unrefrigerated cheese good enough to eat?

[filthiestfis]

I had a nice block of mature cheese in the fridge newly opened, suddenly the fridge stopped working and until we started it again, the cheese stayed at room temperature for 24 hours, becoming a rubbery lump. My question is, is it still good to eat cheese that has been refrigerated then left to the warmth then refigerated again, or shoud I chuck it out?

[Jugglering]

I only keep my cheddar in the fridge in really hot weather and I'm still here, so it should be ok - just try a little bit and see what it tastes like. I'm surprised it went *rubbery* - was it left in that ghastly plastic wrapper ? Mine usually tastes better if it's not kept in the fridge (especially if it's a good mature cheddar).

[pompei]

How long have fridges been on the scene? And how long have peoplw made and eaten cheese? Cheese is always best at room temperature! If it's gone bad, there will only be a bit of mould on the edge; cut it off and enjoy the rest!

[vivandorron]

Wasn't Penicillin discovered from the mould on cheese!?
Furthermore what is blue cheese; it's full of mould which is deliberately introduced in its manufacture; with the aid of copper wire I've been led to believe. Read it somewhere.

[filthiestfis]

Yes it was left in the plastic wrapper and still is. The issue here being that it was refrigerated, then not and now is again, thats why im wondering. Its not turned green yet, but its not looking very appetising at the mo. Im sure that eating it wont kill me, just that its texture isnt like it used to be!

[Buenchico]

If you don't enjoy eating it, then why do it anyway?

It certainly won't kill you. People have been storing and eating cheese since well before refrigerators were invented.

Cheese should never be eaten straight from the fridge anyway. Go to almost any bar in France and order a cheese sandwich. Even on the hottest day of the year, the proprietor won't go to the fridge. He'll just take the cheese from a cupboard and you'll get a far better cheese sandwich than you'll ever get in the UK.

Forget about refrigerating cheese. It's not necessary and it destroys the flavour of the cheese. (The only exception is that it might be unwise to serve unrefrigerated, unpasteurised cheese to someone who is pregnant or who has a weak immune system).

Chris

[sense4all]

Time for a few cheese toasties to enjoy it now, dash of Lea and Perrins to perk it up!

There would be no student population left if unrefridgerated cheese decided to ' bite back!'

[Daave]

it is a bad bad bad idea to not keep cheese in the fridge..

yeah, 50 years ago it wasnt kept in the fridge at all, but then there were none of the added chemicals in it..

take the elements of cheese back to the source, even the cows would have been fed artificial man-made additives the milk was then treated, all of the other ingrediants are from less natural sources,

the end product is designed to live in a cool environment,

cheese that is past its date or not kept chilled should be thrown away, you cant see or smell the bacteria that could poison you... mould is a sure sign, and slicing the mouldy part off is no good either because the mould spores and bacteria grow through the entire block before making marks on the surface..

just because it looks ok, doesnt mean it is, and for a �3 block of cheese you are risking a week off of work with your head in the toilet...

Staphylococcus Aureus is unlikely to actually kill you, but it can put you out of action for a few days..

[mandimoo]

couple of good points, for and against. for what its worth i would be inclined to cut the edges off and cook with the rest. cheese toastie, cheese onion and potato pie, cheesy topping on shephards pie etc - and get it used up quicker than normal.

[moon_unit]

daave, those were my thoughts also, cheese was made differently back then and so stored differently.
I think you should take his advice filthiestfis!

p.s cheese Does taste best taken out earlier and consumed at room temp.. yum yum chedder cheese on jacobs crackers..

[filthiestfis]

its still in the fridge and i havent touched it...