Cheese is a dairy product that is nutrient dense, yet prone to spoilage. The nutrient density of cheese makes it a good source of protein, minerals, particularly calcium and phosphorus, which are essential components in most food products. For this reason, extended shelf life is important so that all necessary nutrients can be obtained.
You can enjoy the many nutritional benefits from block cheese as well as shredded cheese. Block and shredded cheeses are 100% natural and contain little or no additives, like starches or cellulose, but are packaged without any anti-caking agents to maintain consistency in performance. Once baked, both shredded and block cheeses will have a similar appearance since they will melt evenly with a consistent yield.
In raw form, shredded cheese is easier to handle and apply to any dish, which should help to manage costs and ensure consistency. Although block cheese isn’t as easy to hold with your hands, it works well when using cheese frequently. Whether you use a machine or free hand, it is possible to overuse the cheese and create inconsistent taste and experience for customers.
The shelf life of cheese is determined by many factors, including the quality of the ingredients, the composition and structure of the product, the manufacturing conditions used, packaging characteristics, storage conditions, handling conditions, and distribution methods. As a result, after a certain period, any food product will deteriorate for a variety of reasons. Therefore, most people wonder whether shredded cheese has a longer shelf life than non-shredded cheese.
When shredded cheese is open and unrefrigerated, the texture will change to a noticeable extent within four hours of opening. If you purchase shredded cheese and leave the package unopened, it will last for about two months. However, if you purchase a large block of cheese and shred it yourself, the shelf life is approximately six days.
The shelf life of shredded cheese is longer than that of non-shredded cheese. When a single non-shredded block of cheese is sliced repeatedly while preparing dishes, resulting in too much usage and touching, the quality of the block cheese degrades. It is also likely to be contaminated. In contrast, if you use shredded cheese to make dishes, you can use only the amount necessary and no more.
Freezing cheese may change its texture and allow it to become crumbly once thawed; however, shredded cheese is perfectly safe and will keep for longer when frozen. After cheese has been cooked, most frozen cheeses will not differ from their raw state. Block cheese is harder and denser to freeze, so you can’t freeze it properly, resulting in shorter shelf life than shredded cheese.
Shredded cheese has a longer shelf life than blocks of cheese, but not every shredded cheese on the market can meet your expectations. Look no further than Pure Dairy if you need shredded cheese, their Mexi Shred Blend is high in quality, has great taste and texture and has the most extended shelf life. Their pre-shredded Mexi shred blend cheese is high in nutrients and often comes in good packaging. Get in contact with Pure Diary today to find out how to purchase Mexi Shred Blend for your restaurant.
