. It does not last as long as the dry type.

Storing Mozzarella Once You Open It

The biggest change in mozzarella shelf life happens the moment you open the package. When air touches the cheese, it can start to dry out. Also, tiny germs from the air, your hands, or knives can get on the cheese. This is why opened mozzarella storage is different and very important.

Opened Low-Moisture Mozzarella Block

Once you cut into a block of mozzarella, you need to protect the cut surfaces.

Wrap it tight: The best way to store opened low-moisture mozzarella is to wrap it very, very tightly. Use plastic wrap, wax paper, or special cheese paper. Press the wrap right against the cut surface and then cover the whole piece. This keeps air away. Air causes the cheese to dry out and can bring mold spores.
Use a container: After wrapping it tightly, you can put the wrapped cheese in a resealable plastic bag or a hard plastic container. This adds another layer of protection. It helps stop the cheese from picking up smells from other foods in the fridge.
Store in the cold spot: Put it back in the coldest part of your fridge.

An opened block of low-moisture mozzarella, wrapped well and kept cold, can often last for about 2 to 3 weeks. It might start to get a little harder on the edges, but it should still be good to use.

Opened Low-Moisture Shredded Mozzarella

A bag of shredded cheese is already ‘open’ to the air inside the bag, but it’s sealed from the outside air until you open it.

Close the bag: After taking out what you need, press out as much air as possible from the bag. Then close it tightly. Most bags have a zip-top seal. If not, use a clip or roll the top down tightly.
Keep it cold: Put the bag back in the fridge right away.

Opened shredded mozzarella usually lasts for about 1 to 2 weeks after you open the bag. Because it’s already in small pieces, more surface is open to air and possible germs once the bag is not sealed perfectly.

Opened Fresh Mozzarella

This is the trickiest type for opened mozzarella storage. You need to keep it moist. If it dries out, it gets hard and rubbery. It also won’t last as long.

Keep it in liquid: Do not just put the ball of cheese in a container by itself. It needs to stay wet.
Use the old liquid (short term): If you opened a bag or tub, you can put the leftover cheese back in the original liquid. Make sure the cheese is fully covered. Put the whole thing in a sealed container or bag. Use this within a day or two if possible.
Make new liquid (best way): For longer storage (up to a week), it is better to put the leftover fresh mozzarella in fresh liquid.
- Salt water (Brine): This is the best way for storing mozzarella in brine. Mix about 1 teaspoon of salt into 1 cup of cold water. Put the cheese in a clean container. Pour the salt water over the cheese until it is fully covered. This salt water helps keep the cheese firm and slows down germs.
- Plain water: You can use plain cold water if you don’t want to add salt. But salt water works better to keep the cheese texture nice. Plain water can make the cheese a bit mushy over time.
Use a sealed container: Put the cheese and its liquid in a clean container with a tight-fitting lid. This stops air from getting in and keeps the cheese from getting fridge smells.
Change the liquid: If you are keeping it for several days, it’s a good idea to change the water or brine every day or two. Use fresh salt water each time.

Opened fresh mozzarella stored correctly in liquid in the fridge usually lasts about 5 to 7 days. It might last a little longer if you keep changing the brine. But it’s always best to check it carefully (smell and look) before using it.

How Long Mozzarella Usually Lasts

Here is a simple guide for how long mozzarella stays good. Remember, these times are just estimates. How you store it and how cold your fridge is can change these times. Always check the cheese before you use it, no matter the date or the time.

Type of Mozzarella	State	How to Store (Fridge)	Usual Time it Stays Good (Estimates)
Fresh Mozzarella (in liquid)	Unopened	In original bag/tub, fully sealed	Until the ‘use by’ date (often 1-2 weeks from purchase)
Fresh Mozzarella (in liquid)	Opened	In clean container with fresh brine or water	5-7 days
Low-Moisture Block	Unopened	In original wrap	Several weeks, maybe past ‘best by’ date
Low-Moisture Block	Opened	Wrapped very tightly in plastic wrap, then bag/container	2-3 weeks
Low-Moisture Shredded	Unopened	In original sealed bag	Until the ‘best by’ date, maybe a bit after
Low-Moisture Shredded	Opened	Bag sealed tightly (zip-top or clip)	1-2 weeks

These times are for cheese kept cold in the fridge at 40°F (4°C). If your fridge is warmer, it might not last as long.

How to Know If Mozzarella Is Bad

Checking your mozzarella before you eat it is the best way to stay safe. Dates on packages are helpful, but they don’t tell the whole story, especially after the cheese is opened. You need to use your senses: look, smell, and feel. Here is how to tell if mozzarella is bad.

