Originally Created on: September 30, 2022 @ 10:04 am
Why does cheese mold in the refrigerator? The answer to this question may vary based on a number of different factors. Yet, the simple answer normally involves the storage option that you and your family choose to use.
Because there is more than one way to store food away in the refrigerator, you need to know which one is best versus those that may speed up the process of your food going bad quickly.
Therefore, as far as cheese starting to mold in the refrigerator, one of the most common reasons is normally linked to the type of container or wrapping that is used. For instance, whenever someone stores cheese in materials like polythene, the cheese will begin to mold.
This is primarily because polythene wrappings will cause moisture inside to build up, which creates the perfect humid environment for mold to grow on your cheese.
Table of Content
Why Does Cheese Mold in the Refrigerator
Unfortunately, there is more than one way that cheese molds in the refrigerator. Some tend to be more common than others. For instance, spores of different types of fungi can easily be transferred from a person’s hands to their cheese. Or, the moisture in the fridge can be produced on top of the cheese, which is the ideal environment for mold to grow.
In fact, these are 2 primary reasons why the cheese in cold environments becomes moldy over time.
Though cheese is known for tasting better over time, this aging process can be disrupted in some situations. For instance, there are different types of mold. Some types of mold usually require a specific method to be used. Yet, this does not mean that you and your family should be eating mold.
Therefore, it is very crucial for everyone to know why these molds grow and appear on your cheese. You need to know the types of mold that can be eaten and which ones are dangerous to you. Typically, when you are researching mold types, you will often find that some molds are considered to be a fungus that produces spores.
These spores can spread throughout the food in the fridge. And, when this happens the foods are dangerous, especially since they are now too contaminated to eat. For instance, just check out the surface of your food, you will most likely see a variety of colors (i.e. ashy, blue, green, or white). The texture of these cheeses may even have a fuzzy texture on top that look weird. The bad cheeses may taste sour and have a foul smell. Also, the mold that you see may be visible on the edges only since it normally grows on the outer perimeters of the cheese.
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How Long Does it Take Cheese to Mold in the Fridge?
From the time you place cheese inside the fridge, it usually takes about 7 days for the mold to grow. This time frame depends on several different factors. Therefore, it is important that you become familiar with the safety guidelines for storing cheese inside your refrigerator.
Below are some of the guidelines that you may want to pay close attention to.
- Storage guidelines published by cheese manufacturers are different based on the type of cheese that is stored, (i.e. storage times are different for soft cheeses versus hard cheeses
- The date that the cheese was actually opened for consumption before it was placed inside the fridge
- The storage container or wrapping used to store the cheese away
Typically, when following these guidelines, you can practice safe food handling by using the criteria listed above. For instance, after opening, soft cheeses normally last for at least 7 days before mold begins to grow. On the other hand, the hard cheeses may last in the fridge for at least 3 to 4 weeks before the mold will begin to grow and spread along the edges.
How to Keep Cheese from Molding in the Fridge
One of the best ways to keep the cheese from becoming molded in your refrigerator is to do your research first. Since there are actually food safety guidelines that you can follow, you need to know exactly what they are to keep your family safe from eating food that is contained by mold.
Fortunately, there is a wealth of information online that will not only tell you and your family how to keep cheese fresh and safe but also how to save money, too. To start off, here are some excellent tips that you can use to make sure your cheeses are mold-free.
- Never Use Plastic Wraps
- Don’t Wrap your cheeses too tightly or too loose
- Store Away in Cheese Paper or Cheese Bags
- Place in Parchment or Wax Paper and replace this paper every time it is unwrapped
- Store away based on classification of cheese type, soft versus hard cheeses
- Label the Cheese with the Date stored away
- Keep cheeses in the vegetable drawers
- Use Oil to Prevent Molding
You can use these tips and more to make sure that your cheeses are stored away properly and to prevent mold from growing prematurely.
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Best Ways to Store Cheeses in the Refrigerator
As mentioned earlier, there are different ways to store cheese in the refrigerator. In fact, there is a right way and a wrong way. Therefore, when you are doing your research, you need to know the best ways to store your cheeses in your fridge today. With that being said, here are some things that you can do to make the proper preparations in advance.
- Label the outside wraps with the date that the cheese was opened
- Place the Cheese in the best Paper bags or Cheese Bags, those that are meant specifically for cheese storage
- Use Parchment and Wax Paper
- Store cheeses away based on cheese type (i.e. soft cheese versus hard cheese)
- Only store cheese size in small portions
- Place cheeses in the Fridge’s vegetable drawers, temperatures are stable and cold
- Use Oil to Prevent Molding
- Always double wrap your cheese in parchment paper or baking paper
As you can see, there are many different ways that you can store cheese in your refrigerator. Whatever the option that you choose, your cheese should be in an airtight bag that does not promote moisture and mold.
Can you Eat Moldy Cheese?
The answer to this question is dependent on several different key factors. In the majority of cases, mold can be toxic and can lead to problems like food poisoning. Or, based on the type of mold that the person consumes, they may even suffer from illnesses caused by bacteria like E.coli, listeria, salmonella, or brucella.
On the other hand, some cheeses have been made with mold, and are safe for adults to eat. Yet, they should not be consumed by children. For instance, Brie, Camembert, Gorgonzola, and blue cheese will usually meet this criterion.
Conclusion
Some cheeses will mold in the refrigerator after a period of time. Therefore, it is important that you learn as much as you can about how to store your cheeses away.
To keep cheeses from molding, you need to know that they can be stored in the fridge for at least 7 days after opening. And the moisture in certain packaging can lead to mold growth. So, to eliminate these issues altogether, you need to make sure that your cheese is stored based on safe practices like keeping cheeses in the vegetable bend.