Andy Montoya
Danish blue cheese is known for its strong, sour taste and pungent smell. While it may not be to everyone's liking, some people enjoy it on burgers, in sauces, or even on pizza. Like all blue cheeses, it has a limited shelf life and will eventually go bad. Blue cheese is a fermented cheese that uses Penicillium roqueforti mold cultures, which are nontoxic and safe for human consumption. However, if the cheese is left out for too long or not stored properly, it can spoil and become unsafe to eat. To determine if Danish blue cheese has gone bad, it is important to examine its smell, colour, texture, and taste.
Does Danish Blue Cheese Go Bad?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shelf life | 1-2 weeks beyond the printed date |
| Opened wedge shelf life | 7-10 days |
| Refrigeration | Store in the fridge |
| Refrigerator temperature | Not above 40 degrees |
| Freezer storage | Can be stored indefinitely |
| Smell | Ammonia-like smell indicates spoilage |
| Mold | Blue or green |
| Creamy part of the cheese | Color changes may indicate spoilage |
| Texture | Slimy or fuzzy texture indicates spoilage |
| Taste | Too strong taste due to prolonged storage indicates spoilage |
| Spoilage | May not make you sick but may be too strong to enjoy |
| Cross-contamination | Store separately to avoid mold spores infecting other foods |
| Packaging | Store in foil, cheese wrap, wax paper, or aluminum foil |
| Packaging | Place in a freezer bag or airtight container |
| Packaging | Do not squeeze out extra air |
| Packaging | Allow the cheese to breathe |
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What You'll Learn
How to store Danish blue cheese
Danish blue cheese, also known as Danablu, is a rich and creamy cheese made from cow's milk. It has a mild bitterness and saltiness, with a smooth texture similar to soft cheeses. When storing Danish blue cheese, it is important to follow certain guidelines to ensure its freshness and quality. Here are some detailed instructions on how to store Danish blue cheese:
Storing Unopened Danish Blue Cheese:
- Check the printed date on the label: Unopened Danish blue cheese typically lasts for about one to two weeks beyond the printed date.
- Store in the refrigerator: Place the unopened cheese in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
- Choose the right location in the fridge: Select the coolest and driest part of the refrigerator, such as the crisper drawer. This helps extend the cheese's shelf life.
- Maintain proper temperature: Ensure that your refrigerator temperature is set below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Storing Opened Danish Blue Cheese:
- Consume promptly: Once the cheese is opened, aim to consume it within 7 to 10 days. If it is a fresh block with a later use-by date, it may last a bit longer.
- Wrap and cover: Keep the leftover cheese well-wrapped in its original cheese paper, foil, or alternative coverings like wax paper or aluminium foil. This helps prevent drying out and maintains humidity.
- Allow it to breathe: Place the wrapped cheese in a freezer bag or airtight container, but avoid sealing it tightly. The cheese needs to breathe to support the growth of the blue mould.
- Separate from other cheeses: Store your Danish blue cheese separately from other cheeses to prevent cross-contamination of mould and odours.
- Monitor for spoilage: Regularly inspect the cheese for any signs of spoilage, such as discolouration (pink, brown, or yellow), slimy texture, or an ammonia-like smell. If any of these indicators are present, discard the cheese.
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How to identify if Danish blue cheese has gone bad
Blue cheese is a pungent and divisive food, with some people loving its strong, sharp taste and others detesting it. Danish blue cheese is no exception, with some people describing it as "horrible" and "too sour".
Like all blue cheese, Danish blue cheese can go bad, and it's important to know how to spot this to avoid eating spoiled cheese. Firstly, it's worth noting that blue cheese has a shelf life of a couple of weeks, but some creameries sell theirs with a longer storage period of up to six months. An unopened wedge of blue cheese will last for about a week to two weeks beyond the printed date, and it's best to eat it within a week or two of opening. If you're planning to keep blue cheese for a long time, it's best to buy it in small quantities.
When trying to identify if your Danish blue cheese has gone bad, there are several things to look out for. Firstly, check the colour. Fresh blue cheese has blue or green mould, but you should pay attention to the colour of the creamy part of the cheese. If this has turned pink, brown, or yellow, it's no longer safe to eat. However, some blue cheeses have a pink hue near the rind, so it's worth checking the brand's website to see if this is normal.
Next, smell the cheese. Fresh blue cheese has a strong scent, but this changes as it starts to go bad. If the cheese has an ammonia-like smell, it is probably spoiled. A slight ammonia smell is normal, but if it's strong or unpleasant, it's best to discard the cheese.
You can also study the surface of the cheese to see if it appears slimy, fuzzy, or dry. If there are signs of mould that is grey, black, or in shiny, pink, or yellow clusters, the cheese is beginning to go bad.
Finally, if the cheese still smells and looks normal, you can try tasting a small amount. Fresh blue cheese has a strong, sharp taste, but if it's too strong or the texture is too hard, it's probably best to throw it away.
In summary, to identify if Danish blue cheese has gone bad, check for changes in colour, smell for ammonia, look for mould or a slimy texture, and finally, taste a small amount to check for an overly strong flavour.
