Yes. Soft cheese lasts 1–2 weeks in the fridge and 6 months in the freezer. After that, or sooner if stored badly, it spoils: watch for the signs below.
How to tell if soft cheese is bad
Smell
Ammonia or a sharp sour smell beyond the cheese's usual aroma.
Texture
Slimy surface, or very dry and cracked all the way through.
Colour
Darkened or yellowed edges, or new colours that are not part of the cheese.
Mould
On hard cheese, cut 1 inch around the spot. On soft or shredded cheese, discard.
Soft cheese past the expiration date
Best-by and sell-by
FoodKeeper gives unopened soft cheese 1–2 weeks in the fridge, counted from the day you buy it. "Best-by" and "sell-by" describe quality and stock rotation, not safety; only infant formula carries a federally required use-by date.
Past the date
For perishable soft cheese, the storage clock matters more than the label: if it has been in the fridge longer than 1–2 weeks, discard it even before the printed date.
How to keep soft cheese fresh longer
- Wrap in wax or parchment paper, then loosely in plastic, so it can breathe.
- Store in the cheese drawer or a lower shelf at 40°F (4°C) or below.
- Use a clean knife each time to avoid introducing mould.