Look at It

Mold: This is the most obvious sign. Mold can look like fuzzy spots of green, blue, black, pink, or white. If you see mold on fresh mozzarella, throw it all away. Mold spreads easily through the soft, wet cheese. If you see mold on a hard block of low-moisture mozzarella, you might be able to cut off the moldy part and a good inch around it, but it’s safer to throw it away, especially if the mold is widespread or you see several spots. Don’t try to save molded fresh mozzarella.
Color changes: Fresh mozzarella should be bright white. If it starts to look yellow or pinkish, it might be going bad. Low-moisture mozzarella is usually off-white or yellowish. If it gets very dark yellow or looks slimy, it’s a bad sign.
Dry or hard spots (Fresh Mozzarella): If fresh mozzarella is not kept in liquid, it will get dry and hard on the outside. This means it’s losing its quality and won’t taste good. It might not be unsafe yet, but it’s past its best.
Slime: If the cheese feels slimy or the liquid around fresh mozzarella is cloudy or slimy, throw it out. Slime is a sign of bacteria growth.

Smell It

Fresh smell: Fresh mozzarella should smell clean and milky. Low-moisture mozzarella has a mild, slightly milky smell.
Bad smells: If the cheese smells sour, like old milk, yeast, or just plain bad or “off,” it is likely spoiled. Your nose is a good tool here. If it smells wrong, don’t eat it.

Feel It

Texture changes: Fresh mozzarella should be soft and a bit springy. If it feels hard, dry, or very mushy and falling apart, it’s probably bad or past its prime. Low-moisture mozzarella should be firm. If it feels slimy or strangely soft in spots, it might be spoiled.

When in doubt, throw it out. It’s not worth getting sick over. These signs are your guide for how to tell if mozzarella is bad.

Eating Mozzarella After the Date

The date on the package tells you something important, but it is not the only thing to think about. Can you eat expired mozzarella? It depends on the type of cheese, the date, and how you stored it.

‘Best By’ vs. ‘Use By’

‘Best By’ date: This date is about quality. The cheese is expected to be at its best taste and texture before this date. For low-moisture mozzarella, it might still be safe to eat after this date if it has been stored right and shows no signs of spoilage (no mold, no bad smell). But the quality might go down.
‘Use By’ date: This date is about safety. It is often found on softer, wetter cheeses like fresh mozzarella. You should use the cheese by this date. Eating fresh mozzarella after its ‘use by’ date is risky because harmful bacteria can grow in it without making it look or smell bad right away.

Risks of Eating Expired Mozzarella

Eating mozzarella after the ‘use by’ date, or eating any mozzarella that shows signs of spoilage (mold, bad smell, slime), can make you sick. You could get food poisoning. Symptoms can include stomach pain, throwing up, and diarrhea. For some people, this can be serious.

What to Do

Fresh Mozzarella: Stick to the ‘use by’ date. If it’s past this date, even by a day or two, it’s safest to throw it away. If it’s before the date but looks or smells bad, throw it away. The fresh mozzarella expiration date is important for safety.
Low-Moisture Mozzarella: If it’s past the ‘best by’ date but looks, smells, and feels normal, it might be okay for cooking where it will be heated well. However, if the date is long past, or if you see any sign of mold or bad smell (even if it’s before the date), throw it out. The risk isn’t worth it.
Always Check: No matter the date, always check the cheese using your senses. If it passes the look, smell, and feel test (no mold, no bad smell, no slime), and it’s a ‘best by’ date on low-moisture cheese not too far past, you might choose to use it, but be aware there is still a small risk and the quality might be lower. For ‘use by’ dates or fresh cheese, it is much safer to follow the date strictly.

So, can you eat expired mozzarella? For fresh mozzarella with a ‘use by’ date, almost never. For low-moisture mozzarella past a ‘best by’ date, maybe, but only if it looks, smells, and feels perfect, and only at your own risk. Safety is key.

Making Your Mozzarella Last Longer

Want to get the most out of your cheese? Good storage is the answer. Here are simple tips for how to store mozzarella cheese to help it last as long as possible within its natural mozzarella shelf life.

Fridge is Key: Always keep mozzarella in the fridge. The cold is your friend. Keep your fridge at 40°F (4°C) or a little colder.
Don’t Leave it Out: Never leave mozzarella sitting on the counter at room temperature for more than two hours. If it’s warmer than 90°F (32°C), don’t leave it out for more than one hour. Heat helps bad germs grow very fast.
Wrap Low-Moisture Tight: Once you open a block of low-moisture mozzarella, wrap it very tightly in plastic wrap. Get all the air out. Then put it in a bag or container. This stops it from drying out and getting moldy fast.
Keep Fresh Mozzarella Wet: Always store opened fresh mozzarella in fresh liquid (salt water is best). Make sure the cheese is fully covered. Use a container with a tight lid. This is key for soft mozzarella storage time and storing mozzarella in brine.
Cleanliness Matters: Always use clean knives and forks to cut or serve your mozzarella. Don’t touch the cheese with unwashed hands. This stops new germs from getting onto the cheese.
Store Away From Strong Smells: Cheese can take on smells from other food in the fridge (like cut onions). Store it in a sealed container to protect its taste.

