Cottage cheese is one of those foods that people either love or hatemuch like cilantro, licorice and olives.

How Long Can Cottage Cheese Be Refrigerated?

But that doesn’t mean you have to toss it out the day it expires.

a photo of a bowl of cottage cheese with question marks behind it

Getty Images

How Long Does Expired Cottage Cheese Last?

Again, that range will depend on a few things: Was it refrigerated immediately after purchase?

Is it sealed, or has it already been opened?

Well-preserved cottage cheese that has been kept sealed can usually stretch for the full 2 weeks.

Can You Still Use Expired Cottage Cheese?

How Do You Know If Cottage Cheese Is Spoiled?

If it tastes off, it’s best to spit it out.

However, if you continue eating it despite an unpleasant taste, you might experience stomach and intestinal discomfort.

Appearance

Most fresh cottage cheeses have a semi-creamy consistency with fairly uniform lumps called curds.

When past its prime, cottage cheese can develop a grainy texture and may even begin to look watery.

Smell

Take a whiff of the cottage cheese.

If it has an overly sour, yeast-like or overall rancid smell, toss it.

Why Does Cottage Cheese Get Watery?

And these favoriteEatingWellrecipes make brilliant use of the cute curds:

Wondering what brands are best?

Take a peek at ourtried-and-tested cottage cheeses.