DecodedGuides

How to store nacho cheese

Best place: the pantry until opened, then the fridge. Unopened, nacho cheese keeps for 2 years in the pantry. Once opened, the fridge gives 2 weeks.

Pantry

2 years

from the package date

Fridge

2 weeks

after opening

Freezer

Not recommended

USDA notes for nacho cheese

  • Freezing not recommended - may negatively impact the texture.

How to tell nacho cheese has gone bad

General signs for dairy products & eggs, the group USDA lists nacho cheese under.

  • Sour, sharp smell from milk or yogurt that was mild before
  • Mould on cheese that is not part of the recipe
  • Eggs that float in a bowl of water instead of sinking
  • Slimy or watery texture on soft cheese or yogurt
  • Yellowing or watery separation showing up in milk

More on dairy products & eggs. The times above are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.

Storage habits that make the difference

Keep dairy and eggs in the coldest part of the fridge, not the door, at 40 F (4 C) or below. Store eggs in their original carton to protect them and track the date. Reseal cheese tightly in wax paper or a container, and keep milk capped between pours.

How to store other dairy products & eggs

Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.