Brie is a versatile cheese that finds its place in lots of recipes. It is also a standalone snack that might require minimal baking. It will be a good appetizer for you to love and enjoy by all means.
Sometimes you will end up having more brie cheese than already required for a recipe. You may not know what to do with the leftovers and how long you can sustain them.
If it will last a little longer, then keeping it for future use would be the right way. However, the timeline for retaining it deems to be the one factor that needs awareness.
Brie cheese actually constitutes a fungus by the name of penicillium camembert. This fungus helps harden up the surface of the cheese. The spoilage of the fungus or the cheese would entail throwing it out.
Brie cheese stays in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 weeks when opened. The cheese storage should be intact enough for it to be perfectly maintained. It is better to keep the cheese refrigerated or frozen as it will melt away at room temperature.
This article will elaborate on the specified duration permissible for brie cheese to retain its shelf life and quality.
The cheese can lose its quality and eventually turn bad to the limit, where you can’t even afford to take a bite when stored longer and improperly. Let us find out the right method to store it and how long it is ok to keep it.
Does Brie Cheese Go Bad?
Every cheese tends to get worse over time, and brie cheese is also a party to that rule. Brie cheese can actually turn bad sooner than all types of cheese because of its softness.
The softer the cheese, the sooner it turns bad. The only way to keep it from turning bad is to store it right and empty it before time leaps over.
How Long Does Brie Cheese Last?
We already know that brie cheese is a softer cheese of all the available forms. Hence storing it in the refrigerator deems important.
It can stay for 1 to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. It would make a great snack and probably need small grilling or baking to binge on.
How Do You Store The Brie Cheese?
Brie cheese should be wrapped in a tight plastic sheet. However, proximity to plastic is kind of dangerous for the cheese. Hence it can be layered with parchment or wax paper before it can be wrapped tightly using a plastic cover.
This way, you can avoid direct contact with plastic on the cheese. It can also be preserved in the original package.
The cheese should be preserved in the back side of the fridge where the temperature is cool and consistent with balanced moisture. If you have a cheese drawer, that can be used as well.
What Are The Signs Of Spoilage Of Brie Cheese?
Some evident signs indicate that the brie cheese has gone bad. Let us go over them point by point.
- The rind of the brie cheese should be checked, and if it has turned flaky or shows signs of gray discoloration, then it has to be discarded.
- If there are any molds on the cheese, then it should be immediately discarded without any second thought.
- The pink coloration on the cheese is also a process of aging, and there will be a smell of ammonia which reeks from the cheese. It is aging and does not necessarily mean it must be thrown out.
- If there is a rancid smell reeking out of the cheese after you have taken multiple sniffs, then it is better discarded.
- Any kind of off smell on the cheese could be harmful and cause stomach discomfort or damage your digestive health.
Can Brie Cheese Be Frozen?
Brie cheese need not be frozen and is not recommended as a practice. It will have a change of texture when frozen and taste different as well.
This applies only if you are going to freeze the cheese for a long time. If you cook the cheese sooner, it can be frozen for the time being.
If you are going to use frozen brie cheese in some recipes, then make sure you defrost it well to include that in the recipe. Even if you are going to eat it as a standalone snack, then defrosting the cheese will serve the purpose.
If you decide to freeze the cheese, wrapping it tightly in a plastic cover or airtight container would be the right approach. This way, the brie cheese can be frozen for 6 months.
If you plan on defrosting the cheese, you can do it in the fridge. You have to make sure there are no ice bits present on the surface once it is fully defrosted.
You can freeze the brie cheese for more than 6 months at your own risk. However, the taste and texture might change.
Defrosting the cheese can happen in slices. The whole cheese might take time to get defrosted and may not even get defrosted fully. Hence doing it in bits could hasten the progress. Once you have defrosted the brie cheese, it cannot return to the freezer.
Is It Ok For The Brie Cheese To Be Left Open At Room Temperature?
The popular theory is that keeping brie cheese at room temperature helps develop its flavor and taste. It is true, provided you don’t prolong the stay for more than 2 hours.
Keeping it beyond the permissible time might open chances for breeding bacteria, making it completely ineligible for consumption.
So if you plan on keeping the brie cheese out, ensure you finish it within 2 hours.
How Long Does Opened Brie Cheese Last In The Fridge?
The opened brie cheese can stay up to 7 days in the fridge when stored properly. As mentioned above, you can store it in the original packaging or use an airtight container. The key is that it should be out of reach for any air invasion.
The brie cheese should be taken out of the fridge 30 minutes before it can be served. This will restore its flavor and have a nice texture for people to devour.
Conclusion
Brie cheese is very different from blue cheese or feta cheese, which does not have many storage and preservation protocols. This cheese is softer and warrants careful monitoring of its condition and safety if stored longer.
This article will explain all the intricacies of storing brie cheese and its durability. You can decide how long you can keep the brie cheese in the fridge and how you store it to retain its quality.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How long does brie cheese last?
Brie cheese stays in the refrigerator for 1 or 2 weeks when opened. The cheese storage should be intact enough for it to be perfectly maintained. It is better to keep the cheese refrigerated or frozen as it will melt away at room temperature.
Does Brie cheese go bad?
Every cheese tends to get worse over time, and brie cheese is also a party to that rule. Brie cheese can actually turn bad sooner than all types of cheese because of its softness.
How do you store brie cheese?
Brie cheese should be wrapped in a tight plastic sheet. However, proximity to plastic is kind of dangerous for the cheese. Hence it can be layered with parchment or wax paper before it can be wrapped tightly using a plastic cover.
What are the signs of spoilage for Brie cheese?
The rind of the brie cheese should be checked, and if it has turned flaky or shows signs of gray discoloration, then it has to be discarded. If there are any molds on the cheese, then it should be immediately discarded without any second thought.
Can Brie cheese be frozen?
Brie cheese need not be frozen and is not recommended as a practice. It will have a change of texture when frozen and taste different as well. This applies only if you are going to freeze the cheese for a long time. If you cook the cheese sooner, it can be frozen for the time being.
