Question: What’s the worst thing that can happen to a hungry vegan come lunch time?
Answer: A moldy bag of Daiya!!
After ecstatically discovering that the Daiya at Whole Foods was being offered at a special price of $3.49 last week, being the crazed Daiya lover I am, I quickly bought 3 packages: Cheddar, Mozzarella and Pepperjack. Even better, I saved 50 cents on each, bringing each package down to just $2.99!
I have to admit that turning vegan hasn’t always been economically practical for me… I mean, think about it: 16 oz. (24 slices) of regular Kraft cheese is $2.99, while Daiya shredded cheese comes only in packets of 8 oz. Even worse, the package misleads people to think they’re getting a good deal because under where it tells you how many ounces, it says “approx. 2 cups.” Hey, last time I checked, a cup was 8 oz. Did you think I was THAT bad at math? I am Asian, you know (I kid, I kid.).
Anyhow, I had not even eaten my fair share of my pepperjack Daiya, when it went bad like a week later! To be fair, it does say “After opening, best used within 7 days.” But cmon, how am I going to eat 8 oz. of cheez in one go?!
I’m one to savor and enjoy my overpriced vegan luxuries when I finally get them, so imagine my (literal) distaste when I poured a handful onto my toasted Stroehmann Dutch Country Potato Bread, about to savor it’s Daiyam-good deliciousness… when I saw MOLD!!!
This really pissed me off… I mean, I only ate like one serving before I had to toss it! And don’t even try the “pick out the moldy bits” spiel with me… you KNOW that stuff spreads around, they are loose spores, after all.
Luckily, I had kept my other two packages frozen since I wasn’t about to eat them until I finished my pepperjack shreds. Or else they would be moldy by now too!! I don’t know how long they last if frozen, but it sure as hell lasts longer than when you keep it in your fridge.
So take this as a warning guys and gals: unless you’re planning to make a deep dish Daiya pizza immediately (and you better invite me over, ya hear?!), keep your Daiya safe from those pesky little mold creatures by plopping ’em in your freezer.
4 comments
One type of Daiya cheese hasn’t gotten any mold yet. Provolone cheese from them. That is 1 type of their cheeses that I never found mold on.
I bought Daiya vegan cheese too at the Good Health store. I would buy 4 at a time. Yes some would go moldy after I opened them. But one got moldy before it was opened. The date on it was May 3, 2021. Yeah right it went moldy inside the sealed unopened package.
Thanks so much for your helpful tips, Cade! I’ll be sure to do that next time.
And yes, I can’t wait to try the wedges, I was so excited when they first came out! I’ll post a review about them soon!
Hi Terry,
What I like to do with an open bag of Daiya is to, of course, close it up and then put it into one of those zip lock bags to keep it fresh. I buy the Whole Foods 365 brand because it’s cheap. While you’re at it, it doesn’t hurt to use a thermometer made for refrigerators just to be sure. Lastly, don’t forget to put in a fresh box of baking soda. That always works for me.
P.S. Try the Daiya wedges. The Havarti is amazing and it melts better than the shredded kind.