How long does cheese last out of the refrigerator [duplicate]

We went on vacation and while we were gone, the refrigerator in which I stored a GREAT DEAL of cheese (both hard and soft, although unopened) quit working and when we returned home, I found the cheese defrosted (I had put it in the freezer). Is it safe to transfer to my other refrigerator? The packages are unopened and there is no indication of spoilage.

cheese spoilage

Best Answer

At what temperature was the freezer when you discovered the problem? If it was below 40 F / 4 C, the cheese remained at refrigerator temperatures.... if it was warmer, you have no way of knowing for how long, and should discard the cheese.

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How long does it take for unrefrigerated cheese to go bad?

And as for how long you can leave it out, soft cheeses can stay out for 2 to 4 hours, while harder cheeses can stay out for up to 8 hours. Beyond that, the fat will start to leach out of the cheese, giving the surface a greasy appearance, and altering its texture.

Can you put room temperature cheese back in the fridge?

Though it's unlikely you'll face food safety issues if you leave cheese at room temperature for too long, for best quality, you should return it to the fridge after about two hours.

How long does mozzarella cheese last in the fridge?

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