Brie cheese is a soft cheese that is adored by cheese lovers around the world. The soft, flavorful, cheese is best served as a snack and can be used in a variety of dishes. You may have some Brie cheese in your fridge and wonder, how long does it last? Here are some useful ways to store and eat your Brie cheese.

Quick Answer

Brie cheese does not last long unless kept in a cool location. Stored at room temperature Brie cheese will last only a few hours.  The fridge is an ideal environment for the cheese. There is can be safely kept for 7 days. Brie cheese will last in the freezer for up to 6 months.  

Stored properly Brie cheese can last in for weeks in the fridge or even months in the freezer. Improper storage, however, can cause your cheese to spoil; here are some suggestions for keeping your cheese fresh.

Does Brie Cheese go Bad? How Long Does Brie Cheese Last Outside?

Keeping your Brie cheese outside for more than a few hours is not recommended. That is because it is a soft cheese and it will not last a long time out of the fridge. After a few hours outdoors your Brie cheese will begin to spoil. If you do decide to keep your cheese outdoors here are some things to remember.

When storing your Brie cheese outdoors remember to keep it covered up with wax paper. You don’t want to wrap your cheese in saran wrap because that will trap moisture and cause mold to grow. Put your cheese in wax paper to make it last longer.

Avoid direct sunlight and extreme heat. Both will cause the Brie cheese to become too soft. Brie cheese should be firm on the outside and soft on the inside, but not watery. If your cheese is being stored outside and becomes too soft move it to a cool location.

Do not leave Brie cheese outside uncovered. Pests and other insects can get on the cheese and lay eggs or leave behind droppings. This is not good to eat. Keep cheese covered with a piece of wax paper to avoid insects from landing on it.

How Long Do Brie Cheese Last in the Fridge

The refrigerator is a great place to store brie cheese. The cool temperature slows the growth of bacteria and helps your cheese to last longer. Brie cheese can be kept in the fridge for a week or so before going bad. Here some tips for fridge storage.

When storing Brie cheese in the fridge, do not store it in an air-tight container or plastic wrap. The air is good for the cheese and will help it to breathe. Wrap the cheese in wax paper and store it away from other foods. This will help stop odors from other foods from absorbing into your cheese.

Be mindful of the expiration date. Brie cheese should not be eaten past its expiration date. Even if the cheese seems good to eat, eating Brie cheese past its expiration date may compromise its safety. That is because it can begin to spoil without showing signs of mold.

The best way to store Brie cheese is in its original packaging. Brie cheese usually comes in a reusable wrapper. If the wrapper is compromised then use wax paper.

How Long Does Brie Cheese Last in the Freezer?

If stored properly, Brie cheese can last for months in the freezer. Proper storage will ensure smells and taste from other foods are not absorbed into the cheese. Here’s the best way to freeze your cheese.

Use a zip lock freezer bag to maximize freshness when you freeze Brie cheese. A zip lock bag will help prevent freezer burn and other moisture from compromising your cheese. Ice and other moisture will jeopardize the texture and taste of your cheese. Remember to squeeze out the extra air before sealing the bag.

Use a piece of wax paper to line the freezer bag and prevent the cheese from sticking to the bag. Using wax paper to line the bag makes it easier to remove when you are ready to use it.

Date the freezer bad so you do not forget how long the cheese has been frozen. Because Brie cheese can last for up to six months in the freezer, it is easy to forget the date it was frozen, placing a date on the bag will help you ensure the cheese is used before the six months are up.

How to Tell if Brie Cheese has Gone Bad?/ How to Know if Brie Cheese is Fresh?

There are several ways to tell if your cheese is still good to eat. There are signs to watch out for if your cheese has gone bad. Read on to find out more.

Smell:  Brie cheese has a light, sweet, smell when it is fresh and ready to use. If you notice your cheese has a strong ammonia smell to it, it is not safe to eat. Discard cheese if it has a strong odor. A strong odor is a sign your cheese has spoiled.

