What is the shelf life of opened cheeses?
I am a cheese lover. I always enjoy finding unique cheeses and trying them. However I always end up with a plethora of opened cheeses which opens up the question of; What is the shelf-life of opened cheeses? Do they differ per cheese. I don't want to waste the cheese!
Best Answer
Yes, it differs by cheese.
As a very general and vague rule, the softer the cheese, the less time it will last. Large chunks may last longer than small or grated pieces.
A ripe Camembert is at its peak for hours. A nice chunk of Parmesan may last for weeks.
Dairy Googness summarizes as follows:
- Fresh cheese: a few days to 2 weeks
- Soft cheese: 1 week
- Semi-soft cheese: 2 to 3 weeks
- Firm cheese: 5 weeks
- Hard cheese: 10 months
Note: my opinion on the above is that the firm and hard times are a little long for opened cheese.
Eat By Date is more conservative, suggesting only up to a couple of months for opened hard cheeses.
You can also freeze cheese with minimal loss of quality, which will substantially increase its shelf life.
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Quick Answer about "What is the shelf life of opened cheeses?"
The bottom line After opening, you can safely store most soft cheeses in the fridge for at least 7 days and most hard cheeses for 3–4 weeks.How long can you store opened cheese?
Once opened hard cheese is safe to eat for six weeks. The types of cheese, such as gruyere and gouda, that fall between the hard and soft categories, can be kept in a fridge for two to three weeks after they have been opened. In the freezer, this type of cheese can last for two months if the packet is still intact.How can you tell if cheese is spoiled?
You'll be able to tell if a cheese is terrible by its scent and color. It will have a sour, crumbly texture and a strong odor. It should be thrown away right away. You can sniff the cheese if you're not sure if it's nasty, and it's preferable if you use it within seven days of receiving it.What is the best way to store cheese once opened?
First things first: \u201cAlways double-wrap your cheese \u2013 in waxed paper or baking parchment, ideally \u2013 and put it in a plastic container lined with dampened kitchen towel or J-cloth.\u201d Then clap on the lid and put it in the top of the fridge \u2013 that's where the temperature is usually the most constant, unless you have a ...What cheese has the longest shelf life?
Hard cheese goes through an extensive moisture extraction process so its harder than soft cheese. The lack of moisture allows hard cheese to last longer than other dairy products.What is the shelf-life for cheese?
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Answer 2
Many cheeses spoil due to aerobic (oxygen-requiring) growth of unwanted bacteria and/ or fungi. I typically vacuum seal any hard cheese that I am not going to use within the next few days to remove that necessary oxygen. This technique usually buys quite a bit of storage time (dependent upon the specific cheese, moisture content, etc.). I have yet to have a block of Romano or Parmesan go bad when vacuum sealed. However, on the other end of the spectrum soft cheeses, such as brie, I will only purchase what I intend to consume within a few days and I never vacuum seal it. The mold on brie is both wanted and edible, and vacuum sealing would just squish the cheese into something not particularly appetizing.
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