People love cheese. It comes in so many different varieties of flavor and texture and can be used to elevate a recipe, play the starring role in one, or simply be enjoyed on its own with some crackers or bread.
Cheese is a dairy-based product so knowing how to store it properly is a must because, like any perishable food product, it can spoil.
But what if you leave leftover cheese on your counter or table after a party or gathering? Can you still eat it the next day or do you need to discard it?
Cheese adheres to the same guidelines as all other perishable foods and should not be left out at room temperature for more than two hours. However, with so many different types of cheese, there is a lot of wiggle room for this rule. Hard cheeses are less prone to bacteria growth so leaving them out overnight poses little risk.
If this seems a little unclear, don’t worry! Read on to discover all the details on how you should be storing some of the different varieties of cheese.
I’ll also be going over how you can tell if your cheese isn’t good anymore to prevent any foodborne illnesses.
What Can Happen If You Eat Cheese Left Out Overnight?
Hard cheeses that have been left out overnight are generally perfectly safe to eat even if they’ve been sitting at room temperature for many hours.
These cheeses are generally made from pasteurized milk and are dry enough that they aren’t that attractive to bacteria.
Cheeses with more moisture (like soft and fresh cheeses) are much more prone to bacteria growth. These cheeses will also deteriorate in quality much quicker.
If there are no visible signs of spoilage and no changes in the smell of the soft cheese you left out, eating it probably won’t do you any harm.
However, it is always safer to properly store and refrigerate any leftover cheese before you go to bed to prevent the risk of nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and headaches if you eat it.
How Can You Tell If Cheese Has Gone Bad?
You can usually tell if cheese has gone bad when its appearance and smell start to change. The visible appearance of mold is also an indicator.
Hard cheeses are the easiest to notice these changes on. They will get darker and dry out or develop visible patches of mold.
Fresh cheeses like mozzarella and ricotta are also easy to observe for changes. If they smell sour or acrid then they are likely not good anymore.
Mold also spreads very quickly on these types of cheeses so if you notice a little bit growing, the cheese has likely gone bad.
Soft, ripened cheeses like brie and blue cheese can be a little bit trickier when it comes to knowing if they have gone bad.
You should be able to identify the good mold that has been purposely put into those cheeses during production. Any other colors or textures of mold that appear (like pink, grey, or fuzzy white spots) can be considered signs of spoilage.
Cheeses encased in molds like brie and camembert will also visibly dry out and their surfaces might darken or become more yellowed.
How Does Cheese Go Bad?
Because there are so many different types of cheese, there are a lot of ways to answer this question.
Hard cheese can most easily go bad by drying out. If you leave cheddar, gouda, swiss, parmesan, or another aged hard cheese out overnight it can still safely be eaten.
However, if said cheese has been left out on a plate, completely unwrapped and exposed to the air then it will have become dry and hard and will not be tasty anymore.
My suggestion for dealing with a leftover tray or board of hard cheeses is to at least cover them with a lid or plate before bed so that they can maintain their freshness until the next day.
Hard and semi-hard cheeses can also spoil if left unused in the fridge or at room temperature. This spoilage comes around through visible mold and a distinguishable odor.
If there is mold on one part of your block of hard cheese you can cut around the mold and use the part that hasn’t been touched by mold to add to a cooked meal.
If you have a fresh cheese like ricotta or mozzarella or a package of shredded cheese and you notice mold growth, you will want to dispose of all of that cheese because mold spreads quicker in those types of cheeses.
How Should the Different Types of Cheese Be Stored?
Any cheeses that are hard or semi-hard and can hold their own shape can be tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or put in a plastic bag.
If wrapping a block or wedge of cheese in plastic, you want to make sure that it is completely covered so that there are no gaps letting in the air because that will dry your cheese out.
Shredded or grated cheeses can be put in a jar or plastic container that can be tightly sealed.
Soft cheeses can be put into glass or plastic storage containers with tightly sealed lids.
Cheese like mozzarella or feta that is sold packaged in water should be kept in a glass or plastic container with fresh water that you change every few days.
All cheeses should live in the refrigerator. When you are ready to eat or serve your cheese, all the varieties (excluding fresh cheeses) can be taken out of the fridge an hour early to soften.
This makes the hard cheese like cheddar and parmesan easier to cut or grate and the softer cheeses like brie and camembert become creamier and easier to spread.
Fresh cheese like mozzarella or cottage cheese should be kept in the fridge right until it is ready to use for a recipe or it should be served chilled.
How Long Can Cheese Be Stored?
Hard cheeses like swiss and American cheese can generally last for up to four weeks if they are stored in the proper containers or packaging.
Softer, aged cheeses like Brie can last anywhere from a week to three.
Fresh cheeses generally have a shelf life of around 10 to 14 days in the fridge.
Parmesan, thanks to its long aging process and higher salt content can hang out in your fridge for around 3 months. It’s the perfect cheese to have available to add some nuance to any recipe.
Can Unopened Cheese Be Left at Room Temperature?
If you’re serving cheese at a party or a gathering at your house, you don’t have to worry about the cheese suddenly going bad while your guests are still enjoying it.
The safe zone for leaving cheese out is generally 4-8 hours (depending on the type of cheese) so a delicious cheese board should be able to last through the duration of your entire party.
If you start to notice the textures of the cheese you have out changing and becoming hard, then you might want to pop those cheeses in an airtight container and transfer them to the fridge to prolong their life.