4 answers
★ Best answer
The most important thing is to check the expiration date, obviously 😄 But the appearance matters a lot too: if the fresh cheese has a uniform color, without weird stains or blackened parts, and the packaging isn't puffed up, we're good.
Then if you can, smell it - fresh cheese has a delicate, milky smell, not sour or weird. Oh, and make sure it was stored in the fridge and wasn't left at room temperature, that makes all the difference!
I think what a lot of people miss is actually touching the cheese: if it's too soft or sticky to the touch, even if the date hasn't passed, it means the cold chain was broken.
At the supermarket I give the package a light squeeze - it should be compact but not hard as a rock. And then trust your nose like the person who answered before said, but also pay attention to how the packaging looks: if you see condensation inside or the cheese stuck to the plastic in a weird way, it's either already been opened or stored badly.
The whey around the cheese is already a good indicator. I'd add another detail that few people notice: touch the package if you can - yes, with your fingers! - if the fresh cheese feels too soft or sticky to the touch through the plastic, it's a sign that maybe it's been sitting in the heat or the cold chain had issues.
Smell matters a lot too; a quick look at the expiration date combined with your sense of smell and touch will really tell you everything you need to know!
One that works well is checking if the fresh cheese has a slightly tangy but clean smell - if you get a too strong odor or a bit of a musty one, that stuff has already started to ferment. Even if the date on the package says it's fine, your nose doesn't lie. And if the counter isn't as cold as it should be (maybe the glass isn't fogged up), I just skip it entirely, because it means they haven't maintained the fridge properly.
Your answer
Log into answer.