Popular Cheese Varieties: How Long Can They Last in the Refrigerator?

Cheese tips
Photo by Alexander Maasch on Unsplash

Cheese is a staple in nearly every kitchen. Add it to a sandwich, salad, or charcuterie board, and it will always leave you satisfied. However, cheeses have expiration dates and because there are so many types of cheese, it can be tricky to know the exact time frame for each kind. Here is how long the most popular cheeses can be kept in the refrigerator.

Fresh Cheese: Chevre, Ricotta

Fresh cheeses usually last between five and seven days. They are typically white in color and high in moisture. Mozzarella and burrata also fall under the fresh cheese category.

Semi-Soft: Brie, Camambar, and Triple Creams

Soft ripened cheeses will usually last around 7 to 10 days, depending on when you cut into them. The semi-soft cheese varieties are high in moisture, but when it has been a while after they’ve been cut, they will lose their moisture and dry out.

Hard: Cheddar, Gouda, Parmigiano

Firmer cheese will have the longest shelf life. Since their moisture content is low, cheeses like aged cheddar and Gouda have less of a chance to grow bacteria.

Blue Cheese

Blue cheese, on the other hand, has one of the shortest shelf lives. In general, you can expect blur cheese to last for about five days in the refrigerator.