Provolone cheese is one of the oldest cheeses in Italy, dating back to the 13th century.
It has a mild and nutty flavor that pairs well with other foods, especially vegetables like broccoli or kale.
For how long does provolone cheese last? This article will answer this question and how to store it properly and how best to enjoy it.
What is Provolone Cheese?
Provolone is an Italian cheese made from cow’s milk.
It has a sharp, tangy, and salty flavor that becomes milder with age.
The name comes from the word “provolone,” which means “to boil”.
Making provolone cheese starts with the Cagliari or curd, made from cow’s milk and pressed into a small pot.
The final product will be shaped like an egg and then cut in half.
Next, it is smoked over cherry wood to give it its distinctive yellowish color.
The flavor of this type of cheese can range from mild when freshly produced to sharp when aged for three months or more.
It should not be confused with “provolone,” American-style processed cheeses that have been flavored by adding garlic powder, onion powder, paprika extract, or other spices after production has finished – these are often referred to as “cheese food”.
Provolone is one of Italy’s most popular cheeses and is often eaten in sandwiches, pizza, or pasta.
It can be substituted with cheddar or Swiss cheese if desired in recipes that call for provolone cheese.
It is often used for cooking or grilling due to its low melting point and tastes great on sandwiches like paninis – the perfect lunchtime sandwich.
How to Use Provolone Cheese?
If you are unfamiliar with provolone cheese, it is a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese originating in Italy.
It has a slightly tangy and nutty flavor with hints of fruit or nuts.
If you are trying to find new ways to use your provolone cheese, here are some tasty ideas.
Another way to use provolone cheese is in a grilled sandwich with onions, peppers, and tomato sauce.
Combine the ingredients into a buttery panini grill or make your pizza by using store-bought crusts.
Add fresh basil leaves for an added flavor twist that will leave you wanting more.
Provolone also makes a delicious addition to pasta dishes like lasagna, tortellini, manicotti, spaghetti pie, and ziti.
If you are not sure how to substitute provolone cheese in recipes, the best rule of thumb is one ounce of shredded provolone cheese is equivalent to one cup of ricotta.
If you are still looking for other ways to use your provolone cheese, here are some creative recipes that will inspire new ideas.
- Add a layer of shredded Provolone Cheese on top of homemade pizza crust before adding toppings or as the base in lasagna dishes.
- Mix Provolone Cheese with eggs, milk, and seasonings to create a decadent breakfast dish.
- Add some shredded provolone cheese to your next omelet for the perfect filling meal.
- Use a mixture of provolone and mozzarella cheeses in meatball recipes or other pasta dishes like macaroni & cheese.
How to Store Provolone Cheese?
This type of cheese has a sharp and tangy flavor that gets mellower as it matures, but it can also be crumbly.
Provolone is more delicate than most cheeses, so it has to be handled more gently.
Provolone cheese does not store well at high temperatures and can experience freezer burns or mold if it is left unrefrigerated for too long.
To store Provolone cheese effectively, you should keep it tightly wrapped in plastic wrap and placed inside an airtight container – like Tupperware- until ready to use.
This will prevent any potential problems with moisture seeping into your precious provolone.
To keep this type of cheese fresh for longer periods, store it at 55° Fahrenheit (13° Celsius) or below the refrigerator to maintain its original taste and texture.
The best place to store provolone cheeses is on the top shelves in your refrigerator so they don’t come into contact with other items like meats which have strong odors that will affect their delicate flavors.
How Long Does Provolone Cheese Last?
One of the most common types of cheese is provolone.
It was created in Strassbourg, France, and then became popular through Italy as well.
Since this type of cheese has been around for a long time, there are many different opinions on how long it lasts.
Some people might say that provolone cheese will last up to two weeks, while others may believe that this type of cheese can only be stored for one week at the most before going bad.
So what is the truth?
The answer to this question depends on a few factors.
- How old is the cheese when it’s purchased?
- How long have you had it in your fridge or pantry?
- And what type of environment are you storing it at (i.e., temperature, humidity)?
Since provolone has been aged for several weeks before being sold, its color will change as time passes and might even develop mold during storage if not handled properly.
The age that the cheese was purchased also plays an important role in how well stored it can be because newer cheeses will stay fresh for much longer than older ones.
The optimum temperature for storing cheese is between 36 and 38 degrees Fahrenheit.
Wrapping it in foil or wax paper and then placing it in a sealed plastic bag will work well to keep the cheese fresh.
Once properly stored in the fridge, Provolone cheese should last for up to 3 weeks before going bad.
Can You Freeze Provolone Cheese?
Yes, provolone cheese can be frozen.
The main concern when freezing cheese is that moisture will form on the surface of the cheese and then freeze, which could cause it to turn into a solid block of ice crystals.
To avoid this from happening, you need to wrap your cheese tightly in plastic wrap before storing it so that there’s less contact with air and water vapor.
It would also help store your cheese below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (0 Celsius) for an extended period.
Frozen provolone cheese will keep for about six weeks to two months.
How You Can Freeze Provolone Cheese:
- Place the cheese in a tightly sealed airtight container or plastic wrap.
- Place the wrapped cheese into your freezer and cool it down below 32 degrees Fahrenheit (-0 Celsius) within four hours.
- Label with the use-by date, so you know when it’s safe (or not safe) to eat frozen provolone cheese past its due date.
When you want to eat the provolone cheese, thaw it in your refrigerator.
It’s best to use the cheese as soon as possible after thawing.
How to Tell if Provolone Cheese is Bad?
Like most dairy products, provolone cheese is shelf-stable and should last for months.
But if you’ve had it in your fridge or cupboard this long, there’s a good chance you’re not eating any more of it anyway.
One of the best ways to tell if provolone cheese is bad is by smell.
If it has a strong, pungent odor and smells like ammonia or sewage, then that block will not be good for consumption.
In addition to smelling foul, fresh provolone should have a buttery texture that’s soft and smooth with some elasticity when pulled apart between two fingers.
Lastly, look at the color, which should be yellow-white with no off-color spots on the surface but also avoid any cheddar coloring, indicating spoiled milk was used as part of its production process.
It’s best to eat provolone cheese when it is fresh, but if you have to store it for a short period in your fridge before use, then be sure to wrap the cut side with plastic or aluminum foil.
Conclusion
Provolone cheese is a type of hard, semisoft cow’s milk cheese that originated in Italy.
It has an ivory color, and it typically matures for about ten weeks before being sold to consumers.
The flavor varies depending on the length of time it was aged, but when eaten fresh, provolone can taste sharp or milder with hints of nutty flavors like hazelnuts or almonds.
To make this delicious dairy product last as long as possible without going bad, store it at temperatures between 32-38 degrees Fahrenheit (0-3 Celsius) away from sunlight and other sources of heat.
How Long Does Provolone Cheese Last? Does Provolone Cheese Go Bad?
Ingredients
- Provolone cheese
- Air-tight containers or Ziplock bags
- Labels and markers
Instructions
- Read the guide thoroughly to learn how long it lasts.
- Label your container with the content and date and keep track of how much you’re using!
- Make sure to store in an airtight container in a cool, dark place (pantry or fridge).
- If frozen, thaw in the fridge before use. Always check for signs of spoilage before using.
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