Gorgonzola is a type of blue cheese with a distinct flavour and appearance. It is made primarily from cow's milk and has a milder taste and softer texture than other blue cheeses. Knowing how long it lasts is essential to ensure food safety and maintain its unique taste and aroma. Proper storage is crucial, as gorgonzola is a live food that continues to mature, and its strong smell can be transferred to other cheeses.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Unopened Gorgonzola in the fridge | 2-4 weeks |
Opened Gorgonzola in the fridge | 5-7 days |
Unrefrigerated Gorgonzola | 4-10 hours |
Gorgonzola in the freezer | 6 months |
Signs of spoilage | Fuzzy white, green, pink, or grey spots; strong odour similar to ammonia; discolouration; sour or bitter taste |
What You'll Learn
- Unopened gorgonzola can last 2-4 weeks in the fridge
- Opened gorgonzola will last about a week or less
- Signs of spoilage include a sour or fermented smell, unnatural new mould, and a sharp or sour taste
- Crumbled gorgonzola should be consumed or stored within 5-7 days
- Gorgonzola should be removed from its container to prevent its smell from transferring to other cheeses
Unopened gorgonzola can last 2-4 weeks in the fridge
Gorgonzola is a type of blue cheese with a beautiful blue-green veining pattern or spots. It is made from cow's milk and injected with bacteria that forms its characteristic blue veins. The cheese has a sharp and piquant flavour and a crumbly texture.
Properly stored, unopened gorgonzola can last 2-4 weeks in the fridge. If the package is opened, gorgonzola will last for about a week or less. If it sits out unrefrigerated, mould or bacterial growth will usually start to take place very quickly, in just 4-10 hours.
To properly store gorgonzola, it is recommended to remove the crust and wrap the cheese, without its crust, in aluminium. Alternatively, you can keep it in a special taste-saving container, if it is purchased in one. The crust is often the cause of its penetrating and not always pleasant smell.
To check if gorgonzola has gone bad, look for an unpleasant sour odour or an obviously mouldy or slimy surface. If the cheese has been stored improperly, it may have a sour or fermented smell and a noticeably sharp or sour taste. Any odour that is very strong or unpalatable could indicate bad cheese.
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Opened gorgonzola will last about a week or less
Gorgonzola is a "live" food, which means its maturation never ends. This is why gorgonzola should be consumed within a few days of buying it. Opened gorgonzola will last about a week or less. If you need to keep gorgonzola for longer, it is possible to freeze it. However, this will impact the texture and flavour of the cheese.
To properly store gorgonzola, it should be kept in the fridge. Many people choose to remove the cheese from its original packaging to prevent the smell from transferring to other foods in the fridge. To prevent the cheese from drying out, it can be wrapped in aluminium foil or kept in an airtight container.
It is important to check gorgonzola for signs of spoilage before consuming it. Bad gorgonzola will usually appear discoloured, with a greyish-green tint. The texture can be powdery, dry, and crumbly, or slimy. It will likely have an off-putting smell and may have mould on it. If gorgonzola has been stored improperly, it may have a sour or fermented smell and a sharp or sour taste.
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Signs of spoilage include a sour or fermented smell, unnatural new mould, and a sharp or sour taste
Gorgonzola is a "live" food, which means that its maturation is never-ending. Therefore, it is best to buy reasonable quantities that can be consumed within a few days. However, spicy Gorgonzola can be preserved for longer than soft Gorgonzola without changing its characteristics.
Gorgonzola cheese should always be stored in the fridge. It is also recommended to remove the crust and wrap the cheese in aluminium or keep it in a special taste-saving container, as the crust is often the cause of its penetrating smell.
- Unnatural new mould or bacteria growth—black, grey, white, yellow, or pink mould which could be in patches, small dots, or fuzzy patterns on the cheese surface.
- A sour, rancid, putrid, ammonia, chemical-like, or overpowering smell.
- Physically melted, wet, and slimy texture, or hard, dry, and darkened in colour, depending on how it is stored.
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Crumbled gorgonzola should be consumed or stored within 5-7 days
To store crumbled gorgonzola, it is important to keep it in an airtight container and place it in the refrigerator to maintain optimal freshness. Before using it, it is also recommended to check the expiration date provided by the manufacturer.
As with any dairy product, always check for signs of spoilage before consumption. Gorgonzola cheese that is going bad will typically develop a very hard texture, darken in colour, develop a strong smell, and mould may appear. If you notice any of these signs, it is best to discard the cheese immediately.
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Gorgonzola should be removed from its container to prevent its smell from transferring to other cheeses
Gorgonzola is a blue cheese with a distinct smell, and its container should be removed from the fridge to prevent its smell from transferring to other cheeses. Gorgonzola has a beautiful blue-green veining pattern or spots, which is caused by the blooming of a type of mould called Penicillium glaucum, added during the cheesemaking process.
Gorgonzola has a strong, putrid odour, and many people worry that if they keep it in the same container as other cheeses, its smell will be transferred to them. This is a valid concern, as Gorgonzola is known for its powerful aroma, which can be off-putting to some. The longer a cheese is aged, the more pronounced its aroma can become. During the ageing process, the cheese undergoes chemical changes that lead to the production of aromatic compounds.
To prevent the smell of Gorgonzola from affecting other cheeses, it is recommended to remove it from its container. A simple solution is to remove the crust and wrap the cheese in aluminium or keep it in special taste-saving containers if it is purchased in these containers. The crust is often the cause of its penetrating and not always pleasant smell.
Additionally, Gorgonzola should be stored in the fridge at all times to maintain its freshness and slow down the maturation process. Properly stored, it can last for 3 to 4 weeks in the refrigerator. If the package is opened, it will last for about a week or less. If it sits unrefrigerated, mould and bacterial growth can start to take place very quickly, in just 4-10 hours.
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Frequently asked questions
Unopened Gorgonzola cheese will last for 2-4 weeks in the fridge.
Once opened, Gorgonzola cheese will last for about a week or less in the fridge.
Crumbled Gorgonzola cheese will last for about 5-7 days in the fridge.
Gorgonzola cheese that has gone bad will typically develop a hard texture, discolouration, a strong smell and mould.