Stumbled across this Cougar Gold while cleaning out an old fridge. It’s 16 years old. Think it’s still good to eat?

by SirBarrio

29 Comments

  1. realsalmineo

    Yes. If you don’t trust it, mail it to me.

  2. theskullbiker

    It’s been refrigerated and the cans don’t look damaged or swolen. I’d eat it.

  3. parabolicpb

    Jealous!!!!! I had a can I was storing in the fridge for 10 years and my folks ate it when I was away at college.

  4. Aesperacchius

    If you send one to Rhett & Link I’m sure they’ll eat it. Looks pristine though. I’d definitely eat it if the cheese looks & smells fine.

  5. inyolonepine

    Are you me?

    Your post made me look at three cans I have in the fridge:

    July 2008

    March 2009

    July 2009

    I believe on WSU’s site it says it should be good as long as the can is intact.

  6. molskimeadows

    You’ve got an actual treasure on your hands.

  7. Pernicious_Possum

    If it’s been continuously refrigerated, I think yes. Verifying that would be hard though

  8. hereandthere_nowhere

    At 40$ + per can i would give it a shot.

  9. thepsycholeech

    Nice! My parents have one from the late 90s, I’ll need to share a photo. Apparently this cheese is pretty good, though I’ve never tried it.

  10. ChasingBooty2024

    They last indefinitely when refrigerated. Perhaps even better aged?

  11. I should hope so, I have a can in my fridge from about 5 years ago that I can’t wait to open. They claim it only gets better with age, if stored properly.

  12. Best-Reality6718

    It’s poison! Send it to me immediately for proper disposal.

  13. I ate a 1997 Cougar Gold on thanksgiving, you will be fine.

  14. bamdaraddness

    I went to school at UI for dairy science and worked at WSU where this is made. That cheese will be AMAZING as long as it’s been kept at the correct temp and the can is still intact.

    The time in the can will have given the enzymes time to work their magic! It’ll be slightly crunchy from tyrosine crystals which are godlike in taste.

    I’m jealous!!

  15. 253Bigfoot

    It’s going to be delicious, with crunchy crystals. I still think back to when I ate some 11 year old cougar gold, absolutely marvelous.

  16. We literally inherited my grandpa’s 6 tins of cougar gold when he died lol. Still have them in the fridge 10 years later and yes we plan on eating them eventually 🙈

  17. nick91884

    Natalie didn’t play, it’ll be so good I bet

  18. When you open a can listen for a nice hiss. Then use your nose. Rancid,rotten,unsafe foods will set off your nose-alarm. If you’re still unsure, just a tiny chunk on the tongue. If it tingles – it’s bad. If not, swallow and give it a day. If you wake up the next day, ask yourself why you waited so long to eat more of what’s most likely one of the best cheeses you’ve ever had.

    I’ll repeat someone else – I’m jealous.

  19. What is worse in sitting here after just waking up and think 2009 wasn’t 16yrs ago. God I’m old

  20. peppermintmeow

    For anyone who is actually interested in the real answer, Cougar Gold just gets better with age. As long as you keep it refrigerated, it can be kept indefinitely. Yes, that’s right, *INDEFINITELY.* It won’t become bitter, it will just develop more of those little crack crystals (if you know, you know).

    If you don’t believe me, check out the FAQs on their website. You can confirm what I’m saying there.

    https://creamery.wsu.edu/cougar-cheese/faqs/

Write A Comment