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USDA | Does All Cheese Need to Be Refrigerated?

Nov 6th 2022

Does all cheese need to be refrigerated?

KNOWLEDGE ARTICLE Soft cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, shredded cheeses, and goat cheese must be refrigerated for safety. As a general rule, hard cheeses such as cheddar, processed cheeses (American), and both block and grated Parmesan do not require refrigeration for safety, but they will last longer if kept refrigerated.
REFRIGERATOR: Approximate storage times are:
  • (1) Hard cheeses (block): 6 months, unopened packages; 3 to 4 weeks after opening. Shredded hard cheeses: 1 month after opening.
  • (2) Soft cheeses: 1 week; cream cheese, 2 weeks.