Kamil Perry
Brie cheese is a popular soft cheese with a high water content of about 50%, giving it a distinctive melt-in-the-mouth consistency. While refrigeration is the ideal way to preserve its quality, brie cheese does go bad eventually. Properly stored, brie can last beyond its original shelf life, but it can also spoil faster due to its high moisture content and microorganisms. This article will explore how long brie lasts in the fridge, signs of spoilage, and the best storage methods to prolong its life.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shelf Life | 10-14 days for best flavour and quality |
| Storage | Refrigerate in original packaging or airtight container |
| Odour | Fresh brie should smell milky and buttery; bad brie reeks of ammonia |
| Texture | Gooey or runny brie is safe to eat but may be overripe |
| Freezing | Can extend shelf life by up to six months |
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What You'll Learn
Brie cheese shelf life
The shelf life of brie cheese varies due to its storage conditions. It is a soft cheese with a high water content, making it susceptible to bacteria. Therefore, it is important to store brie correctly to maximise its shelf life.
Brie cheese should be stored in a cool, dry place, with no air touching the cheese. The best way to store it is in its original packaging, as this ensures no air reaches the cheese. Alternatively, it can be wrapped in cheese paper or greaseproof paper, which can be purchased online or at a local grocery store. If you are storing an opened package of brie, it is recommended to give it two layers of protection: first, wrap it in plastic wrap or parchment paper, and then place it in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. You could also use aluminium foil for the second layer.
The shelf life of brie cheese is typically around 10-14 days. However, it can last longer without expiring, and some sources suggest that it can be safe to consume a few days or weeks after the printed date on the packaging. It is important to inspect the brie for signs of expiration before consuming it, as it can go bad. Brie cheese that has gone bad will have a strong ammonia smell, a change in colour (the rind and cheese may turn grey or darken), a hard texture, or the presence of mould. If any of these signs are present, the brie should be discarded.
Some people choose to freeze brie cheese to extend its shelf life. However, freezing can alter the consistency of the cheese, making it crumbly and stronger. Additionally, it is important to note that freezing may not be suitable for soft cheeses like brie, as they do not freeze well.
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Proper storage
Firstly, Brie cheese should be stored in a cool, dry place. A stable temperature is crucial, and the cheese drawer in your refrigerator provides this. If unopened, Brie can be kept in its original packaging, as this allows the cheese to breathe and protects it from drying out.
Once opened, Brie should be wrapped in two layers of protection. First, use wax paper, parchment paper, or aluminium foil, which allow the cheese to breathe better than plastic wrap. Then, transfer it to an airtight container to prevent it from absorbing odours from other foods in the fridge.
For leftover Brie that won't be consumed within a few weeks, freezing can be an option. While freezing may alter its texture, it can extend the cheese's life by up to six months. Frozen Brie is best used in cooked dishes where the texture change is less noticeable.
Finally, it's important to inspect Brie for signs of expiration before consuming it. While the cheese may be safe to eat several days or weeks after the printed date, its quality may deteriorate over time. Strong odours, a change in rind colour, and a gooey to liquid core are all signs that Brie has gone bad.
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Signs of spoilage
While refrigeration is the ideal way to preserve the quality of Brie cheese, it can still go bad. Brie is a soft cheese with a high moisture content, making it susceptible to spoilage due to microorganisms and exposure to other bacteria and moulds in the environment.
Strong odour
Brie should smell milky and buttery when fresh. When it has gone bad, it will give off a strong ammonia smell. If your Brie cheese smells off, it is no longer fresh and should be discarded.
Change in rind colour
The white rind of Brie cheese is a type of mould called penicillium candidum, which is safe to eat and adds flavour. However, if the cheese has gone bad, this rind may start to show blue or green spores.
Gooey to liquid core
Overripe Brie cheese will have a gooey to liquid core and a somewhat funky smell. While it may still be safe to eat, the taste may be unpleasant.
Hard texture
Brie that has been refrigerated for an extended period may become hard, and the rind may develop brown spots. While the cheese may still be edible, the rind tends to become bitter with age and is usually cut off.
Mould
If Brie cheese is not stored properly, it can be exposed to mould. While the white rind is a natural and safe type of mould, other types of mould that develop on the cheese indicate spoilage.
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Freezing Brie
Yes, you can freeze brie cheese. Freezing brie is a good way to preserve it if you don't want it to go bad. However, freezing will change the texture of the cheese, making it crumbly and grittier, so it's best to use frozen brie for cooking rather than eating straight.
If you plan to freeze your brie, it's best to do so within a day of purchasing it to ensure it's at its best. Before freezing, wrap the cheese tightly in plastic food wrap to keep it airtight and limit the amount of air and moisture, which can cause freezer burn. You can also use a vacuum sealer to avoid freezer burn if you plan to store it for more than a couple of weeks. Then, place the wrapped cheese in a freezer-safe container to prevent it from getting squashed or lost at the back of the freezer. Make sure to label the container with the date you froze the cheese and the date it will go bad. Frozen brie will keep in an airtight container for up to three months.
When you're ready to use your frozen brie, thaw only the portion you need in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Keep in mind that once thawed, brie cannot be refrozen. It's generally better to freeze slices of brie so you can easily get out what you need. If your freezer has a 『quick freeze』 or 『flash freeze』 mode, use that to help retain the texture and taste of the cheese.
While freezing brie can extend its shelf life, it's important to note that brie does have a high water content, which can make it more susceptible to bacteria and spoilage. Always inspect your brie for signs of expiration before consuming it, even if it has been frozen.
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Best-before dates
In the case of soft cheeses like brie, they tend to have shorter best-before dates because as they mature, they become softer and creamier, and their flavour becomes more developed. If a soft cheese is consumed too long after its best-before date, its flavour can become too strong and may even take on different tastes, such as ammonia.
However, it's important to note that best-before dates are not the same as expiration dates. Expiration dates suggest that the food may be unsafe to eat after that date, but this is not always the case. Additionally, use-by dates indicate the end of the period after which the food should not be consumed due to health and safety reasons.
While brie is a soft cheese, its colonisation by noble mould fills the ecological niche that would otherwise be claimed by pathogens. This means that even if consumed a few days or weeks after the best-before date, it may still be safe to eat, especially if it has been stored correctly in a cool, dry place.
The shelf life of brie cheese can vary due to its storage conditions, so there is no exact answer to how long it will last. However, a good guideline is that brie should be consumed within 10-14 days for the best flavour and quality. It can last longer, but caution should be exercised to avoid potential sickness or food poisoning.
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Frequently asked questions
Brie has a relatively short shelf life compared to other cheeses, but if stored correctly in the fridge, it can be enjoyed for several weeks. A good guideline to follow is 10-14 days for peak quality.
Fresh Brie should smell milky and buttery. If it reeks of ammonia, it has likely gone bad. Other signs include a change in the colour of the rind to blue or green, and a gooey to liquid core.
To store Brie in the fridge, wrap it in two layers of protection. First, use plastic wrap or parchment paper, then transfer it to an airtight container like a plastic bag or box. Alternatively, use aluminium foil for the second layer.
