Dairy Products & Eggs
How long does brie last in the fridge?
Brie, bel paese, and fresh goat cheese keep 1–2 weeks in the fridge — and unlike a hard block, a soft cheese with mold on it goes in the bin whole.
How long does it keep?
| Fridge, from purchase | 1–2 weeks |
|---|---|
| Freezer, from purchase | 6 months |
Can you freeze cheese? FREEZES, BUT… →
Can it sit out?
Soft cheese is perishable — the FSIS 2-hour rule applies.
Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).
How to tell if soft cheese has gone bad
- Ammonia sharp enough to catch the back of your throat as the paper comes off
- Blue, green, or black mold growing on top of the white rind
- A rind gone brown, slick, or weeping
- Sour liquid pooling in the wrapper
When in doubt, throw it out.
A whiff of ammonia at the rind usually blows off after ten minutes open on the counter — if it doesn’t, the wheel is past it.
Quick answers
How long does brie last in the fridge?
Brie, bel paese, and fresh goat cheese keep 1–2 weeks in the fridge — and unlike a hard block, a soft cheese with mold on it goes in the bin whole.
Can you freeze soft cheese?
Hard cheese freezes fine for cooking — it comes back crumbly, so skip the cheese board and head for the skillet.
How long can soft cheese sit out?
The FSIS 2-hour rule applies to soft cheese. Perishable food left at room temperature for more than 2 hours should be thrown out — 1 hour if it’s 90°F or hotter (a picnic, a hot car, a summer kitchen).