Nancy2 > wrote:
> On Jan 5, 11:46*pm, " > wrote:
>
> > I found a storage bag in the bottom of our old refrigerator down in
> > the basement that had some Hickory Farms cheeses and sausages in it.
> > The packages have never been opened but the "Best by" dates are well
> > over a year past. *Are they still safe to eat? *I know they may not be
> > the "Best" quality but does that actually mean they have to be thrown
> > out?
>
> It's unlikely there's anything wrong with them - how can cheese go
> bad, anyway, unless it's cream cheese? *Harder cheeses - just scrape
> the mold off, and chomp away.

That's not true. The part of the mold you can actually see at the
surface is less than 10 pct of the total... all you are seeing is the
fruiting bodies (like mushrooms), the vast majority consists of the
mycelium that spreads deep within the food. Now some molds are not
harmful and are even part and parcel to the cheese (roquefort), but
unless you know with certainty that the mold on your cheese (any food)
appeared within only a day or two then it's too late to cut it away,
and if you try all you'll accomplish is to spread the mold (it's a
good idea to learn how to properly handle/store cheese), and do not
scrape away mold, cut it away with a clean sharp knife, being sure to
cut at least 1/2" deep. Don't attempt to salvage moldy bread (or any
food) lest you spread the spores all over your environment so they can
more readily invade other foods, just pick it up gently, wrappings and
all, and put it in the trash, and then seriously clean the storage
area. It's a good idea to never touch cheese with your fingers,
handle by picking up by the original packaging or if rewrapped change
that wrapping often. Cheese is best kept in a glass covered dish in
the fridge, wash that dish often, do not place fresh cheese in your
cheese dish without washing it first, never reuse wrappings. Some
people, especially the very young, the elderly and any with
compromised immune systems may be very susceptible to serious illness
and even death from ingesting mold... with molds, when in doubt throw
it out.


M-W

my·ce·li·um
noun
Etymology: New Latin, from myc- + Greek hçlos nail, wart, callus
Date: 1836
: the mass of interwoven filamentous hyphae that forms especially the
vegetative portion of the thallus of a fungus and is often submerged
in another body (as of soil or organic matter or the tissues of a
host) ; also : a similar mass of filaments formed by some bacteria (as
streptomyces)
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