Following these steps helps make sure your mozzarella stays good for as long as it should, based on whether it’s fresh or low-moisture and whether it’s opened or unopened. Proper low moisture mozzarella storage and soft mozzarella storage time depend on these simple rules.

Can You Freeze Mozzarella?

Yes, you can freeze mozzarella if you want to keep it for a long time, but it will change the cheese. Freezing is best for low-moisture mozzarella, not fresh mozzarella.

Low-Moisture (Block or Shredded): This type freezes better. When you freeze and then thaw it, the texture changes. It can become more crumbly or less smooth. It might separate a little. Because of this, frozen mozzarella is best used for cooking. It melts just fine on pizza or in baked dishes. It might not be as good for eating cold in a sandwich or salad.
- How to freeze: If it’s a block, wrap it very well in plastic wrap, then put it in a freezer bag. If it’s shredded, just put the bag inside a freezer bag or box to protect it. Push out as much air as you can. Label it with the date.
- How long to freeze: Low-moisture mozzarella can be frozen for several months, maybe up to 6 months or even longer. It will stay safe if kept frozen, but the quality might get worse over time.
Fresh Mozzarella: Freezing fresh mozzarella is generally not a good idea if you plan to eat it fresh later. The high water content forms ice crystals. When it thaws, the cheese becomes very watery, mushy, and the texture is ruined. It will fall apart. It might still be usable for cooking in some dishes, but it will not be the same. It’s much better to use fresh mozzarella quickly or store it correctly in the fridge for its short life.

So, while you can freeze mozzarella, especially the low-moisture kind, know that it changes the quality. It is a way to extend the mozzarella shelf life a lot, but mostly for cooking uses.

Summing Up Mozzarella Storage

Knowing how to store mozzarella cheese is key to enjoying it safely and for as long as possible.

Different kinds of mozzarella last for different amounts of time. Fresh, soft mozzarella lasts only about a week after opening, stored in liquid. Low-moisture blocks or shredded cheese can last 2-3 weeks after opening if wrapped tightly.
Always keep mozzarella cold in the fridge, around 40°F (4°C).
Unopened mozzarella lasts longer than opened mozzarella. Check the ‘use by’ or ‘best by’ date, but remember opened cheese needs faster use.
Opened mozzarella storage is very important. Wrap low-moisture cheese tightly. Keep fresh mozzarella covered in fresh water or salt water (storing mozzarella in brine).
Always check your cheese for signs of spoilage: mold, bad smells, or slimy texture. Use how to tell if mozzarella is bad signs before eating.
Eating mozzarella after the date, especially fresh mozzarella after its ‘use by’ date or any cheese with signs of spoilage, is risky. Can you eat expired mozzarella? It’s often best not to, for safety.

By following these simple steps, you can help keep your mozzarella cheese fresh and delicious for your meals.

Frequently Asked Questions

h4: How long does fresh mozzarella last in the fridge once opened?

Usually, about 5 to 7 days if you keep it in fresh water or salt water in a sealed container in the fridge.

h4: What is the white, milky liquid in the fresh mozzarella package?

That liquid is usually whey or a salt water solution (brine). It helps keep the cheese moist and fresh.

h4: Can I just put fresh mozzarella in a bag without liquid after opening?

No, that is not a good idea. It will dry out very fast and get hard. It won’t taste good and might spoil faster. It needs liquid to stay soft and last its full short soft mozzarella storage time.

h4: What if my low-moisture block cheese has a tiny bit of mold on one edge?

For hard cheeses like low-moisture mozzarella blocks, you might be able to cut off the moldy part and a good inch (about 2.5 cm) of cheese around and below it. But if there’s a lot of mold, or if it’s soft mozzarella, it’s safer to throw away the whole piece. Mold has roots you cannot see.

h4: The date on my shredded mozzarella bag passed yesterday, but it looks and smells fine. Is it safe?

It’s likely okay, but use it soon. The ‘best by’ date is about quality, not strict safety for this type. Always check for mold, bad smells, or wetness first. If you see anything wrong, throw it out.

h4: Should I store mozzarella in the door of the fridge?

No, the door is usually the warmest part of the fridge because it’s opened often. Store cheese on a shelf inside the main part of the fridge where the temperature stays more steady and cold. This helps with proper low moisture mozzarella storage and soft mozzarella storage time.