Archive:Quick Questions on food safety / sell by / use by dates

boredjellybean

Hi there - wondering if you can help me (though I suspect I know the answer)

I just found a bag of shopping that hadn't been put away you know tins etc but also in the bag was a block of cheddar cheese - now this has been out of the fridge for around 9 hours - I am guessing this should be thrown away?

Bjb

Bongedone

It will be fine. I have left out overnight before and its fine.

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

Cheese never used to be kept in a fridge, so i would unwrap it -as it might have got a bit sweaty, then wrap it in greaseproof and stick it in the fridge it should be fine..
Cheese has much more taste if left out of the fridge a few hours before you want to eat it

tomstickland

I'd put it back in the fridge and use it.

mummysaver

I'd use it without a second thought, doubt in this weather if it'll even started to sweat, not that that would do it much harm anyway. As others have said, cheese should be taken out of the fridge to develop it's full flavour anyway, so it won't have come to any harm. Just pop it in the fridge now and use it as normal.

Pink.

I'd use it too. If the outside is very sweaty or hard (or even if it's mouldy) you can cut that off and use the rest of the cheese.

I'll add your thread to the food safety thread as your query may help others.

Pink

nesssie1702

You'll find that most hard cheese such as cheddar is labelled with a Best Before Date rather than a use by date. There's not enough moisture in it for bacteria to grow and if you think about it, when it goes off it goes mouldy (mould needs less water than bacteria to grow) So for it to be out of the fridge for a few hours won't cause any problems.

It's only the soft cheeses like Brie, camembert etc that have a Use by date on them on account of their higher moisture level.

marco_79

Hi,

Would it be safe to prepare a chicken casserole with raw chicken and veg and a sauce, leave it in the fridge then cook about 8 tonight.

Cheers,

Marco

pigpen

I'd prepare it all but leave the chicken out and just put that in when I was starting to cook it.. it should be fine then.

I'd be concerned about the chicken going mushy being kept in water that long..

miserly_mum

If its a jar of sauce would it not be a bit like marinading it for 8 hours?

Might actually be quite nice