Question
If a block of cheese develops mold on the surface, should you throw out the entire block or can some be used?
Answer
The answer depends on the type of cheese. Molds are microscopic organisms that have thread-like roots that burrow into the foods they grow on.
Most molds are harmless. Molds are even used to make some kinds of cheese, such as Roquefort, Gorgonzola, brie and Camembert. These molds are safe to eat. But mold on cheese that's not part of the manufacturing process can harbor harmful bacteria, such as listeria, brucella, salmonella and E. coli . With hard and semi-soft cheese, you can cut away the moldy part and eat the rest of the cheese. But soft cheeses should be discarded.
| Moldy cheese? What to do |
| Type of cheese | Examples | Handling |
| Hard | Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, Romano, Gruyere | Safe to eat if the mold is removed. Cut off at least one inch around and below the mold spot. Keep the knife out of the mold itself so that it doesn't cross-contaminate other parts of the cheese. Cover the cheese in fresh wrap. |
| Semisoft | American, Asiago, baby Swiss, Monterey jack, mozzarella, Muenster, Gorgonzola | Safe to eat if the mold is removed. Cut off at least one inch around and below the mold spot. Keep the knife out of the mold itself so that it doesn't cross-contaminate other parts of the cheese. Cover the cheese in fresh wrap. |
| Soft | Brie, Camembert, cottage cheese, Neufchatel, feta, ricotta, shredded and sliced cheeses | Discard the cheese. |
Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2002
To prevent mold growth on cheese, follow these tips:
- Keep cheese and cheese dishes covered with plastic wrap.
- Always refrigerate cheese. Don't allow cheese to sit at room temperature for longer than two hours.
Also, don't eat cheese made from unpasteurized (raw) milk. Raw milk and cheeses may contain harmful bacteria and aren't safe to eat, drink or use in cooking.
Last Updated: 02/21/2005
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