The Ultimate Guide To Frigo Cheese Shelf Life

The shelf life of Frigo cheese varies depending on the type of cheese and how it is stored. Hard cheeses like Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda have a lower moisture content, which helps extend their shelf life. Unopened, they can last for several months and even up to a year when stored in the fridge. On the other hand, soft cheeses such as Brie and Camembert have a shorter shelf life, typically lasting for a few weeks to a couple of months when refrigerated. Once opened, hard cheeses can last for a few weeks to a couple of months, while soft cheeses should be consumed within a week to a few weeks. Proper storage is also key to extending the shelf life of Frigo cheese. This includes storing the cheese in the right type of wrapping and maintaining a safe fridge temperature.

How long does unopened Frigo cheese last?

The shelf life of unopened Frigo cheese depends on the type of cheese. Hard cheeses, such as Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda, have a lower moisture content, which helps extend their shelf life. Unopened, they can last for several months and even up to a year when stored in the fridge. According to the USDA, unopened packages of hard cheese will last about six months in the refrigerator.

Blue cheeses like Stilton, Roquefort, and Gorgonzola can also have a shelf life of several months if they are refrigerated properly. Semi-hard cheeses, such as Swiss cheese, also have a relatively long shelf life, often several months past their 'best by' date when kept in the refrigerator before opening.

Soft cheeses, such as Brie and Camembert, have a shorter shelf life. Unopened, they typically last for a few weeks to a couple of months past their 'best by' date when refrigerated. Fresh cheeses like cream cheese, ricotta, and cottage cheese are highly perishable and usually last only a few weeks past their 'best by' date when stored in the refrigerator.

It's important to note that the 'best by' or 'sell by' dates on cheese are guidelines for quality rather than safety. Cheese often remains safe to eat beyond these dates if stored correctly. However, it's always a good idea to inspect your cheese for any signs of spoilage, such as mold, dryness, or changes in texture or colour, before consuming it.

How long does opened Frigo cheese last?

The shelf life of opened Frigo cheese depends on the type of cheese. Soft cheeses like mozzarella, feta, and ricotta are more perishable and typically last for about a week to a few weeks in the refrigerator. Harder cheeses like cheddar, parmesan, and gouda can be stored in the refrigerator for a few weeks to a couple of months.

To extend the shelf life of opened Frigo cheese, it is important to store it properly. Soft and semi-soft cheeses should be stored in their natural liquid in a plastic container. Hard and semi-hard cheeses should be wrapped in parchment paper, cheesecloth, butcher paper, or cheese storage bags and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Additionally, it is important to regularly inspect the cheese for any signs of spoilage, such as mold, dryness, dark spots, or an unpleasant smell. If any of these signs are present, the cheese should be discarded.

By following these storage guidelines and regularly checking for spoilage, you can maximize the shelf life of your opened Frigo cheese and enjoy it for as long as possible.

How to store Frigo cheese

Storing Frigo cheese correctly is important to enhance its shelf life. The refrigerator is a great place to store cheese, but how long it lasts depends on the type of cheese and how it is stored.

Hard cheeses like Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda have a lower moisture content, which helps extend their shelf life. Unopened, hard cheeses can last for several months and even up to a year when stored in the fridge. Once opened, a package of hard cheese can last about four weeks in the refrigerator.

Soft cheeses such as Brie, goat's cheese, mozzarella, and feta are more perishable and typically last for about a week to a few weeks in the refrigerator. Opened fresh cheeses like ricotta and cottage cheese have an even shorter shelf life and are best consumed within a week or two of opening.

Semi-hard cheeses, such as cheddar, Gruyère, Comté, aged Manchego, and Monterey Jack, contain less moisture than soft cheese. With this lower moisture content, semi-hard cheeses have a slightly longer shelf life of about two to three weeks in the fridge.

Semi-soft cheeses, like Gouda, have a slightly softer texture than hard cheeses but are still firm enough to be sliced, grated, or cubed. They have a higher moisture content and a wider range of flavor profiles.

To ensure your cheese lasts as long as possible, follow these steps for proper storage:

• Remove the cheese from its plastic packaging.
• Wrap it loosely in a pliable yet breathable material, such as wax paper, parchment paper, or cheese paper.
• Put the cheese in a container with an airtight lid and store it in the vegetable drawer of your refrigerator.
• Keep it in the coldest part of the fridge, below 40°F (4°C).
• Avoid wrapping cheese in tight, non-porous material like plastic wrap, as this can dry it out and harden it.

Additionally, soft and semi-soft cheeses like fresh mozzarella, ricotta, cream cheese, or cottage cheese should typically be stored in their natural liquid in a plastic container.

By following these storage guidelines, you can extend the shelf life of your Frigo cheese and enjoy it for as long as possible.

Signs of spoilage in Frigo cheese

The shelf life of Frigo cheese will depend on its moisture content. In general, soft cheeses will last about a week in the fridge, while hard cheeses will last three to four weeks. However, it's important to look out for signs of spoilage, as cheese can go bad before its best-by date. Here are some indicators that your Frigo cheese has spoiled:

Appearance

A change in appearance is often the first sign of cheese spoilage. If you notice any visible, unintentional mould on your Frigo cheese, it's best to discard it. While blue mould is normal and safe to eat on blue cheeses, other types of mould on cheeses like Frigo should be avoided. Additionally, look out for significant changes in colour, such as yellowing or browning, which can indicate spoilage.

Texture

Spoiled cheese may also exhibit changes in texture. It may become overly dry, crumbly, or slimy. If your Frigo cheese has changed in texture, it's best to discard it.

Smell

Cheese should typically have a characteristic smell related to its type. However, if it smells sour, rancid, sweaty, or like ammonia or chlorine, it's likely a sign of spoilage.

Taste

If you're unsure, you can try a small amount of the cheese. If it has an off or sour flavour, it has likely spoiled and should not be consumed.

It's important to note that white specks or crystallized patches on certain aged hard cheeses like cheddar or Parmesan are normal and safe to eat. These spots are most likely calcium lactate crystals, which form when the lactic acid in cheese combines with calcium.

How to tell if Frigo cheese has gone bad

Knowing if Frigo cheese has gone bad is important to avoid food poisoning. The shelf life of Frigo cheese depends on the type of cheese and how it is stored. Proper storage can dramatically extend its refrigerator life.

Signs of Spoilage

• Smell: Cheese should have a characteristic smell related to its type. If it smells sour, rancid, sweaty, chlorine-like, or like ammonia, it is spoilt.
• Mould: The presence of blue mould on blue cheeses is normal and safe to eat. However, mould on other cheeses, such as Cheddar or Swiss, is a sign of spoilage. Cut off the mouldy part and at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) around and below those spots.
• Texture: Spoiled cheese may become overly dry, crumbly, or slimy.
• Discolouration: Significant changes in colour, such as yellowing or browning, can indicate spoilage.
• Taste: A small amount of spoiled cheese will taste off or sour.

Storage

To extend the shelf life of Frigo cheese, store it in the refrigerator, in its natural liquid, or wrapped in wax, parchment, or cheese paper. Avoid tight, non-porous materials like plastic wrap, as this can dry out the cheese.

Shelf Life

Soft cheeses like mozzarella, feta, and ricotta will last about a week in the fridge. Hard cheeses like Cheddar, Parmesan, and Gouda can last 3–4 weeks in the fridge once opened and several months to a year if unopened.

Frequently asked questions