How Long Does Blue Cheese Stay Fresh?

Do you Wonder How Long Does Blue Cheese Stay Fresh?

One thing you want to consider when buying blue cheese and determining how much you want to get is to find an answer to the question: how long does blue cheese stay fresh? Softer blue cheeses tend to only be good for about one week after you open them. If you aren’t going to eat it all up in a week, see if you can buy a smaller amount. Harder blue cheeses should be used within 2-3 weeks of opening. Again, let that be your guide as to how much you purchase.

One guideline for the determining the freshness of blue cheese is using the ‘best used before’ packaging date. Generally, the recommendation on soft cheeses is that you use them within one week of opening. With harder cheeses, they should be used within 2-3 weeks of opening.

Once you get your blue cheese home, you want to make sure you store it properly. Firm blue cheeses such as Stilton should be wrapped in waxed paper and then either placed in a re-sealable plastic bag or plastic wrap. Then store it in your refrigerator drawer. All other blues should be placed unwrapped into an airtight plastic container with a few holes poked into it and then stored in your refrigerator drawer.

One way to make sure that your blue cheese is fresh and of good quality is by checking its aroma. How does it smell?

• 1. Soft-ripened cheese should smell like bacon, beef, or buttermilk. It should not smell like ammonia.
• 2. Creamy-crumbly cheese should smell like fresh milk, grass, or pungent. It should not smell like ammonia or very strong.
• 3. Firm cheese should smell like toasted nuts, smoky or sweet. It should not smell very strong or gamey.

But don’t use your sense of smell alone. Some people have less adept senses of smell than others. Use visual cues too. Has the texture changed? Are there different colored molds on the cheese? With hard cheeses, it is possible to cut the mold off and about an inch of the surrounding cheese. But with soft cheeses, it is best to throw the whole thing out if it becomes moldy.