Feta: The mistake we all make

Feta is the favourite cheese of the Greeks and beyond. Apart from the classic village salad—our national salad—feta is in every fridge, winter and summer, and it goes with everything.

Now, in the summer, a favourite snack for all hours is watermelon with feta, which, in addition to being delicious, is also healthy and nutritious.

But what happens to the feta's preservation? How many days can it stay in the fridge, and how easily does it spoil? Feta generally lasts a maximum of one week from the moment the package is opened.

However, you may have noticed signs of deterioration earlier. Why is this happening? It is very susceptible to germs and bacteria, and we must be careful how we handle it as a material whenever we want to consume a part of it.

To observe the rules of hygiene

As you may have noticed, the employees wear special clothing and gloves to protect the products from bacteria in the cheese factories and stores that sell cheese products. However, we didn't say to walk around your house in special uniforms, obviously.

Our hands carry a lot of germs, and if you don't follow basic rules when you go to serve the feta, then we can transfer various bacteria to the product.

What do the experts recommend?

The main thing is to buy the right quantities. That is, calculate how much feta you consume weekly so you don't buy more because you risk it ending up in the trash anyway.

How do you store feta?

Whether you have bought it in bulk from a cheese shop or deli or packaged it, once it is cut, it is preferable to store it in an airtight container and store it well in the refrigerator. Most importantly, when preparing to cut a piece to eat, you must wash your hands very well.

READ MORE: Taste Atlas maps the most famous foods of the Greek islands.