Frederic Melton
Cheddar cheese is a hard cheese with a low moisture content, which means it lasts longer than soft cheeses. Unopened blocks of hard cheese can last for up to six months in the fridge, and even longer if frozen. Unopened cheddar cheese can last for several months to even a year or more past its 'best by' date when stored in the fridge. Once opened, exposure to air and potential bacterial contamination mean that cheddar cheese will only last a few weeks to a couple of months. Hard cheeses can also be left out at room temperature for up to four hours and then rewrapped and put back in the fridge.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Shelf life in the fridge | 6 months to a year or more |
| Shelf life at room temperature | 4 hours or less |
| Shelf life after opening | A few weeks to a couple of months |
| Freezer storage | Can be frozen for longer than 2 months |
| Bacteria | Less prone to spoilage from bacteria |
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What You'll Learn
- Unopened Cheddar can last for up to a year past its 'best by' date when refrigerated
- Cheddar has a longer shelf life than soft cheeses due to its lower moisture content
- Unopened shredded Cheddar will last for about a week after the 'Sell By' date
- Cheddar can be frozen to extend its shelf life, but this may affect its texture and flavour
- Cheddar left unrefrigerated for 4 hours or less can be re-wrapped and put back in the fridge
Unopened Cheddar can last for up to a year past its 'best by' date when refrigerated
Cheddar cheese is a hard cheese with a lower moisture content than soft cheeses. This means that it is less prone to spoilage from bacterial growth. Hard cheeses like cheddar can last longer at room temperature than soft cheeses, but refrigeration will help them last even longer.
Unopened blocks of hard cheese can last for up to six months in the fridge. Unopened Cheddar cheese can last even longer, for several months to a year or more past its 'best by' date when stored in the refrigerator. This is because Cheddar has a lower moisture content, which helps extend its shelf life.
Once the package of Cheddar cheese is opened, exposure to air and potential bacterial contamination means that the shelf life declines considerably. When stored in the refrigerator in a wrapper or airtight container, opened Cheddar cheese can last for a few weeks to a couple of months. If the cheese has been sitting out at room temperature, it can be rewrapped and put back in the fridge if it has been out for four hours or less.
To further extend the shelf life of unopened Cheddar cheese, it can be frozen. Frozen Cheddar cheese may lose some of its texture and flavour, but it can be added to cooked dishes such as sauces, soups, and casseroles. To freeze Cheddar cheese, tightly seal the original packaging and place it in the freezer. If freezing for longer than two months, place the package inside a heavy-duty freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
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Cheddar has a longer shelf life than soft cheeses due to its lower moisture content
Cheddar cheese is a semi-hard variety of cheese that has a longer shelf life compared to soft cheeses. This is primarily due to its lower moisture content, which makes it less prone to bacterial growth and spoilage.
Hard cheeses, like Cheddar, are made by curdling and draining excess milk, thereby reducing their moisture content. This process results in a drier, more solid cheese that can be stored for longer periods. On the other hand, soft cheeses have higher moisture content, making them more susceptible to bacterial growth and spoilage, especially when left unrefrigerated.
Cheddar cheese, when stored properly, can last for extended periods. Unopened blocks of hard cheese, including Cheddar, can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to six months. Once opened, hard cheeses like Cheddar can be refrigerated for three to four weeks. However, it is important to note that proper storage is crucial to maximize shelf life. Cheddar should be wrapped in wax, parchment, or cheese paper to maintain its moisture and prevent drying out.
Additionally, the quality of Cheddar cheese may change over time. While it does not become poisonous, its flavour and texture can alter. White specks or crystallized patches on Cheddar cheese are typically safe and are formed by the combination of lactic acid and calcium. Nevertheless, it is always recommended to inspect the cheese for any signs of spoilage, such as mould or an unpleasant odour, before consumption.
In summary, Cheddar cheese has a longer shelf life than soft cheeses due to its lower moisture content, which inhibits bacterial growth. Proper storage, such as refrigeration and appropriate wrapping, further extends its longevity. However, while Cheddar may not spoil in the traditional sense, its characteristics can change over time, affecting its flavour and texture.
