Do I need to keep cheese in the fridge?
Cheese should be kept refrigerated and stored below 5°C to ensure it’s safe to eat and lasts longer. Here at Godminster, we recommend taking your cheese out of the fridge an hour before you dive in so it’s brought up to room temperature and you can enjoy it in all its cheesy glory!
Keep on reading for more tips on storing your cheese and keeping it at its very best.
How long can cheese be left out of the fridge?
Cheese should be kept refrigerated and stored below 5°C to ensure it’s safe to eat and lasts longer. Here at Godminster, we recommend taking your cheese out of the fridge an hour before you dive in so it’s brought up to room temperature and you can enjoy it in all its cheesy glory!
Keep on reading for more tips on storing your cheese and keeping it at its very best.
How long CAN cheese BE LEFT OUT OF the fridge?
Cheese should be kept chilled in the fridge, but what if you make yourself a lovely platter and don’t get around to eating it all? Or perhaps you’ve accidentally left your cheese out and you’re not ready to mourn your loss? Well, depending on the type of cheese you have, you should be able to leave unwaxed cheese out for between two and eight hours without having to hit the panic button.
However, as Godminster is a waxed cheese, it can be out of refrigeration for up to 24hrs as the wax keeps the cheese cooler for longer. If the integrity of the wax has been compromised through heat or damage, then we recommend treating it like unwaxed cheddar (see further down).
Soft cheeses such as brie and camembert could be left out of the fridge for up to four hours at room temperature, but you must try to avoid leaving them out for too long as their moisture levels make them prone to more bacterial growth – and the last thing you want is mould to show up and spoil the party.
On the other hand, hard cheeses such as cheddar can be left out of the fridge for up to eight hours at room temperature as they contain less moisture. However, leaving cheese out for periods of time can lead to it becoming drier and it could start to lose its incredible taste.
So, whilst it is usually safe for cheese to be left outside of the fridge for a few hours, the best thing you can do is place any leftover cheese back inside the fridge as soon as you’ve finished eating it or take less cheese out of the fridge and pop back for more as and when you desire.
HOW LONG DOES CHEESE LAST IN THE FRIDGE?
How long cheese can survive in the fridge can vary depending on the type of cheese you have. Whilst it is usually recommended that you try to enjoy your cheese as soon as you can to ensure freshness, hard, aged cheeses typically last longer than soft cheeses. For example, some hard cheeses can last up to six months in your fridge if correctly stored. Here at Godminster, we guarantee 30 days of life for our vintage cheddar and 20 days for our black truffle cheese and oak-smoked cheddars before opening them.
HOW LONG DOES SOFT CHEESE LAST IN THE FRIDGE?
Soft cheeses have shorter expiry dates than hard cheeses (due to the amount of moisture inside them) and may last just a couple of weeks in the fridge. Just keep in mind that the longer you leave cheese in your fridge, the less moisture it will retain and the more it will change in flavour, so try to tuck in sooner rather than later.
One tip when it comes to buying cheese is to purchase it in smaller quantities, so you know you’ll have time to enjoy it (then go back for more when you’re running low!).
HOW TO STORE CHEESE IN THE FRIDGE
Once you’ve opened your cheese, you should wrap it tightly with waxed paper or cheese paper (double wrapping is ideal). Alternatively, you can keep it airtight in a sealed container so that it stays fresher for longer.
In terms of where to place the cheese in the fridge, the top shelf is usually best as this is where the temperature remains most consistent.
DO ALL CHEESES NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?
We would recommend keeping all types of cheeses refrigerated at under 5°C to avoid spoilage and harmful bacteria, however allowing it to warm to room temperature an hour before consumption will insure you get the full heavenly flavour.
HOW TO STOP CHEESE SMELLING IN THE FRIDGE
While we all know the pongiest cheese is usually the most irresistible, the downside is it can also make your fridge a little less fragrant too. To prevent this, always wrap your cheese tightly with waxed paper or keep it in an airtight container. This will not only prevent the cheese from drying out but also stop the smell from escaping.
You can also consider placing a box or bowl of baking soda in your fridge. This can absorb pungent cheese whiffs and help deodorise your fridge naturally.
DOES WAXED CHEESE NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?
Waxed cheese can keep spoilage and bacteria at bay and also allows the cheese to stay cooler for longer. While it can be left unrefrigerated for up to 24 hours and still taste just as incredible, after this point it’s a good idea to pop it back in the fridge to keep it fresh and safe for longer, especially if it has been cut into.
DO CHEESE TRUCKLES NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?
Refrigerating cheese truckles certainly helps to prolong their lifespan, especially if left uncut. Generally, refrigerated uncut cheese truckles usually last for 1-2 months and can be left at room temperature for up to 8 hours (24 hours for waxed cheese truckles) to get the most out of their incredible flavour.
DOES CHEDDAR CHEESE NEED TO BE REFRIGERATED?
As cheddar cheese is a type of hard cheese, it can be kept at room temperature for up to 8 hours before it starts to lose its exquisite taste. Keeping your cheddar in the fridge maintains its freshness for longer and helps to prevent spoiling and the growth of harmful bacteria.
We suggest taking your cheddar cheese out of the fridge an hour before serving to achieve its peak tanginess.
HOW LONG DOES BLUE CHEESE LAST IN THE FRIDGE?
Blue cheese can stay in the fridge for 3–4 weeks as long as it’s stored correctly. You can also keep blue cheese longer by freezing it (although it’s worth bearing in mind that freezing blue cheese can affect how it looks and feels).
WHAT CHEESES SHOULD NOT BE REFRIGERATED?
We would always recommend cheeses of all textures and varieties be refrigerated, when not consumed on the same day. That said, the golden rule of thumb is the harder the cheese, the less need for it to be kept in the fridge. This is due to harder cheeses’ low moisture content and reduced risk of bacterial growth.
HUNGRY FOR AWARD-WINNING CHEDDAR CHEESE?
Whether you’re looking for cheddar cheese for yourself or someone you love, our range of delicious organic cheddar cheeses are sure to hit the spot. From cheese gifts and hampers to cheese wedding cakes, we can supply you with award-winning Somerset cheese created with quality in mind. Browse our cheese products today or get in touch with us if you have any questions.
