How long does cheddar cheese last in the fridge?

Unopened, opened, and frozen

The single fridge number above is a planning figure. Most of the questions people actually ask about cheddar cheese turn on whether the package has been opened, so those windows are listed separately here.

Unopened

About 6 months refrigerated, or the printed date

Opened or cut

3 to 4 weeks once opened

Freezer

About 240 days at best quality. Frozen food stays safe indefinitely at 0°F; the window is about texture and flavour.

How to store it

Cheese paper or parchment then a loose bag. Hard cheese needs to breathe; airtight plastic sweats it. On firm cheese, cutting 1 inch around and below a mould spot is USDA-acceptable.

How to tell if cheddar cheese has gone bad

Dates are estimates; these are the checks that actually decide it. When more than one of these is present, throw it out rather than tasting to find out.

• Mould other than on the rind
• Ammonia smell
• Slimy or sticky surface
• Dried, cracked edges

How to use this window

This longer planning window is still affected by packaging, temperature, ripeness, and whether the item has been opened.

Well Stockd does not know when this food was harvested, packed, purchased, opened, prepared, or moved between storage locations. Record the relevant opened, prepared, or refrigerated date, follow package directions, keep your refrigerator at 40°F or below, and use the official item listing when food safety is in question.