Dairy Products & Eggs
How long does string cheese last in the fridge?
Unopened string cheese keeps 5 months in the fridge from purchase — one of the calmest things in the lunchbox aisle, so buy the big bag.
How long does it keep?
| Fridge, from purchase | 5 months |
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Can you freeze string cheese? YES, FREEZE IT →
Can it sit out?
String 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 string cheese has gone bad
- A sour or ammonia smell inside the wrapper
- A sticky, slimy film on the stick
- Mold anywhere on it — a moist cheese like this doesn’t get the cut-around-it allowance
When in doubt, throw it out.
It should peel into strands — one that crumbles instead has dried out and lost the whole point, even while it’s still safe.
Quick answers
How long does string cheese last in the fridge?
Unopened string cheese keeps 5 months in the fridge from purchase — one of the calmest things in the lunchbox aisle, so buy the big bag.
Can you freeze string cheese?
String cheese freezes well and thaws close to new — pack one frozen and it chills the lunchbox on the way to being lunch.
How long can string cheese sit out?
The FSIS 2-hour rule applies to string 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).