Blue Cheese: How Long Does Crumbling Extend Its Life?

Blue cheese is a beloved delicacy for some, but its distinct appearance and pungent smell can be off-putting to others. Regardless of your feelings about this salty treat, it's important to know how long it lasts and when it's time to throw it out. Blue cheese has a shelf life of about one month up to six months, depending on its packaging, and can be kept in the fridge for three to four weeks. Once opened, it should be consumed within seven to ten days, but may last up to two weeks if well-wrapped and not nearing its expiry date. Crumbled blue cheese, which is often sold in containers, typically has a long shelf life of up to six months if unopened. Once opened, it should be consumed within about a week for the best quality.

How to store crumbled blue cheese

Blue cheese is a tricky cheese to store. Its delicate cheese paste with pierced blue veining makes it more susceptible to oxidation and loss of surface moisture.

Humidity, Airflow, and Breathability

Blue cheese thrives in a highly humid environment, ideally at least 80% humidity to keep the cheese paste fresh. The challenge is to maintain a humid climate without trapping moisture, as trapped moisture can lead to the growth of unwanted bacteria and the rapid degradation of the cheese.

Avoid Tightly Sealed Wrapping

Avoid wrapping blue cheese too tightly in plastic or cheese paper, as this can trap moisture and promote the growth of unwanted bacteria, which can make the cheese inedible. Instead, opt for breathable wrapping materials, such as wax paper, cheese wrap, or aluminium foil.

Refrigerate or Freeze

Always keep blue cheese refrigerated to maximise its shelf life. Properly stored, an opened package of blue cheese crumbles will last for about 5 to 7 days in the refrigerator. Consume or freeze the crumbles within this time frame, even if the "Best By" or "Use By" date has not been reached.

If you want to extend the shelf life, freezing is an option. Place the blue cheese crumbles in the freezer before the number of days shown for refrigerator storage has elapsed. Frozen blue cheese may lose some of its texture and flavour, so it is best suited for cooked dishes like sauces, soups, and casseroles.

Store in the Bottom Shelf of the Refrigerator

The colder the blue cheese, the longer it will stay fresh. The bottom section of the fridge is usually the coldest, so store the cheese on the bottom shelf or in the drawers to maintain a stable temperature.

Check for Spoilage

The best way to tell if your blue cheese has spoiled is to examine its smell, colour, and texture. Fresh blue cheese has a strong scent, but it changes as it starts to go bad. If it develops an off odour, flavour, or appearance, it should be discarded.

Additionally, pay attention to the colour of the creamy part of the cheese. It is typically white, beige, or yellow. If it starts to turn pink, brown, or green, your blue cheese has likely spoiled.

In terms of texture, look for any slimy or fuzzy surface changes, and discard the cheese if these are present.

How to identify if crumbled blue cheese has gone bad

Crumbled blue cheese is a delicious, pungent treat, but it can be hard to tell when it's gone bad. Here are some ways to identify if your crumbled blue cheese has spoiled:

Smell

The best way to tell if your blue cheese has gone bad is to smell it. Fresh blue cheese has a strong scent, but it changes as it starts to spoil. If it has an ammonia-like smell, it is probably spoiled. It's a good idea to smell blue cheese when you first buy it so you know what it should smell like.

Colour

Look at the colour of the creamy part of the cheese—it should be white, beige, or yellow. If you notice it has started to turn pink, brown, or green, your blue cheese has likely spoiled. Again, it's helpful to note the colour of your blue cheese when it's fresh so you can more easily identify any changes.

Texture

In addition to colour changes, check the surface of the cheese for slime or fuzz. If the texture has changed, it's best to discard the cheese.

Taste

If your blue cheese still smells and looks the same, you can usually tell if it's gone bad by tasting it. Fresh blue cheese has a strong, sharp taste, but old cheese becomes especially biting when it starts to spoil. If it's too strong to enjoy, you should throw it away. However, eating a small amount of spoiled blue cheese is unlikely to make you sick.

Expiration Date

Check the expiration date on the packaging if you still have it. Blue cheese can be kept in the refrigerator for three to four weeks. If it's been longer than that, it's best to throw it away.

Storage

How you store your blue cheese can also affect how long it lasts. To keep it fresh as long as possible, wrap the cheese tightly in wax or parchment paper, then place plastic wrap or foil over the paper to prevent it from drying out. Store it on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator, as this is usually the coldest part.

How long does crumbled blue cheese last in the freezer?

