Hard Cheese: How Long Does It Last?

Hard cheeses, such as parmesan, aged cheddar, and gouda, are low in moisture, making it difficult for bacteria to flourish. This gives them a longer shelf life than soft cheeses. According to experts, hard cheeses can last about four weeks in the refrigerator once opened, while unopened packages can last about six months.

Hard cheese can be kept for 3-4 weeks in the fridge

To ensure your hard cheese lasts for 3-4 weeks in the fridge, follow these steps:

• Remove the cheese from its plastic packaging.
• Wrap it loosely in a breathable material, such as wax paper or cheese paper.
• Put the cheese in a container with an airtight lid and store it in the coldest part of the fridge.

It's important to note that hard cheese can still go bad before the expiration date, depending on quality control issues during manufacturing or improper storage. Always inspect your cheese to make sure it's safe to eat. If you notice any mould, cut off at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) around and below those spots.

Additionally, while white specks or crystallized patches on certain aged hard cheeses are normal and safe to eat, discard the cheese if you see black, red, blue, or green mould.

Unopened hard cheese can be kept for 6 months

Hard cheeses, such as aged cheddar, aged Gouda, and Parmigiano Reggiano, are low in moisture, making it difficult for bacteria to flourish. This gives them a long shelf life.

To store hard cheese in the refrigerator, first, remove the cheese from its plastic packaging. Then, wrap it loosely in cheese paper or wax paper. Finally, place the cheese in a container with an airtight lid. This will help the cheese to breathe and release moisture while protecting it from low humidity in the fridge.

Even if you follow the correct storage procedure, always inspect hard cheeses for mold before consuming them. If you notice mold, cut off at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) around and below the affected spots. If you have a healthy immune system, you will likely be fine if you accidentally consume a moldy piece of hard cheese. However, monitor yourself for symptoms of food poisoning, such as vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea.

Hard cheese can be frozen

When you're ready to use the frozen cheese, simply put it in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw, which can take a couple of hours. It's best to use the cheese as soon as possible after thawing. You can also use the cheese frozen, for example, by putting shredded mozzarella straight onto a pizza.

It's recommended to use frozen cheese within two to three months, with harder cheeses like Parmesan lasting a bit longer. It's best not to re-freeze cheese that has been previously frozen and thawed, as this will affect the flavour and texture.

Hard cheese can be identified by mould, which can be cut off

Hard cheese is low in moisture, making it difficult for bacteria to flourish. This means that hard cheese can last a long time in the refrigerator—about four weeks once opened, and six months if unopened.

The exception to this is the rare and potentially harmful dark black-grey mould, Aspergillus niger, which should be avoided. If in doubt, it is always best to throw the cheese away.

Other signs that hard cheese has gone bad include an unintentional bitter flavour, a fermented fruit taste, and a fizzy sensation on the tongue.

Hard cheese has less moisture than soft cheese

Soft cheeses, such as ricotta, feta, and mozzarella, have a high moisture content, making them more perishable than harder cheeses. In general, soft cheese will last for around a week in the fridge, but its quality and taste will deteriorate before that time is up.

Hard cheeses, on the other hand, are low in moisture, which makes it difficult for bacteria to flourish. This means that once opened, a package of hard cheese can last a long time—about four weeks in the refrigerator. Unopened packages of hard cheese will last about six months.

Semi-hard cheeses, such as cheddar, Gruyère, and Monterey Jack, contain less moisture than soft cheese. This means they have a slightly longer shelf life of two to three weeks in the fridge.

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