Searching for the best way to store blue cheese? Learn everything about this popular cheese, from storing methods to how to tell if blue cheese is bad—all right here!
You bought a blue cheese block in a nearby grocery store along with goat cheese, fresh mozzarella, and brie cheese—perhaps to include it on your cheese board or make this homemade blue cheese dressing.
Let’s say you didn’t use the entire block, and now you’ve realized you have no idea how to store blue cheese that’s left over.
Don’t worry. We’ve got you covered!
If you’re unfamiliar with the dairy product, blue cheese, also known as bleu cheese, is a type of cheese that reportedly originated in the 7th century.
The legend says a shepherd accidentally created blue cheese after leaving his lunch of bread and cheese in a cave.
A couple of weeks after he returned to the cave, he found out that the cheese was covered with Penicillium roqueforti, a common fungus found in nature.
Today cheese experts include refined, edible mold culture and “needling” in making their blue cheese.
Needling is a process wherein thin needles or skewers are pierced into the cheese to allow the air in to encourage the mold to spread which results in its signature blue spots or veins.
There are different types of blue cheese, each of which has a unique taste and texture. But generally, it has a strong, sharp, and salty taste with a strong smell.
Blue cheese crumbles are a perfect ingredient to incorporate in salad dressing, pasta dishes, and sauces.

What’s the best way to store blue cheese?
If you’re planning to extend the shelf life of blue cheese as long as possible, then the best way to store the cheese should be in your refrigerator.
When stored correctly, you can often enjoy the cheese for up to four weeks.
Bring just the serving you need of the refrigerated blue cheese to room temperature for about an hour before serving it.
Here are the step-by-step instructions in storing blue cheese in the fridge:
Tools needed:
- Blue cheese
- Cheese paper, parchment paper, or wax paper
- Refrigerator
Instructions for storing blue cheese in the refrigerator:
- Wrap your blue cheese in cheese paper, parchment paper, or wax paper.
- Place the wrapped cheese in a more humid section of your fridge like the crisper drawer. Storing this way prevents the cheese from drying out.
- You can also purchase containers made just for storing many types of artisan cheese here.
For unopened and fresh blue cheese, you should keep it sealed in its original packaging for the best quality.

How to store blue cheese
Apart from refrigeration, there are two ways in which you can store your blue cheese at home—in the cheese grotto at room temperature and your freezer.
Take note that storing it in the grotto doesn’t make your blue cheese last longer nor is similar to the refrigeration method.
Meanwhile, freezing blue cheese can extend its shelf life for up to two months, but this method slightly changes the texture of the cheese, giving it a powdery texture, and it loses any creamy edge it may have had. This may work fine in recipes but possibly not as enjoyable on a cheeseboard.
How to store blue cheese at room temperature
Though it isn’t recommended to keep blue cheese at room temperature for more than four hours, especially after opening the package.
However, if you’re planning to enjoy the cheese at a special gathering with your family, then the best method to store it is in a cheese grotto at room temperature on the counter.
Cheese grotto is a cheese storage container that imitates the protective, high-humidity environment of a “cheese cave” in your kitchen.
You can store different types of cheese inside the container, whether they’re hard cheeses or soft cheeses—you name it!
Blue cheese stored this way will last only a couple of days or over 7 to 10 days.
However, the advantage of storing blue cheese at room temperature is that the flavor and texture of the cheese are ready to be eaten anytime—you don’t need to let your cheese sit out at room temperature for an hour before serving it.
Here’s how to do it:
Tools needed:
-
- Blue cheese
- Cheese grotto, moistened brick
- Counter
Instructions for storing blue cheese at room temperature (with cheese grotto)
-
- Open the grotto and put the clay brick humidifier or moistened brick at the bottom of the container. This brick keeps the cheese at optimal humidity levels.
- Place your blue cheese block or blue cheese wedge on the breathable panel. Make sure that the panel is thoroughly clean.
- Close the pull-down door and put the grotto at room temperature on the counter.
- Consume the cheese for about 7 to 10 days.
How to store blue cheese in the freezer
Yes, you can freeze blue cheese! But as mentioned, the longer the cheese stays in the freezer, the more it affects its flavor profile and texture.
Frozen blue cheese tends to have a grainy and crumbly texture so before deciding to freeze the cheese, consider the consequences.
Frozen cheeses are best used in cooked dishes rather than eaten fresh, so freeze your blue cheese only if you must.
Here’s how to do it:
Tools needed:
-
- Blue cheese
- Aluminum foil, plastic wrap, freezer bag
- Freezer
Instructions for freezing blue cheese:
-
- Cut your blue cheese to desired size and shape or leave it as is.
- Wrap the larger pieces of cheese with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and then put the wrapped cheese in a freezer bag. For smaller pieces, put them in a plastic container like a freezer bag or airtight container. If it’s unopened, leave the whole wedge in its original packaging.
- Slide the bag or container in the freezer.
Pro tip: When using freezer bags, make sure to squeeze every last bit of air out of the bags.

