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FAQs about Storing Blue Cheese

We’ve assembled some of our most frequently asked questions about shopping for and storing blue cheese.
By Published July 14, 2020

Q: Does blue cheese go bad faster than other cheeses?

A: Due to their active molds and relatively high moisture levels, blue cheeses won’t last as long as other cheeses such as cheddar or Parmesan. Buy only what you need or plan to use relatively quickly. When purchasing blue cheese, avoid wedges that have excess moisture in the packaging, as that is a sign that the cheese is past its prime.

Q: What’s the best way to store blue cheese?

A: The mold will die and turn yellow green if deprived of oxygen, so make sure that the cheese can breathe. Experts recommend a variety of wrappers: aluminum foil, parchment paper, or even a loose zipper-lock bag (not a vacuum-sealed bag). We’ve also had good luck wrapping cheese first with parchment paper and then with a loose covering of aluminum foil, which mimics the two-ply construction of cheese paper. Store it in a very cold place to slow its ripening. 

Q: If all blue cheese has mold, how can I tell if it’s gone bad?

A: The cheese shouldn’t have new mold or look very different than when you bought it. You shouldn’t eat blue cheese with any of the following: pink or black mold, a soft fuzzy coating of mold around the cheese, or excess moisture in the bottom of the container. As flavor intensifies with time, strong medicinal, perfumy flavors are a sign that the cheese is past its prime. 

Q: If I store a blue cheese near other cheeses in my refrigerator, can the blue cheese molds contaminate the others?

A: Yes. Blue mold spores can travel through the air and contaminate other nearby cheeses. This is true of the mold spores on cheeses such as Brie and Camembert as well. It’s OK to store several types of cheese in the same drawer; just make sure they’re all wrapped appropriately and you never store something like a cheddar or goat cheese in a wrapper that was once used for blue cheese.

Taste Test

Blue Cheese

From mild, buttery Cashel Blue to peppery, piquant Roquefort, blue cheeses vary widely in flavor, texture, and intensity. There’s one for everyone—even the skeptics.
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JC
JOHN C.
16 days

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too. I've done this using a rimmed sheet pan instead of a skillet and put veggies and potatoes around the chicken for a one-pan meal. Broccoli gets nicely browned and yummy!

Absolutely the best chicken ever, even the breast meat was moist! It's the only way I'll cook a whole chicken again. Simple, easy, quick, no mess - perfect every time. I've used both stainless steel and cast iron pans. great and easy technique for “roasted” chicken. I will say there were no pan juices, just fat in the skillet. Will add to the recipe rotation. Good for family and company dinners too.

MD
MILES D.
JOHN C.
9 days

Amazed this recipe works out as well as it does. Would not have thought that the amount of time under the broiler would have produced a very juicy and favorable chicken with a very crispy crust. Used my 12" Lodge Cast Iron skillet (which can withstand 1000 degree temps to respond to those who wondered if it would work) and it turned out great. A "make again" as my family rates things. This is a great recipe, and I will definitely make it again. My butcher gladly butterflied the chicken for me, therefore I found it to be a fast and easy prep. I used my cast iron skillet- marvellous!

CM
CHARLES M.
11 days

John, wasn't it just amazing chicken? So much better than your typical oven baked chicken and on par if not better than gas or even charcoal grilled. It gets that smokey charcoal tasted and overnight koshering definitely helps, something I do when time permits. First-time I've pierced a whole chicken minus the times I make jerk chicken on the grill. Yup, the cast iron was not an issue.