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How to eat Danish blue cheese
Danish blue cheese, also known as Danablu, is a pungent and sharp-tasting cheese with a creamy and smooth texture. It is made using cow's milk and displays fine streaks of blue veins along its white interior.
When it comes to eating Danish blue cheese, there are several ways to enjoy it:
- On a cheeseboard: Danish blue cheese can be enjoyed as part of a cheeseboard, paired with complementary foods such as zesty apple, dark chocolate, pear, or celery.
- Melted: Blue cheese can be melted on top of a burger or in a grilled cheese sandwich. It can also be drizzled with honey, which helps to mellow the flavour.
- In a salad: The creamy taste and texture of blue cheese can add a delicious touch to a fresh, crispy lettuce salad.
- In a dip: Blue cheese can be turned into a cheesy dip, such as a Pear & Buttermilk Blue® Dip.
- In cooking: Danish blue cheese can be paired with seared beef, veal, or pork steak, allowing it to melt in. It can also be added to soups, pastas, or stews for an extraordinarily creamy consistency.
When purchasing Danish blue cheese, look for blue/green mould and a cream-to-white body. It should be stored in the fridge, and it is important to ensure that it can breathe so that the blue mould can develop. An unopened package of Danish blue cheese will last for about a week to two weeks beyond the printed date. Once opened, it should be consumed within 7 to 10 days, but it may last a bit longer if it is fresh and still within its use-by date.
To determine if Danish blue cheese has gone bad, there are a few signs to look out for. Firstly, if the cheese has developed mould that is grey, fuzzy, or black, or if it has yeast in the form of shiny, pink, yellow, or brown clusters, it should be discarded. Additionally, if the cheese has a strong ammonia-like smell or a noticeably bad taste, it is best to throw it away.
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Health benefits of Danish blue cheese
Danish blue cheese, like other blue cheeses, is rich in calcium, which is essential for healthy teeth and bones. It also contains other nutrients that may help promote immune, cardiovascular, and cognitive functioning. Blue cheese is a great source of protein and is rich in vitamins and minerals, which help maintain a healthy immune system.
The calcium in blue cheese may also be linked to anti-obesity mechanisms that reduce body weight from fat. Studies have found that blue cheese consumption helps with managing levels of visceral fat around the abdominal area and maintaining gut health.
Blue cheese contains a compound known as spermidine, which may delay aging and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Researchers believe that spermidine has a positive effect on cardiac muscle cells and other parts of the cardiovascular system.
Blue cheese can be part of a healthy diet, but it's important to consume it in moderation due to its high levels of salt, saturated fat, calories, and sodium. It should be stored in the fridge and consumed within a few weeks of opening to prevent spoilage and the growth of toxic mould.
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Nutritional value of Danish blue cheese
Blue cheese is known for its pungent taste and scent, which is provided by the edible mold that the cheese contains. While it is not to everyone's liking, it is perfectly safe to eat. However, blue cheese can go bad just like any other cheese.
When purchasing blue cheese, look for blue/green mold and a cream-to-white body. A slight ammonia smell is okay, but as blue cheese continues to get stronger with age, it is best to eat it within a week or two. To keep it fresh for longer, make sure it is stored in the fridge, and wrap it in wax paper or aluminium foil. Place the wrapped blue cheese in a freezer bag or airtight container, but don't squeeze out the extra air as the cheese needs to breathe.
While blue cheese typically has a shelf life of a couple of weeks, some creameries sell their cheese with an extended storage period of up to six months. After opening a wedge of blue cheese, it should be used within 7 to 10 days, or a bit longer if it is a fresh block with a few weeks until the printed date. An unopened blue cheese typically lasts for about a week to two weeks beyond the date printed on the label.
Blue cheese is no longer safe to eat if it has turned pink, brown, or yellow, or if it has developed a slimy texture. It should also be discarded if it has an ammonia-like smell, or if its taste is too strong due to prolonged storage.
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Frequently asked questions
An unopened Danish blue cheese will last for about a week to two weeks beyond the date printed on the label. After opening, it retains the best quality for about 7 to 10 days, but it might keep for longer if it’s not nearing its date and you keep it well wrapped.
The best way to tell if your Danish blue cheese has spoiled is to smell it. Fresh blue cheese has a strong scent, but it changes as it starts to go bad. If it has an ammonia-like smell, it is probably spoiled. Other signs of spoilage include a slimy texture, and a pink, brown, or yellow hue.
In most cases, eating a small bit of spoiled blue cheese isn't going to make you sick, so tasting it isn't dangerous. However, if it has developed yeast or mold that is gray, fuzzy, or black, it could be harmful.
To keep your Danish blue cheese fresh for as long as possible, store it in the fridge and ensure that it is well-wrapped and can breathe. Either use the foil it often comes in or opt for cheese wrap, wax paper, or aluminum foil. Place the wrapped blue cheese in a freezer bag or airtight container, but don’t squeeze out the extra air.
