661671 Fri Oct 23 05:24:45 -0700 2009 20 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 5124718 I have an unopened package of brie. It's one of those large triangle pieces from Costco. The use by date is July 09. I just noticed this yesterday. Do I need to pitch it or can I still use it at least in a sauce or something. Any suggestions? I hate to through it out. Fri Oct 23 05:24:45 -0700 2009 219682 Babyducks 1 5124781 Pitch it, it's not worth taking a chance! I'm loathe to throw stuff out, and hate when I waste food, but..... Fri Oct 23 06:05:22 -0700 2009 5124718 65673 monavano 1 5124920 For heavens sake, don't pitch it until you've opened the packaged and checked it out. Often brie and other soft cheeses are shipped very young and can remain in quite good edible condition for long past the expiry date. It may have continued to ripen nicely in the package OR it may have gone all horrible and ammonia-ish. You'll be able to tell once you've opened it. If bad, toss. If good, enjoy Fri Oct 23 07:23:46 -0700 2009 5124718 12383 Nyleve 1 5124945 No, don't pitch it! Remember in general that the "Use by" dates don't represent some mystical moment when something suddenly becomes inedible...it will vary from food to food and something like cheese (especially in an undisturbed wrapper) is very likely to be fine well beyond the date printed on the package. Nyleve is right...you'll know right away after opening the package. Hell...I rarely even eat a container of yogurt _until_it's 2 weeks or more past date. Fri Oct 23 07:33:38 -0700 2009 5124718 116047 The Professor 1 5124952 I'll break the tie here and come down on the side of "try it before you toss it." If it's soft and smells OK it's good to eat. If the cut edges appear to be moldy, trim them off and smell the interior. Fri Oct 23 07:36:46 -0700 2009 5124718 14386 BobB 2 5127457 doesn't the "cut the edges off" not apply to soft cheeses ? not because it's not appealing looking or not fresh, but I thought mold goes through soft cheeses in some weird way that I can't remember. Sat Oct 24 09:22:03 -0700 2009 5124952 153184 im_nomad 1 5124954 An overwhelming ammonia odor will let you know whether to toss it or not. Cheese is a very forgiving thing, particularly in an unopened package that's ostensibly relatively low in oxygen. Fri Oct 23 07:37:02 -0700 2009 5124718 270888 shaogo 1 5125568 Thank you all for your replies. I'm not going to open to test it until I have some idea of what I'm going to do. Fri Oct 23 11:13:02 -0700 2009 5124718 219682 Babyducks 1 5125991 As a cheese aficionado and as someone who has sold fine cheeses for a living, I can't agree with some of the advice given by others here. Yes, some cheeses have a long shelf life, but Brie is not one of them. It's a soft cheese with a limited window of freshness. Three and half months after the expiration date stamped on the package, your cheese is far past its prime, and keeping it tightly wrapped in plastic for so long hasn't done it any favors either. Personally, I'd pitch it. Fri Oct 23 13:40:53 -0700 2009 5124718 1114540 cheesemaestro 1 5126602 If it were a few weeks past the date, I'd say try it. But 3 months? I'd throw it out. Fri Oct 23 19:06:33 -0700 2009 5124718 10205 valerie 1 5126615 Toss it. Fri Oct 23 19:13:26 -0700 2009 5124718 239340 latindancer 2 5126619 Give it to orphans. They can make funny shapes with it. Fri Oct 23 19:15:00 -0700 2009 5126615 277493 DallasDude 3 5126668 Blind orphans make even funnier shapes. Fri Oct 23 19:46:38 -0700 2009 5126619 260733 slewfoot 1 5127722 Nooooooooooooooooo- don't toss it before you smell it! I'm guessing it's perfectly good. Sat Oct 24 11:47:33 -0700 2009 5124718 105625 EWSflash 1 5129287 If it is "off", it will be obvious to you once you open it. If it was simply runny and generally free of obvious mould, then I'd eat it. Sun Oct 25 09:14:11 -0700 2009 5124718 154102 Harters 1 5129438 Just a quick request. Please report back on the condition of this cheese once you have opened it. If we hear nothing from you we will simply have to assume the worst. Sun Oct 25 10:59:37 -0700 2009 5124718 12383 Nyleve 2 5131136 Reporting back: I tossed it without opening. Too chicken. Mon Oct 26 06:40:07 -0700 2009 5129438 219682 Babyducks 3 5131201 Well, ok. But just in the interests of science and morbid curiosity, we would have loved to know. Oh well. Mon Oct 26 07:04:57 -0700 2009 5131136 12383 Nyleve 3 5131365 Thanks for reporting back. I'd do the same thing at 3 months past the due date. The risk/benefit ratio just isn't worth it to me. Mon Oct 26 08:00:23 -0700 2009 5131136 65673 monavano 4 5136355 I doubt sincerely that there was much risk involved here. Whatever...gotta do what's within your own comfort level. Tue Oct 27 20:55:06 -0700 2009 5131365 116047 The Professor 5 5136364 When overripe brie turns sort of an odd tan color and is ammoniated, I think it tastes pretty good. Tue Oct 27 21:04:21 -0700 2009 5136355 57170 Veggo