Texture:  Pay close attention to the texture of your cheese. Brie cheese that is good to eat should be firm on the outside and soft on the inside. If you cut open your Brie cheese and notice that the inside of the cheese is watery or runny, then it is time to throw your cheese away. In contrast, under-ripe brie cheese will be too hard.

Taste:  The taste of the cheese is a good indicator of its freshness. If your cheese tastes overripe or bad then it is best not to eat it. Good brie cheese has a light mushroom-like taste. If your cheese tastes tart, do not eat.

Mold:  Good mold, like the mold found on the rind of the Brie cheese, is good to eat. However, furry mold or mold that is dark in color is not safe to eat. If mold is present on the Brie cheese, discard it. Some people may advise to cut away the mold and eat the cheese, however that is not recommended. Since it is hard to tell what good mold is and what is bad mold, it is best not to eat.

How to Store Brie cheese?

The best way to store Brie cheese is in the fridge although it can be kept in the freezer for an extended time. Here’s how to properly store your Brie Cheese.

Wax paper:  Cover your Brie cheese with wax paper, whether you are storing it in the fridge or not. The wax paper will help the cheese to breathe and stop mold from growing on your cheese prematurely. Do not store your cheese in plastic wrap because this will trap moisture and cause your cheese to rot faster.

Cut:  Cut the cheese into chunks before storing. This will help the cheese to last longer. After the cheese has been cut into chunks, wrap it in wax paper and place it in a storage container.

Heat:  Do not store your Brie cheese near heat or in direct sunlight. This will cause the cheese to melt and make it difficult to use. Keep your cheese in a cool location such as the fridge. Brie cheese that is left out at room temperature will mold faster and spoil quickly.

Can you Freeze Brie Cheese?

You can freeze Brie cheese. The freezer is the best place for Brie cheese if you are going to keep it for an extended amount of time. Here are some tips for freezer storage of Brie cheese.

Use Plastic wrap:  The freezer is a pretty moist place and can be bad for your brie cheese. To stop ice and freezer burns from contaminating your cheese store your cheese in a zip lock freezer bag before placing it in the freezer. This will not only keep out moisture but stop odor from absorbing into your cheese.

Wax paper:  It is a good idea to wrap your cheese in wax paper before placing it in the freezer bag. The way paper will prevent your cheese from sticking to the sides of the freezer bag and will make removing the cheese easy.

Cut:  Cut your cheese into chunks before storing it in the freezer. The cheese is best kept in the freezer if cut into chunks.

Date:   Remember to place a date frozen on the freezer bag to prevent it from being kept in the freezer for too long. Brie cheese will last about six months in the freezer.

How to Thaw Brie Cheese?

Brie cheese can be thawed and eaten later. Although Brie cheese that has been frozen will not taste the same as fresh Brie cheese, it is still good to eat. Here’s how to thaw your cheese.

Thawing Brie cheese at room temperature is the best way to handle the cheese. Simply take the cheese out of the freezer and place it on the countertop. Let sit out for about five hours, and then eat.

If you want to thaw your Brie cheese faster, you can place cheese in the oven at about 300 degrees for about twenty minutes. If your cheese is still not thawed left in the oven for another ten minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions About Brie Cheese

Is mold on my cheese safe to eat?

The mold on the rind of the Brie cheese is safe to eat. Brie cheese is sprayed with good mold, known as Penicillium Candidum. The crust of the Brie cheese is made up of these good bacteria and is perfectly safe to eat. However, a bacterium that is dark in color or furry is not good mold and is not safe to eat. If your Brie cheese has dark spots on it, do not eat.

My Brie cheese is watery, what should I do?

Brie cheese is naturally somewhat runny. That is because it is a soft cheese. Perfect Brie cheese is hard on the outside and soft on the inside. However, overripe Brie cheese will appear watery and runny. This is a sign your cheese is not good to eat. Also, Brie cheese that is too hard is underride and will not taste the same.

Wrap Up

Brie cheese is a delicacy from France and is enjoyed around the world. This yummy food is a favorite for many. If you have any information you would like to share about Brie cheese leave a comment below.