American cheese can make any meal delicious! It`s an essential part of every good cheeseburger and sandwiches of all kinds. American cheese is easy to use because of its sliced packaging. It also melts quickly, has a flavor that all kids adore, and you can find it in every store. No wonder this cheese is among the favorite ones in the world!  

Because of its popularity, American cheese often finds a place in every household`s refrigerators. Therefore, it’s essential to know how long this famous cheese is good to eat and how to properly store it to last as long as possible. People usually get confused about any cheese`s expiration date, so let’s see for how long you can enjoy slices of American cheese. 

For how long is American cheese good to eat?  

Talking about some general rules when it comes to cheese consumption, you must have heard about the advice of buying less. Like any dairy product, cheeses are very sensitive to external conditions. Even a few minutes in hot air can put your cheese at risk of getting spoiled. This cheese is very gooey and moist, which means it has a lot of humidity in its ingredients. It means it is prone to mold spreading. Therefore, it’s always better to buy a small amount. Eat your cheese as soon as you buy – it`s the best assurance that it is fresh and safe to use.  You could avoid mold by dehydrating cheese, but that’s a story for another article. 

American cheese is processed cheese, which means the tendency of going bad is slightly lower. However, the storage conditions can determine for how long this deli cheese will be safe to consume. If properly refrigerated, slices of American cheese can be eaten in the next 2 to 3 weeks. You need to keep it at a low temperature all the time.  

If you want to extend the storage expiration date even further, a freezer is the best option. It’s essential to keep in mind that the American cheese won’t be safe for use if you put it in a freezer two days before it’s expired. You should pay attention to putting it there on time, while it`s fresh. Original packaging is recommended, but if you`ve already opened it up, don`t worry! The solution is to use aluminum foil or plastic freezer wrap. Whatever you choose, use several layers to keep the cheese nice and fresh. Storage like that, American cheese can be useful for at least 8 months. 

How to keep it appropriately refrigerated? 

A refrigerator is the best storage option, but the fact is that cheeses don’t like the conditions inside there. That’s the case with American cheese as well, so proper packaging is crucial. Dry and cold air in the fridge can make cheese very dry, hard and tasteless. In other words, if you don’t wrap your cheese right, you can throw it away in just a few days.  

The good thing about American cheese is that it usually comes packed in separate slices, and each one has its own wrapper. That makes the storage process a lot easier. If the original packaging gets torn, you can always apply the double wrapping method, as we’ve mentioned. Even though the American cheese is processed cheese, don’t keep it in the fridge without any protection. In that case, it will change its taste and structure for sure.

How to recognize signs of spoiled American cheese? 

The good thing about American cheese is that you don’t have to consume it strictly based on its expiration date. Because this cheese is pasteurized, it can be safe to use even for a few days after the date on the packaging. This extended usage is only an option if you’ve followed the right steps for the storage method.  

Another advantage of American cheese is you can easily recognize when it’s getting spoiled. The first sign you will usually notice is the foul odor. Another warning sign is the cheese slices’ look – if they change the appearance, it’s a clear indicator that it’s not safe for eating. The same applies to changed taste – if the cheese doesn’t taste the same, don’t continue consuming it.   

Many cheese types can be suitable for eating even if mold appears, but not American cheese. If there are spots of mold on the surface, you can’t eat it. Cooking it won’t make it safe for consumption. Also, don’t think that cutting off the moldy parts will make it safe. At any sign of mold, unfortunately, you need to throw the cheese away.  

Small and frequent buying is the best way to make sure your cheese is always fresh and safe. American cheese is very delicious, easy to use and store, so it won’t take much effort. Whether you like it in your burgers or in soups and sauces, only fresh cheese will provide the full taste.