How do you know if ricotta cheese has gone bad?

Ricotta cheese is a fresh Italian cheese made from whey left over from cheesemaking. It has a creamy texture and mild, sweet flavor. Ricotta is used in many Italian dishes like lasagna, cannoli, and cheesecake. However, since ricotta is a fresh cheese, it has a relatively short shelf life of around 7-10 days when refrigerated.

Knowing how to tell if your ricotta cheese has gone bad is important for both food safety and quality reasons. Eating spoiled ricotta can cause food poisoning. On the other hand, ricotta that has just started to go over the hill may not make you sick, but it won’t taste very good either. Here are some tips for determining if your ricotta cheese is still fresh and safe to eat.

Check the Expiration Date

The first thing to look for is the expiration date printed on the ricotta container. Ricotta should be consumed within 7-10 days of being made for best quality. The date stamp tells you when it was produced or packaged. So if the date has passed, that’s a sign the ricotta may no longer be fresh.

However, the expiration date is not definitive in telling you whether or not the cheese has spoiled. Ricotta may still be ok for a few days after the printed date as long as it has been stored properly. Conversely, it could go bad before the date on the container if it was left out too long or kept at the wrong temperature. So the expiration date is just a general guideline.

Check the Look and Smell

Examining the look and smell of ricotta is a more reliable way to determine freshness. Here’s what to look for:

Look

• Color – Fresh ricotta should be very white in color. As it starts to spoil, it will develop a yellowish tinge.
• Texture – When fresh, ricotta has a creamy, smooth, and moist texture. Spoiled ricotta will become watery, grainy, or slimy.
• Mold – Check the container and cheese for any visible mold. Mold would indicate the ricotta has definitely spoiled and should be discarded.

Smell

• Fresh ricotta has a mild, sweet, milky smell.
• As it spoils, it will start to smell sour, bitter, or rotten.
• An ammonia-like or cheesy smell is another sign it has gone bad.

How to Store Ricotta Properly

To extend the shelf life of fresh ricotta cheese, proper storage is essential. Here are some tips for keeping ricotta fresh longer:

• Keep refrigerated at all times until ready to eat. Do not leave ricotta sitting out at room temperature.
• Make sure the container is sealed tightly.
• Store in the coldest part of the refrigerator, not the door.
• Once opened, transfer ricotta to an airtight container if keeping for more than a day or two.
• Use within 5 days for best quality and flavor.
• Do not freeze ricotta cheese unless you plan to later cook with it, like in lasagna. Freezing will negatively impact ricotta’s texture.

What to Do If Your Ricotta Has Spoiled

If your examination of the ricotta reveals it is past its prime, you’ll need to throw it out. Do not taste test it! Discard the ricotta cheese in the garbage, making sure it is sealed in a bag first so it does not contaminate anything else.

You should also thoroughly clean the container it was stored in and anything else the cheese may have touched with hot, soapy water to prevent bacteria from spreading.

Some common signs that your ricotta cheese has spoiled and needs to be tossed include:

• Mold growth
• Watery or slimy texture
• Separated whey
• Crusty film on surface
• Strong sour or ammonia smell
• Change in color from white to yellow or grey

Discarding spoiled cheese can be disappointing, but it’s just part of proper food handling. Be sure to buy a fresh replacement tub of ricotta soon so you can make your favorite recipes again.

Can You Eat Ricotta Cheese After It Expires?

It’s not recommended to eat ricotta cheese past its printed expiration date. As a fresh cheese, ricotta has a relatively short shelf life and the risk of foodborne illness increases after the expiration date.

However, the expiration date is not a definitive cut off. You may be able to safely consume ricotta 1-2 days after the sell-by date if it was stored properly at a consistent refrigeration temperature below 40°F. But any longer than that, and the risk of spoilage becomes too high.

To determine if expired ricotta is still ok, check its look, smell and texture closely. Signs it has spoiled include mold, sliminess, bitterness, separation, and an ammonia-like or rotten smell.

When in doubt if ricotta is still usable after the expiration date, remember the old adage “When in doubt, throw it out.” Ricotta is fairly inexpensive and it’s better to be safe than risk a case of food poisoning.

How Long Does Ricotta Last in the Fridge Once Opened?

An opened container of ricotta will last 5-7 days past its use-by date if properly refrigerated below 40°F. However, it’s best to use opened ricotta within 5 days for optimal freshness and flavor.

Always store opened ricotta towards the back of the fridge, not in the door where the temperature fluctuates. And keep it tightly sealed in its original container or transfer to an airtight container if you won’t use it all up quickly.

