All About Blue cheese
Your complete guide to blue cheese - discover how to store it properly, identify when it's gone bad, and find the best substitutes for your recipes.
How Long Does Blue cheese Last?
Storage times and freshness tips for blue cheese in different conditions.
Safety first: This guide provides general information. When in doubt, throw it out! Trust your senses and err on the side of caution. If something smells, looks, or tastes off, don't consume it.
freezer2-3 months (for best quality), up to 6 months (safe but quality degrades)
Signs of Spoilage
While freezing prevents microbial spoilage, it can significantly alter the texture, making the cheese more crumbly, mealy, or watery upon thawing. Freezer burn (dry, discolored spots) indicates quality degradation. It won't 'spoil' in the traditional sense, but its culinary quality will diminish.
How to Check
Visually inspect for freezer burn (white, dry patches). After thawing, check the texture: it will likely be more crumbly and may release more moisture than fresh blue cheese. The flavor might also be less intense or slightly muted.
Storage Tips
Wrap blue cheese very tightly in plastic wrap, then aluminum foil, or use a vacuum sealer to prevent freezer burn. Freeze in smaller, portion-sized blocks. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator overnight. Frozen blue cheese is best used for cooking (e.g., sauces, dressings, crumbles) rather than served on a cheese board, as its texture will be compromised.
unopened fridge2-4 weeks past 'best by' or 'sell by' date
Signs of Spoilage
Significant mold growth beyond the intentional blue veins (e.g., fuzzy white, pink, or black mold), slimy or excessively wet surface, strong and pungent ammonia-like smell that is off-putting, discolored or hardened paste (not natural drying).
How to Check
Visually inspect the entire surface for any new, unintended mold growth or discoloration. Gently press the cheese; it should not feel slimy. Perform a smell test: a mild ammonia scent is normal for blue cheese, but a very strong, acrid, or 'rotting' ammonia smell indicates spoilage. If the paste looks significantly different from when purchased, it may be compromised.
Storage Tips
Store in the coldest part of your refrigerator. While the blue veins are intentional mold, new, fuzzy, or brightly colored mold is a sign of spoilage. Do not store near strong-smelling foods as cheese can absorb odors.
opened fridge1-2 weeks
Signs of Spoilage
Development of fuzzy mold (white, pink, green, or black) on the surface that is not part of the intentional blue veining. A very strong, acrid, or sour ammonia smell that does not dissipate after a few minutes of airing. Slimy or excessively wet texture, especially on cut surfaces. Hard, dried-out edges with deep cracks. A distinctly sour or bitter taste.
How to Check
Visually inspect all surfaces for any new, unwanted mold growth or significant discoloration. Touch the surface; it should not be slimy or excessively sticky. Perform a smell test: a strong, unpleasant ammonia or sour smell is a clear indicator. If the cheese feels unusually hard and dry, it's likely past its prime. For safety, if in doubt, do not taste. If you do taste, sample a very small piece from an unaffected area; discard if it tastes sour, bitter, or off.
Storage Tips
To extend freshness, wrap blue cheese first in parchment paper or wax paper, then tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This allows it to breathe slightly while preventing excessive drying and odor transfer. Store in an airtight container to further protect it from drying out and absorbing other fridge odors. If only a small, superficial area of new mold appears, you can cut off at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) around and below the mold, ensuring no cross-contamination, and consume the rest immediately. However, for blue cheese, new mold often indicates deeper spoilage.