Frederic Melton
Goat cheese is a delicious treat, but it can be tricky to know how to store it properly. Does it need to be refrigerated, or will it be okay at room temperature? Well, it depends on the type of goat cheese and how long you plan to store it. Soft goat cheese, for example, will typically last a week or two past its expiration date if unopened and about a week once opened, whether it's refrigerated or not. However, leaving it at room temperature will speed up the aging process, so it may not taste as fresh. Harder goat cheeses, on the other hand, can last for at least a month after their expiration date and retain their quality for a month or more after opening, whether refrigerated or not. But again, refrigeration will slow down the aging process and keep the cheese tasting fresher for longer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated shelf life | A few weeks to a few months, depending on the type of cheese |
| Frozen shelf life | 6 months or more |
| Ideal aging temperature | 50º to 60º F (10º to 15.5º C) |
| Room temperature shelf life | A few days to a week |
| Signs of spoilage | Non-native mold, sour smell, or appearance |
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What You'll Learn
Goat cheese can be kept in the fridge for months
Goat cheese is a name for all cheeses made using goat's milk. The softer the cheese, the sooner it loses quality. Soft and fresh goat cheeses keep for a couple of weeks past their date and about a week after opening. They should be stored in the refrigerator and treated like cream cheese. Soft-ripened goat cheeses, similar to Brie, keep for only a week or so past their date, but it doesn't matter when you open the package as they continue to ripen over time.
Semi-hard to semi-soft goat cheeses retain peak quality for a few weeks past their dates and for 1 to 3 weeks of opening. If your goat cheese falls under the hard or semi-hard category, you can cut off any mould and eat the rest. Otherwise, get rid of it. Hard goat cheese keeps for at least a month after its date and for a month or more after opening the package.
Goat cheese will last a good long time if there aren't any mould spores inside the vacuum packaging. The ideal ageing temperature for cheese is between 50º and 60º F (10º and 15.5º C). Room temperature is above this, and will speed up the ageing process. Refrigerator temperature is below this, and will slow down the ageing process.
One source suggests that goat cheese will stay good in the fridge for months. However, this may depend on the type of goat cheese. Another source suggests that fresh goat cheese will last about 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. To extend the shelf life of goat cheese, you can freeze it. Frozen cheese may become crumbly and lose some of its flavour, but it will be best suited to cooked dishes.
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Soft goat cheese lasts a week after opening
Soft goat cheese lasts about a week after opening, but this depends on the type of cheese and how it is stored. Soft goat cheese that is unopened can last a couple of weeks past its date. However, it is recommended to refrigerate goat cheese to extend its shelf life.
Goat cheese, like all cheese, is made to be shelf-stable for a long time. The aging process of cheese happens faster at room temperature, and slower when refrigerated. The ideal temperature for aging cheese is between 50º and 60º F (10º and 15.5º C). Room temperature is usually above this, and refrigeration is below it.
Goat cheese can be kept good in the refrigerator for months. However, the softer the cheese, the sooner it loses quality. Soft goat cheese that is unopened can last a couple of weeks past its date, and about a week after opening. Semi-soft to semi-hard goat cheeses retain peak quality for a few weeks past their dates and for 1 to 3 weeks after opening. Hard goat cheese keeps for at least a month after its date and for a month or more after opening.
To further extend the shelf life of goat cheese, it can be frozen. Frozen cheese may become crumbly and lose some of its flavor, so it is best suited for cooked dishes. Goat cheese can also be cooked if it has been left out of the refrigerator for a while, to reduce the risk of food poisoning.
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Hard goat cheese lasts a month after opening
Goat cheese is made from goat's milk and comes in various textures, from soft and fresh to semi-soft, semi-hard, and hard. The softer the cheese, the sooner it loses quality.
Hard goat cheese lasts for at least a month after its date and for a month or more after opening the package. If you want to extend the shelf life of hard goat cheese, you can freeze it. However, frozen cheese may become crumbly and lose some of its flavor.
It's important to note that the ideal aging temperature for cheese is between 50° and 60° F (10° and 15.5° C). Room temperature is above this range and will speed up the aging process, while refrigeration temperatures will slow it down.
To check if your goat cheese is still edible, look for mold that's not native to the cheese. For example, if the rind was white and has turned green, that's non-native mold. You can cut off the mold and some extra cheese and eat the rest if it's hard or semi-hard. Another indicator is smell: if it smells sour or "funny," it's probably time to discard it.
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Goat cheese can be frozen to extend its shelf life
Goat cheese is a delicious and creamy treat, but it can be sold in amounts larger than needed, leaving you with a lot of leftovers. While it can be stored in the fridge for a few weeks, freezing it can extend its shelf life.
Freezing goat cheese can be a good option if you want to keep it for longer than a few weeks. However, it's important to note that freezing will alter the texture and taste. Dry and semi-hard goat cheeses can withstand freezing and thawing quite well, but fresh and ripened goat cheeses will have their texture and flavour altered.
If you do decide to freeze your goat cheese, it's important to wrap it properly to reduce the risk of freezer burn. Start by wrapping the cheese in plastic wrap, then place it in an airtight container. Frozen goat cheese will last about 1 to 2 months in the freezer and should be thawed in the refrigerator when you're ready to use it.
To keep your goat cheese fresh in the fridge for as long as possible, it's important to wrap it correctly to avoid transferring odours and flavours between cheeses. You can use the original packaging, or wrap it in wax or parchment paper. These options let the cheese breathe while keeping it from losing moisture and protect it from microbial contamination. Then, place the wrapped cheese in an airtight container to prevent it from drying out and to keep it from picking up other fridge smells.
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Goat cheese will smell bad when it's gone off
Goat cheese is a name for all cheeses made using goat's milk. There are various types of goat cheese, including soft, semi-soft, semi-hard, and hard. The softer the cheese, the sooner it loses its quality. Soft goat cheese, for instance, keeps for a couple of weeks after its date and about a week after opening. It is similar to cream cheese in this respect. Soft goat cheese will smell wretched once it has spoiled. If it smells sour or "funny", it is probably time to discard it.
Semi-soft goat cheeses retain peak quality for a few weeks after their date and for 1 to 3 weeks after opening. This category includes Bucheron and Crottin. Hard goat cheese, on the other hand, keeps for at least a month after its date and for a month or more after opening. It can even be kept in an unheated utility room, or "cheese cave", for several months.
Goat cheese should ideally be stored in the refrigerator, where it can stay good for months. The ideal temperature for aging cheese is between 50º and 60º F (10º and 15.5º C). Room temperature is above this range and will speed up the aging process. Refrigerator temperature, on the other hand, will slow down the aging process.
If you are unsure about whether to keep your goat cheese in the fridge or not, it is always better to refrigerate it. If you are worried about the cheese but do not want to waste food, you can cook with it. Goat cheese can be used in dishes such as sauces, soups, and casseroles, cheesecakes, and torteau de chevre.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, goat cheese can go bad if not refrigerated. Soft goat cheese can keep for a week after opening and a couple of weeks past its date. However, it will last longer if refrigerated and even longer if frozen.
Goat cheese will let you know when it's gone bad. It will develop an off smell and appearance. If there is any mould on the cheese, it should be discarded. If the cheese is hard or semi-hard, the mould can be cut off and the rest of the cheese can be eaten.
Goat cheese can last for months in the fridge. Fresh goat cheese will last about 1-2 weeks in the refrigerator. Hard goat cheese can last for at least a month after opening and beyond its date.