Check for signs of spoilage before eating, like mold, bitterness, whey separation, sliminess or funny smells. Discard if you detect any unpleasant changes in appearance, smell or texture.

Freezing can extend the shelf life of opened ricotta for a few months. Thaw in the refrigerator when ready to use. But freezing will impact ricotta’s texture, so it’s best for cooking applications rather than eating plain.

How to Freshen Up Ricotta Cheese

If your ricotta smells a little off but otherwise looks ok, there are a few tricks you can try to freshen it up:

• Add acid: Stir in a splash of lemon juice or vinegar. The acidity helps counteract ammonia compounds that develop as ricotta spoils.
• Mix in herbs/spices: Fresh herbs, garlic, or spices like oregano and black pepper can help mask any bitter or sour flavors.
• Drain excess whey: If your ricotta has a watery texture from whey separation, drain in cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer to remove excess moisture.
• Blend smooth: Puree the ricotta in a food processor or blender to improve texture.

However, these tricks should only be used if the ricotta is just starting to go over the hill. They cannot reverse actual spoilage or make unsafe ricotta safe to eat again. When in doubt, it’s best to discard it.

How to Tell if Ricotta is Bad When Cooking With It

Pay close attention to the look, smell, and taste of ricotta when cooking with it to spot potential spoilage. Here’s what to watch out for:

• Look: Ricotta should maintain a bright white color when cooked. Grey, yellow or brown tinges indicate spoilage.
• Smell: Cooked ricotta should have a mild, sweet, milky smell. Rancid, sour or ammonia odors mean it’s gone bad.
• Texture: Bad ricotta may become watery, grainy, or excessively sticky when cooked.
• Taste: Fresh ricotta tastes mildly sweet and milky. Spoiled ricotta will taste bitter, tangy, or rotten.

If you detect any signs of spoilage during cooking, play it safe and throw the dish out. Do not rely on high heat from cooking to make bad ricotta safe to eat.

How Long Is Thawed Ricotta Good For?

Properly thawed ricotta cheese will keep for 3-5 days in the fridge before it needs to be used. Keep it stored in the coldest part of the fridge in an airtight container.

Let frozen ricotta thaw overnight in the refrigerator. Do not thaw at room temperature as this allows bacteria to grow.

Avoid refreezing ricotta once it has been thawed, as this increases the risk of quality loss and food safety issues. Refreezing can make ricotta grainy or watery.

Use thawed ricotta within 3 days for the best flavor, texture and performance in recipes. Discard any ricotta that smells bad or has mold after thawing.

Can You Cook and Freeze Ricotta?

It is possible to cook fresh ricotta cheese and then freeze it for longer storage. Here are some tips for successfully freezing cooked ricotta:

• Cook the ricotta first, either on its own or incorporated into a cooked dish like lasagna, ravioli filling, or manicotti.
• Chill the cooked ricotta completely before freezing.
• Portion into freezer-safe containers, bags or aluminum foil.
• Remove as much air from the packages as possible.
• Label packages with contents and freeze-by date.
• Freeze for up to 2-3 months at 0°F.
• Thaw frozen ricotta in the refrigerator before using.

Freezing can impact ricotta’s texture, making it more crumbly or grainy. So it works best in cooked dishes or recipes where a perfectly smooth texture isn’t necessary. Avoid freezing ricotta uncooked.

Can Ricotta Be Frozen And Thawed Multiple Times?

It’s best to avoid freezing and thawing ricotta cheese more than once. Multiple freeze-thaw cycles will degrade the quality and texture of ricotta.

Each time ricotta is frozen, ice crystals form which can damage the structure of the curds. When thawing, these ice crystals melt and leave behind gaps in the cheese.

Re-freezing ricotta after it has thawed will make the problem worse, creating larger ice crystals and more degradation of texture. The ricotta is likely to become grainy, watery, crumbly or mealy.

For best quality, thaw frozen ricotta one time in the refrigerator and use within 3-5 days. Do not refreeze any leftover thawed ricotta. Cook and incorporate it into another dish instead of refreezing.

Conclusion

Ricotta cheese has a relatively short shelf life, but knowing what signs to look for can help you determine if it has spoiled before eating it. Examine ricotta for mold, color changes, odor, whey separation, and changes in texture. Discard any ricotta that is past its prime.

Storing ricotta properly is key for maximizing its freshness. Keep refrigerated at 40°F or below at all times and use within 5 days of opening. Freezing is an option too but will impact ricotta’s texture.

With proper handling, storage and some vigilance checking for signs of spoilage before eating, you can enjoy fresh, delicious ricotta cheese and avoid food safety risks.