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    What's the Best Way to Keep Cheese From Getting Moldy?

    The right storage is the key to keeping cheese fresher longer

    Illustration of various cheeses and knife Illustration: Joseph Carrington

    Hard cheese like cheddar and Parmesan last the longest (about three to four weeks after opening) because of their lower moisture content, making them less susceptible to spoilage. Soft cheese like Brie or ricotta spoils faster and should be consumed within one to two weeks once opened.

    More on Food Storage

    Cheese should be stored at about 37° F in your fridge in a crisper or dedicated cheese drawer. Once you’ve broken the original vacuum-sealed packaging, some experts recommend wrapping the cheese in waxed paper or parchment paper instead of plastic wrap, particularly for higher-moisture, softer cheese. This will allow it to breathe without getting dried out. Putting it in an airtight container is also a great option for soft cheese.

    For longer storage, hard or shredded cheese can be frozen for up to six months, but the texture after freezing will be better for cooking than for snacking. Soft cheese can also be frozen but might not fare as well.

    If you spot mold on a hard cheese, you can safely cut it away as long as you remove at least 1 inch around and below the edge of the mold. Moldy soft cheese should be discarded because mold spreads more easily through it.

    Editor’s Note: This article also appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.