Can you freeze blue cheese?
Yes, you can freeze blue cheese. In case you’re planning to freeze your cheese—simply follow the step-by-step instructions above.
But before you do it, remember that the longer you keep your blue cheese frozen, the texture of the cheese won’t be as good as the fresh one.

How to thaw frozen blue cheese
Estimated time to defrost: a couple of hours to an entire day
The right way to thaw frozen blue cheese is in the refrigerator. It takes a couple of hours to thoroughly defrost, but I say—the waiting game is worth it.
Here’s how to do it:
Tools needed:
- Frozen blue cheese
- Refrigerator
Instructions for how to defrost bacon in the fridge:
- Take the frozen cheese from the freezer.
- Put it inside the refrigerator.
Pro tip: It takes a few hours for smaller pieces of blue cheese to thaw completely. Meanwhile, a big or large wedge of blue cheese defrosts for about 24 hours.

How to store blue cheese crumbles
Storing blue cheese crumbles is quite straightforward.
All you need is a rigid container and your refrigerator, that’s it!
To store, just follow these simple steps:
Tools needed:
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Rigid container
- Refrigerator
Instructions for storing blue cheese crumbles:
- Place the blue cheese crumbles in a rigid container.
- Slide the container inside the refrigerator.
Pro tip: It’s better to pack a few smaller containers than one large container because it’s much easier to use the portions later.

How long does blue cheese last?
So does blue cheese go bad?
Unfortunately, yes.
Like other dairy products, blue cheese features ingredients that are prone to contamination.
Generally speaking, blue cheese sold in the grocery store includes an expiration date and the cheese can last beyond this timeframe.
If you see a bit of mold growing on the cheese, you can salvage it by cutting around the decay.
When stored in a cheese grotto at room temperature, the blue cheese can last for up to 10 days.
Meanwhile, refrigerated and frozen blue cheese is best eaten for about four weeks and nine months, respectively.

How to tell if blue cheese is bad
The simplest way to tell if blue cheese is bad is by checking the expiration date on the package.
However, relying on this doesn’t benefit you all the time, especially cheese products that can last beyond their expiration date.
Also, blue cheese features blue mold and a funky smell, making it hard to determine whether it belongs to the trash or not.
If you’re uncertain, here are the telltale signs that your blue cheese has gone rancid.
Smell
Typically, fresh blue cheese has a nice, pungent smell.
So if you happen to smell an offensive, ammonia-like odor in your blue cheese, you should throw it away immediately as this is a clear sign that the cheese has gone bad!
Color
Another way to tell if your blue cheese is already bad is by taking a closer look at the color of the creamy part of the cheese.
Usually, it features a white, yellow, or beige hue. In case you notice that the color turns into pink or brown, then it’s a red flag and you must throw it away!
Taste
Let’s say, your blue cheese doesn’t have the ammonia-like smell and hasn’t changed in color, but you’re still unsure if the cheese is safe to consume or not—my advice is to give it a very small taste!
Bear in mind that fresh and great blue cheese features a sharp and strong taste while spoiled blue tends to have a “rotten” flavor profile.

Tips on keeping blue cheese fresh
Here are some nifty tips and tricks you need to know when storing blue cheese so it stays fresh:
- When storing blue cheese in the fridge, ensure to place it in a more humid section of your fridge like the crisper drawer.
- If you want to store unopened and fresh blue cheese in the fridge, keep it in its original packaging.
- Before storing blue cheese in the refrigerator, wrap it in cheese paper or wax paper as they prevent the cheese from drying out.
- Store your blue cheese inside a cheese grotto at room temperature if you want to enjoy the cheese within the day.
- Frozen cheeses are best used in cooked dishes rather than eaten fresh, so freeze your blue cheese only if you plan to use the thawed blue cheese in recipes.
- When using freezer bags, make sure to squeeze every last bit of air out of the bags.

The bottom line
To keep blue cheese fresh, proper storage is necessary, and keeping the cheese in the fridge is the right way to store it.
Wrap blue cheese tightly in cheese paper, parchment paper, or wax paper and keep it in the refrigerator for three to four weeks.
And before serving the cheese, it’s recommended that you transfer the refrigerated blue cheese to room temperature for about an hour.
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How To Store Blue Cheese In The Refrigerator
Looking for the best way to store blue cheese? We’ve got you covered! Learn the proper way to store the popular cheese in the refrigerator here.
Ingredients
- Blue cheese
- Cheese paper, parchment paper, or wax paper
- Refrigerator
Instructions
- Wrap your blue cheese in cheese paper, parchment paper, or wax paper.
- Place the wrapped cheese in a more humid section of your fridge like the crisper drawer. Storing this way helps prevent the cheese from drying out.
- To serve, slice off only the cheese you want to serve and bring to room temperature.
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