Does mac and cheese expire? Kraft mac and cheese has become a household comfort food in the United States. You always have this delicious food on your countertop or the back of a cupboard. Sometimes, you buy multiple boxes of mac and cheese but don’t use all of them in one go. You forget about the remaining and they keep sitting in your kitchen for ages.
Can mac and cheese expire? To your surprise, it never really goes bad. You can use it well past its expiry date if unopened without any consequences. Expiry date only means up to the time the product will maintain its quality according to some manufacturers.
Does Macaroni and Cheese Expire?
An unopened box of macaroni and cheese has a remarkably long life or expiry date. You can eat it months after its expiry without any side effects. Similarly, it will not decline in quality and taste. The Kraft mac and cheese also has the same scope when it comes to expiry dates.
Every product has a sell-by, use-by, and best-by date. However, these dates are not as fearsome as they sound. They merely show how long the product will remain fully fresh. In this case, it will remain edible even if it passes its expiry or best-by date.
Keep in mind that mac and cheese can expire but it hardly goes bad. An unopened box of max and cheese maintains its original quality for up to 24 months.
How long is mac and cheese good after the expiration date? As mentioned above, it can last indefinitely after you open the box because it is shelf-stable. All you need to do is to store it properly and it will never go bad.
The only thing that goes bad in the box is the sauce or flavor sachet. You must check if it is still fresh or has gone bad beforehand.
How to Tell if Mac and Cheese has Gone Bad?
There are no visual indications that an unopened box of mac and cheese has gone bad because it rarely does. It is made of dry pasta which remains fresh in a box much longer than fresh pasta.
However, you should take special care of cooked mac and cheese. It does go bad and you will instantly know that it is no longer edible.
An unpleasant smell is the biggest sign of bad macaroni and cheese. It will smell pretty rotten besides also having some discoloration. It is high time to throw away the mac and cheese if you also see mold development.
The mac and cheese has still not gone bad probably if all of its ingredients are in a sealed and dry original packing.
Moisture, however, can enter the box if it has been opened or damaged or has a broken seal.
Soft and Clumpy Pasta
Apart from the above signs, you must dump the pasta if has developed clumps and gone soft. Similarly, the sauce mix can also become lumpy or damp.
The flavor pack or the sauce mix will lose its freshness and quality if you do not use it for long regardless of whether or not it has moisture or mold. You should throw it away if it has been left unused for too long. It is not only unpleasant to eat but can also result in fungal and mold infections.
The manufacturer also adds some kind of dairy additives to the sauce or flavor packet such as whey or milk. Dairy additives can go bad or at least lose their potency after a while.
However, actual mac and cheese should never go bad. Boxed mac and cheese is a dry product and does not spoil. Therefore, you can confidently use it without any worries for up to 2 or even 3 years provided it does not smell rancid.
It may lose some of its taste and freshness but it will be perfectly fine to eat.
Can You Refrigerate Mac and Cheese?
It is better to stock the box of mac and cheese in the cupboard or pantry. Refrigerating mac and cheese does not extend its life considerably. The interior of a refrigerator has a high level of humidity. Therefore, there are greater chances of moisture entering the box. As a result, your mac and cheese cannot only develop mold but can also get clumpy.
One thing you can do is to tightly wrap and seal the box. It will prevent moisture from getting into the box. Even then, you must try to use the past as early as possible.
It is more advisable to freeze cooked mac and cheese. However, you cannot keep it in the freezer for too long as well. It will considerably decline in terms of taste and quality after thawing.
How to Properly Store Mac and Cheese?
An unopened box of mac and cheese does not go bad. But – you cannot forget it after putting it in the back of a cupboard. Well, that is what most people do and it works on most occasions.
Yes, you can come back to your box of Kraft mac and cheese after two years and it will still be edible. That is its whole point. But – you can do a few things to ensure that it does not go bad.
First of all, never open or break the seal of the flavor sachet or sauce packet. They can spoil pretty quickly even if dry pasta remains fresh forever. Moisture can seep into the packet with a broken seal. Transfer the packet to a clean, airtight, and dry place if you happen to open it somehow. Similarly, use it as early as you can.
You must also store the entire box of mac and cheese in a cool and dry place away from artificial or direct sunlight. Ensure that the place is devoid of dampness and moisture.
Do not move the box from one place to another frequently for the temperature to remain stable. For example, never transfer it from the fridge to a warm or damp place.
Also Read: Can You Use Pumpkin Pie Filling Instead of Puree?
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can you eat mac and cheese after the expiration date?
Mac and cheese, if unopened, can last indefinitely. However, it has a shell life of 24 months. You must consume opened mac and cheese as early as possible because once cooked, it can and will go bad.
Does powdered cheese go bad?
It will last for only 1 to 2 years in unopened airtight bags or containers. However, it will not go bad for even more than 15 years if packed in bags or cans with oxygen absorbers. Always store powdered cheese in a cool place irrespective of the packing method.
What happens if you eat expired mac and cheese?
Nothing happens when you eat expired mac and cheese. It does not go bad and you can eat it well beyond its expiry date without any health consequences. However, you should throw it away if it shows signs of mold or has a bad smell or taste.
Final Thoughts
Concluding, mac and cheese maintains its best quality for up to 2 years provided it is unopened and stored properly. In most cases, it does not expire and you can use it well past the best by-date. However, you must eat cooked mac and cheese as soon as possible because it does go bad.