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Home >> Preservation >> Cheese >> Cheddar Cheese

How Long does Cheddar Cheese Last

By Joan Clark

Cheese is a tasty indulgence used in grilled cheese sandwiches or a delectable charcuterie board with fruits and vegetables. It’s understandable that many people question how long does cheddar cheese last and how long can cheddar cheese sit out, as spoiled cheese is disgusting and wasteful. Cheese, including cheddars, are less perishable varieties of milk where the water is removed, and the protein and fat are kept through fermentation and the addition of salt.

The more water remaining in your cheese, the more perishable it becomes. Don’t be overly concerned about consuming large quantities of spoiled cheese since it becomes unattractive long before it becomes harmful, and most people don’t want to eat it.

It’s okay to scrape out any gray, blue, or green mold on a block of cheese and still consume what’s left with harder cheeses like gruyere. It’s a no-go if your cheese has red or black mold, and your refrigerator must be cleaned and sanitized.

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Table Of Contents
  1. How Long can Cheddar Cheese Sit Out? – A Guide
    • How Long does Cheddar Cheese Last?
    • How Long can Cheddar Cheese be Left Out?
    • How Long do Different Types of Cheese Generally Last?
    • How to Store Cheese

How Long can Cheddar Cheese Sit Out? – A Guide

Even after reviewing the sell-by date and expiration date at the grocery store, preserving cheese may be difficult, leaving cheddar cheese fans wondering how long can cheddar cheese be left out before it goes past its shelf life.

We all want to eat the highest-quality dairy products, and it’s a misery to bite into a wonderful piece of cheese only to discover it’s gone bad. Thankfully, learning how to store cheese and keep cheese fresh is simple if you understand a little more about it and the many types of cheese.

With a bit of information, the issue of how long does cheddar cheese last is answered. Whether you like hard cheese, soft cheeses, aged cheeses, or cream cheese, bring the very best cheesy goodness to the tasting table every time by learning to prepare and store your cheeses at room temperature or cooled.

Keeping cheddar cheese fresh is a priority to avoid waste and preserve the very best taste. If you’ve ever wondered how long does cheddar cheese last or any other types of cheese, you’re not alone. The answer varies.

The storage method and preservatives in the cheese itself have an effect, as does whether you’re dealing with soft cheeses, semi-hard cheese, or hard cheese. By learning a bit more about the cheese, you can choose the optimal storage method, extending its shelf life and allowing you to enjoy the highest quality dairy product longer.

Because cheese spoils quickly, it’s best to buy it in smaller quantities more frequently and keep the original packaging unopened until you’re ready to consume it, and follow the packaging’s storage directions. Learning how to preserve cheese, whether it’s Kraft, a delicious Swiss, sharp Pecorino, or a perfect Romano, keeps it fresher longer.

How Long does Cheddar Cheese Last?

Storage circumstances largely determine how long does cheddar cheese last after it’s opened and removed from the original packaging. Hard cheese does go bad after opening it. Keeping cheese cool plays a huge part in preservation.

Wrap a chunk of cheddar cheese in plastic wrap or aluminum foil after opening to extend its shelf life. For even better results, wrap the cheese in wax or parchment paper first and cover it with plastic wrap or a Ziploc bag before refrigerating.

If properly stored, an opened lump of cheddar cheese may be kept in the refrigerator for three to four weeks without going bad or losing flavor.

How Long can Cheddar Cheese be Left Out?

Cheese lovers often wonder how long can cheddar cheese be left out? Can cheese stay out unrefrigerated? Cheddar cheese is a perishable item and maintains its freshness best when stored in the refrigerator. Answering how long can cheddar cheese sit out involves multiple factors.

The higher the temperature, the less time the cheese can sit out before going bad, like how mac and cheese can sit out for limited periods. Similarly, high humidity drives the cheese to spoil faster.

Generally, a good guide to store fresh cheddar cheese is to remove the cheddar cheese from its packaging and the fridge when you are ready to use it and return it as soon as you are done. Reducing the time cheese is left out prolongs its shelf life and keeps it fresh.

How Long do Different Types of Cheese Generally Last?

If you’re not sure how long your favorite cheeses last, knowing what is average might help you figure it out.

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Types of Cheese

  • Parmesan keeps for around three months in the refrigerator because of its extended maturing process and greater salt content. Dry parmesan is going bad.
  • When refrigerated, mozzarella lasts 7-10 days. Mold, dryness, and a yeasty stench are all signs it’s spoiled.
  • Blue cheese keeps 2-3 weeks after removing the original packaging. Its blue mold and normal texture make determining when this cheese has gone bad more challenging. It’s time to toss it out if the consistency dramatically changes, it begins to dry out, or it develops a terrible odor.
  • Gouda lasts for 4-6 weeks in the fridge. It’s bad if there’s red or black-colored mold and it’s dry.
  • The saline brine feta is packaged in keeps it fresh for 3-4 weeks. It’s time to toss it if it has a yeasty smell or visible mold.
  • Gruyere is preserved in the fridge for 4-6 weeks. It’s spoilt if it’s dry or has red or black mold.
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Whether you love creamy camembert, luscious asiago, good old gorgonzola, brie, or ricotta, knowing the moisture content and how to store it properly extends its shelf life. Swiss cheese can last in the fridge longer if it is packaged correctly, just like any other cheese.

Cheese lasting longer means you enjoy the highest quality product for the longest time. Give up on wondering how long can cheddar cheese be left out, and use your cheese with confidence now you understand the basics.

How to Store Cheese

Cheese is like a live thing as it sweats, degrades with time, and even breathes, which may be a surprise. Cheese wrapped in plastic wrap suffocates and develops an ammonia taste and potentially harmful bacteria due to the lack of air.

If your deli cheese is in plastic wrap at the counter at the grocery store, rewrap it as quickly as possible to prolong its shelf life. What should you use to wrap your cheese?

Cheese paper is the gold standard to allow the cheese to breathe while preventing it from drying out. If you don’t have cheese paper, parchment paper suffices and is probably already in your kitchen.

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Cheese Wrapping

  • Cheese or parchment paper
  • Scissors
  • Marker
  • Masking tape
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Cut a square of cheese paper two to three times the size of your block of cheese. Wrap your cheese tightly in parchment paper and tape the flaps down. Make a note of the cheese, if it has a rind and the date you bought it on the tape.

You’ll be able to see what’s inside the package without unwrapping it, and keep track of how long it’s been in your fridge. If you don’t have any parchment or cheese paper, aluminum foil works too; wrap it loosely enough to allow the cheese to breathe.

Refrigerate the properly wrapped cheese in the crisper drawer. The humidity and temperature are the most stable in this area, resulting in superb quality.

What about the freezer? You can freeze cheddar cheese easily by wrapping it well. The texture does change a little after thawing but it’s still great in your favorite recipes. Use frozen sliced cheese as a casserole topping or in a grilled cheese sandwich.

Choose an appropriate storage method for your favorite cheese to provide the best possible flavor and shelf life. Understanding how long does cheddar cheese last is easy once you know more about cheese’s composition and storage.

Stop worrying about how long can cheddar cheese sit out or how long can cheddar cheese be left out and enjoy your favorite cheese.

Learn how long does different cheese last and how to store them to extend their shelf life. Discover tips for mozzarella, Romano, cream cheese, Gouda, gruyere, feta, soft cheeses and more. #cheddar #cheese #last
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