How Long Can Blue Cheese Sit Out And Does It Go Bad?

Blue cheese is well known for its distinct flavor and strong scent; it is a common type of cheese that often appears confusing to people who are not well known about several kinds of cheese. Blue cheese is also called moldy cheese due to a certain type of mold present in it.

The mold on blue cheese is called penicillium and is considered safe to consume because it is free from toxins. Blue cheese is aged 2 to 3 months before it is ready to consume. Penicillium, added to blue cheese, is responsible for its sharp odor and distinct flavor. It also imparts the blue and green spots or veins present on blue cheese.

How Long Can Blue Cheese Sit Out?

Blue cheese can be semi-hard or semi-soft, depending on the processing methods and time. It is similar to normal cheese but perhaps is more sensitive than normal cheese. As blue cheese contains mold, it should be taken care of when intended to be left at room temperature. 

If you have blue cheese sitting on the counter, make sure to keep it back in the refrigerator before the two hours safety time is up. The two-hour limit applies to blue cheese as it contains milk as the main ingredient, and penicillium is also added.    

What Happens When Blue Cheese Sits Out Too Long?

All kinds of cheese, including blue cheese, are a little greasy to touch, and it is served best this way. When left in the open air for too long, the cheese dries out and becomes crumbly. Due to its crumbly texture, blue cheese is hard to tell apart if it is spoiled or not.

If your blue cheese sits out more than two hours at high temperatures between 40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit, it will begin to grow bacteria to unsafe levels. It can enable toxic mold growth on your cheese, which will not be visible prominently but will cause you harm when consumed.

What Should You Do If Blue Cheese Sits Out Too Long?

It would help if you were careful about the spoiled food or is on the verge of spoiling. Spoiled blue cheese can cause harm in food poisoning, severe vomiting, and diarrhea. Therefore, it is recommended not to leave blue cheese at room temperature for more than 2 hours. 

If you find the creamy part of cheese pinkish or brownish, even a tint of green, then your blue cheese has spoiled and is not safe to consume. Also, if blue cheese sits out for too long, the grayish fuzzy mold starts to grow on the cheese, producing toxins and making your cheese contaminated. You should dispose of your blue cheese to protect your health in all these cases.

How Long Can Blue Cheese Be In The Car For?

Blue cheese is always kept in the refrigerated section of the stores to provide it the optimum temperature that blue cheese requires to stay fresh. When you buy blue cheese and have a long way home, make sure to keep a box of ice in your car to store it.

Blue cheese cannot sit in the car for more than an hour or two. If your car is warmer than the outside temperature, keep the windows rolled down to get fresh cold air for your blue cheese. Do not let it sit at a high temperature in the car. It is best stored in an iced container.

Does Blue Cheese Go Bad If Not Refrigerated?

The short answer is yes. Blue cheese requires proper storage and refrigeration to last for a few weeks. When you keep blue cheese properly wrapped and stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it can last for 3 to 4 weeks. However, if left on the counter, still packed, it will go bad quicker due to higher temperature. 

If you wish to store blue cheese for a longer period than a few weeks, keep it in the freezer to keep it fresh longer.

Does Blue Cheese Go Bad When You Lose Power?

When stored in the refrigerator, blue cheese can spoil after a few hours of a power outage. It is because the declining temperature of the fridge is a threat to many things stored in it, especially when the fridge is crowded with other items.

Make sure to consume the slices or chunks of blue cheese if you have a power outage for several hours.

What Temperature Is Safe For Blue Cheese?

Blue cheese will stay in its best form at temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature above this will speed up the spoiling process, so do not leave blue cheese at higher temperatures for more than two hours.

How to store your blue cheese?

For any dairy product to be stored, the best place is a refrigerator. Blue cheese also requires some proper conditions for its storage. Blue cheese is already moldy.

The molds are healthy to be eaten, but we do not want them to grow further. We can not stop the growth of molds, but we can reduce its pace by taking appropriate measures.

Refrigerate your blue cheese.

Blue cheese should be stored at a temperature of about 8 to 13 degrees centigrade. It is the most stable temperature range for your blue cheese.

Any temperature above this range will speed up the growth of penicillium. Temperature below this range can even kill the penicillium, and the cheese may become harmful to your health.

Cover your blue cheese.

It is necessary to cover your blue cheese. If you leave your blue cheese uncovered, it may dry off quickly, and thus the texture of the cheese may alter. You can cover your cheese with the paper that you bought the cheese on.

You can opt for aluminum foil or wax paper for this purpose. You need to assure one thing that the cheese is not fully covered. The penicillium being a living organism, needs fresh air for oxidation. It may die if the cheese is not properly aerated.

Do not mix your blue cheese with others.

The blue cheese may spoil other cheeses if they are kept together. The fungus may grow from blue cheese and transfer to other cheeses when they are in contact which can reduce the shelf life of other cheeses and spoil them before the date. It is better that you keep your blue cheese in a separate container so you can keep all of your cheeses fresh.

Can you freeze your blue cheese?

The blue cheese can be stored up in the freezer if you want to store it for a longer time. You need first to make sure where you are going to use your blue cheese. The texture of blue cheese changes a little upon freezing.

If you have to cook with blue cheese, it’s perfect to be used. But if it has to go in salads, you better buy a fresh one for it. You can freeze your blue in plastic bags so that it does not catch moisture in the freezer. The molds will not die in the freezer.

You cannot thaw your blue cheese repeatedly. Just cut the portion size you require and put the rest back in the freezer. You can also store your blue cheese in small portions and can use them whenever you want to.

How long does the blue cheese last?

Blue cheese can last for up to a couple of days if you keep it on your shelf. If you keep it under sunlight, it may rot within six hours. The unopened pack of blue cheese can last up to its expiry date if kept in the fridge.

The opened blue cheese can stay fresh for a month in your refrigerator. If you opt to freeze your blue cheese, it can stay fresh for a year or two, but you can not use it for every purpose. It may become crumbly with time.

How to tell if blue cheese is bad?

Sometimes, you may be clueless about your clue cheese. It is because it is already moldy and stinky to an extent. The blue cheese shows different symptoms when it starts to rot. The following signs will help you test out if the cheese is okay or not.

• Discoloration: The blue changes its color when it rots. The color turns slightly pink, green, or brown. You should throw the cheese away.
• Changed Smell: The blue cheese changes its pungent funny smell into an ammonia like smell. This smell is unbearable, and you automatically tend to throw it away.
• Mold Growth: If you notice that there is some other type of mold on cheese, do not use it. The use of bad cheese may get you diarrhea.
• Rough Texture: The blue cheese gets a rough texture when it is old. There is an even pigmentation on it. The cheese gets crumbly and breaks apart when you touch it.

Sources

• Still tasty
• Healthline
• Can it go bad