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Unopened shredded Cheddar will last for about a week after the 'Sell By' date
Cheddar cheese is a hard cheese with a lower moisture content than soft cheeses. This means that it is less prone to spoilage from bacterial growth and can last longer without refrigeration. Generally, unopened blocks of hard cheese can last for up to 6 months in the fridge. However, unopened shredded Cheddar cheese has a shorter shelf life.
Unopened shredded Cheddar will last for about a week after the "Sell By" or "Best By" date on the package. This assumes that the cheese has been stored properly in the refrigerator. To extend the shelf life of unopened shredded Cheddar cheese even further, you can freeze it. When freezing, place the shredded Cheddar in the freezer before the number of days shown for refrigerator storage has elapsed.
It is important to note that frozen Cheddar cheese may lose some of its texture and flavor. The thawed cheese is best suited for cooked dishes such as sauces, soups, and casseroles. To freeze shredded Cheddar cheese, tightly seal the original packaging and place it in the freezer. If freezing for longer than 2 months, place the package inside a heavy-duty freezer bag to prevent freezer burn.
To determine if shredded Cheddar cheese has gone bad, the best way is to examine its odor, flavor, and appearance. If the cheese develops an off odor, flavor, or appearance, it should be discarded. If mold appears, discard all of the shredded Cheddar cheese.
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Cheddar can be frozen to extend its shelf life, but this may affect its texture and flavour
Cheddar cheese is a hard cheese with a lower moisture content, which means it can be left out without spoiling for longer than soft cheeses and will last 3-4 times longer in the fridge. An unopened block of hard cheese will last up to 6 months in the fridge.
Freezing cheddar cheese can extend its shelf life even further. However, freezing will affect the texture and flavour of the cheese. When cheese is frozen, its water and fat content form ice crystals, which can damage the protein structure of the cheese. This will make the cheese more crumbly, mealy, and difficult to slice. Softer cheeses with a higher moisture content are more susceptible to this damage, whereas harder cheeses with less moisture will retain their flavour better.
If you plan to freeze cheddar cheese, it is recommended to grate or shred it before freezing, as this will make the texture less noticeably altered. It is also important to package the cheese correctly to reduce contact with oxygen. Vacuum sealing is the best method, but if that is not available, you can use parchment paper followed by aluminium foil.
Some people recommend against freezing cheese with a natural rind, like cloth-bound cheddar, as it can create undesirable flavours. However, others have frozen cheddar cheese and noticed no difference in taste. Ultimately, freezing cheddar cheese may be a good option to extend its shelf life, but it is important to be aware of the potential changes in texture and flavour.
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Cheddar left unrefrigerated for 4 hours or less can be re-wrapped and put back in the fridge
Cheddar cheese is a hard cheese with a low moisture content, which means it can be left out at room temperature for longer than soft cheeses without becoming unsafe to eat. According to the U.S. Department of Health, perishable food should not be kept out of the fridge for more than two hours. However, hard cheeses like Cheddar can be left out for up to four hours and still be safe to re-wrap and put back in the fridge.
If left unrefrigerated for longer than four hours, Cheddar cheese may still be safe to eat, but it is important to look for signs of spoilage. These can include an unpleasant smell, slimy surface, dark spots, dryness, cracked areas, or mould. If the cheese has been sitting out at a temperature above 90°F (32°C), the limit for safe consumption reduces to one hour.
To keep Cheddar cheese fresh, it should be wrapped in wax, parchment, or cheese paper and stored in the refrigerator. Cheddar cheese can last three to four weeks in the fridge when stored properly. It is important not to wrap cheese too tightly, as this can reduce the quality of the cheese and encourage the growth of unwanted bacteria.
When serving Cheddar cheese, it is recommended to let it sit out at room temperature for 20-30 minutes to improve the flavour. However, this should be factored into the overall time the cheese is left out to avoid risking food safety.
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Frequently asked questions
Unopened Cheddar cheese can last for several months to even a year or more past its 'best by' date when stored in the fridge.
Properly stored, unopened shredded Cheddar cheese will maintain its best quality for about 8 months but will remain safe beyond that time.
Shredded Cheddar cheese should be discarded if left out for more than 2 hours at room temperature.
If the cheese smells sour, rancid, or like ammonia, it has gone bad. Visible mould is also a sign that the cheese has spoiled.
