Time Frame
Standard American cheese slices should last about six months in the refrigerator. For block cheeses, the more moisture a cheese has in its consistency, the less time it will keep. Fresh mozzarella generally will last a week to 10 days before it starts to spoil. The life span of cream cheese can be determined by the expiration date; after it's been opened, you have about two weeks to use it.
The freshness of cottage or ricotta cheese also can be based on the expiration date, but you probably should use it within a week. You usually have about two weeks from the day you open it to use soy cheese. Soft cheeses, such as brie and camembert will keep for around the same period of time as mozzarella. Harder cheeses, made from cow's or goat's milk, will keep for about six months unopened or about a month if they've been exposed to the air.
Function
To keep cheese fresher longer or at least to its standard "shelf life," you can wrap them tightly in plastic and store them in the cheese tray of your refrigerator. It's best to try to get as much air as possible out of the packaging after opening and refrigerating. For cheeses that come in a liquid, such as mozzarella, it is recommended that you change the water every couple of days.
Effects
You don't need to get rid of a cheese if it has been left out. It is acceptable to refrigerate a cheese after it has been kept at room temperature for an extended period of time. A couple of days might be pushing it, but an evening is fine. Many of your finer cheeses should be brought to room temperature before they are served to bring out their full flavor.
Misconceptions
Mold on a brick of cheese doesn't necessarily mean you need to throw it out. Because cheese is created by a controlled molding process, you can slice about a 1/2 to 1 inch around the area where the mold has formed and it will be fine. However, the same principle shouldn't be applied to cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta cheese or mozzarella. If those types of cheese are molding, throw them away. And don't try trimming off mold on a cheese made from soy. Vegan cheese is made from a different process, so when it's moldy, don't salvage any portions.
Considerations
If you're unsure how long a cheese has been in your fridge, you can use your nose. Cheese is a dairy product, so you usually can tell if a cheese is bad by smelling it. If it's one of those pungent cheeses, the date you bought it will come in handy.
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