← How long does it last?
Practical guides
🧀 How long does hard cheese last?
Guideline times for a product stored properly, with the fridge at 4 °C or below.
| Where | How long |
|---|---|
| In the fridge, unopened | until the date on the label |
| Once opened (in the fridge) | 3–4 weeks |
| In the freezer | up to 6 months |
To make it last longer
- Wrap it in baking paper or a cloth, then in a container: in tight cling film it sweats.
- Don't throw away Parmesan rinds: they add flavour to soups and broths.
- It freezes well grated, in a bag: use it straight from frozen.
When to throw it away
On hard cheeses a small spot of mould can be removed by cutting at least 2–3 cm around it. On fresh or soft cheeses (ricotta, stracchino, mozzarella) mould means throwing them away.
These are general guidelines and don't replace what's written on the pack: if the label says something different, follow the label. "Use by" is a real expiry date; "best before" is about quality. If in doubt, don't eat it. The difference between the two dates →
FreshyWith Freshy you note when you open a pack and the app reminds you before it goes off.