Crumbled blue cheese will last in the freezer indefinitely if kept at a constant temperature of 0°F, but its best quality will be maintained for about 6-8 months. After this time, the cheese may lose some of its texture and flavour, and it is recommended for use in cooked dishes, such as sauces, soups and casseroles.

To freeze crumbled blue cheese, the original packaging should be tightly sealed and placed in the freezer. If freezing for longer than 2 months, the package should be placed inside a heavy-duty freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.

To maximise the shelf life of blue cheese crumbles, the package should be kept tightly sealed and the cheese should be refrigerated at all times. Bacteria grows rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, so blue cheese crumbles should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.

To determine whether blue cheese crumbles have gone bad, the best way is to smell and look at the cheese. If the cheese develops an off odour, flavour or appearance, or if mould appears, it should be discarded.

How long does crumbled blue cheese last in the fridge?

Blue cheese is a pungent and divisive food, but one that has a dedicated fanbase. If you're a fan of blue cheese, you may be wondering how long it lasts in the fridge.

Unopened Blue Cheese

Blue cheese has a shelf life of a few weeks to a few months, depending on the type of blue cheese and how it is stored. Unopened blue cheese can last for about a week to two weeks beyond the date printed on the label. Some creameries sell blue cheese with a longer shelf life, up to six months, but this is not common.

Opened Blue Cheese

Once opened, blue cheese should be consumed within 7-10 days for the best quality. However, it may keep for up to two weeks if the cheese is relatively fresh and well-wrapped. If you are not planning to eat the blue cheese within this time, it is possible to freeze it.

Freezing Blue Cheese

Freezing blue cheese will affect its taste and texture, so it is best used in cooked dishes. To freeze blue cheese, cut it into portions of no more than half a pound each and double-wrap the portions in wax or parchment paper, followed by plastic wrap or foil. Place the wrapped portions into a freezer bag and store for up to six months for the best quality.

Signs of Spoilage

The best way to tell if blue cheese has spoiled is by smelling it. Fresh blue cheese has a strong scent, but this will change as it starts to go bad. If the cheese has an ammonia-like smell, it should be discarded.

The colour of blue cheese can also indicate if it has spoiled. The creamy part of the cheese is normally white, beige, or yellow. If this has started to turn pink, brown, or green, the blue cheese has likely spoiled.

Storage

To keep blue cheese fresh for as long as possible, it should be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees or below. It should be wrapped to prevent it from drying out and stored in the coldest part of the fridge, such as the bottom shelf or a drawer.

How long can you leave crumbled blue cheese at room temperature?

Blue cheese is a beloved delicacy for some, but its pungent taste and smell can be off-putting to others. It's a cheese variety that already contains a special kind of edible mould, but it can still go bad and become unsafe to eat.

Bacteria grow rapidly at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, so blue cheese crumbles should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature. It is not recommended to keep blue cheese at room temperature for more than four hours, especially after opening.

When stored correctly in the fridge, blue cheese will last around three to four weeks. An unopened package of blue cheese lasts for about a week to two weeks beyond the date printed on the label. After opening, it retains the best quality for about 5 to 7 days, but might keep for longer if well wrapped and not nearing its expiry date.

To maximise the shelf life of blue cheese crumbles, keep the package tightly sealed and refrigerated at all times.

How to Store Blue Cheese

To store blue cheese, wrap it in wax paper, cheese wrap, or aluminium foil, then place it in a plastic bag or airtight container. Make sure the cheese has some space to breathe—don't squeeze out all the air from the bag before sealing it.

If you only wrap the cheese, ensure it doesn't sit near any smelly products, as blue cheese can easily absorb nearby odours. Additionally, leaving it in a perforated bag may cause mould spores to infect other nearby foods.

For optimal freshness, store blue cheese on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator, as this area tends to be the coldest.

How to Spot Bad Blue Cheese

The best way to tell if 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's probably spoiled.

You can also examine the colour of the creamy part of the cheese. If it has turned pink, brown, or green, or if its surface appears slimy or fuzzy, the blue cheese has likely spoiled.

Freezing Blue Cheese

Freezing is an option if you want to extend the shelf life of blue cheese. However, it's important to note that the texture and taste of the cheese will be affected. The cheese will become more crumbly, and it may lose some of its flavours. Therefore, it's best to use defrosted blue cheese in cooked dishes.

To freeze blue cheese, cut it into portions, then double-wrap it in wax or parchment paper and plastic wrap or foil. Place the wrapped cheese in a plastic freezer bag and store it in the freezer. For optimal flavour and quality, consume frozen blue cheese within six months to a year.

Frequently asked questions