Does a Spot of Mold Spoil the Whole Block of Cheese?

Whether you’re preparing a charcuterie board soon or just like to have a few blocks around for snacking, chances are you’ve got cheese in your fridge. And if you’re a seasoned cheese lover like we are, you’ve probably run into some mold—it’s nearly inevitable when it comes to dairy.

When the whole block is moldy, tossing the entire thing is clearly the way to go (unless it’s blue cheese, of course!). But what if there’s just a spot of mold, or there’s a corner that’s looking a little unseemly? Should you discard the whole block, or try to salvage what you can?

Luckily, when it comes to cheese, finding mold isn’t necessarily a death sentence—you may be able to keep the block around. Here’s everything you need to know about moldy cheese, and what you should do if you find some of the fuzzy stuff in your fridge.

What Should You Do If Your Cheese Gets Moldy?

With softer foods like bread or fruit, mold can take quite a bit of food out of commission. Because bread, for example, is more porous than cheese, mold can spread quite easily throughout it without you knowing—even if the it seems to be sequestered to just a corner, it might have started to spread through the entire loaf.

Although it can really depend on what type you’re dealing with, cheese offers a bit more flexibility. With hard and semisoft cheese—think cheddar, parmesan, or gouda—there’s some good news: The mold most likely hasn’t traveled farther than what you can see.

According to Mayo Clinic, you can simply cut around mold that’s grown on hard or semisoft cheese, making sure to cut about one inch to either side and underneath the mold—this way, you’re ensuring any mold that’s spread is taken out along with the visible stuff. Just make sure that the knife you’re using doesn’t touch any mold, as you don’t want to contaminate the rest of the block.

Soft cheese is a different story, though. When it comes to brie, ricotta, or other soft cheeses, your best bet is to toss the whole contaminated block. Mold can penetrate the entire product in these cases, and there’s no need to risk getting sick. Plus, the same rule applies to crumbled, sliced, or shredded cheese—even if these products are made of hard cheeses, their surface area allows mold to spread more quickly.

As always, if you have a weakened immune system, or are pregnant or breastfeeding, it’s a good idea to be a bit more cautious, and throw cheese away at the first sight of mold. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

How to Prevent Moldy Cheese 

If you want to avoid mold from building up in the first place, make sure you’re storing your cheese correctly—this way, it’ll last as long as possible without going bad. Wrap your cheese in parchment or cheese paper and place it in a partially sealed plastic bag, making sure to avoid the packaging the cheese originally came in—after it’s open, it becomes less effective for storing. Keep cheese in a clean fridge, preferably in an insulated drawer.

Pay attention to listed expiration dates, and keep in mind that each type of cheese has a different keep time. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, hard cheese can last up to six months in the fridge while unopened, and three to four weeks once opened. If you opt to freeze the cheese, it’ll last up to six months as well. Soft cheese. on the other hand, doesn’t last quite as long, keeping for about one week in the fridge.