Hard and Semi-Hard Cheese

By John Gregerson

Jun 18, 2009
Here's a handy rule of thumb: The harder the cheese, the longer it keeps. This is why hard cheeses  such as Parmesan keep so much longer than soft cheeses such as brie. It's also why hard cheeses keep longer than semi-hard ones such as Swiss.
Hard and Semi-Hard Cheese Shelf Life
PantryRefrigeratorFreezer
Swiss Cheese, opened- -3-4 weeks- -
Swiss Cheese, unopened- -3-6 months6 months
Cheddar Cheese, opened- -3-4 weeks- -
Cheddar Cheese, unopened- -3-6 months6 months
Parmesan Grated Cheese, opened*2 months- -- -
Parmesan Grated Cheese, unopened9 months- -- -
Handling Tips: 
*For best quality, refrigerate after opening.
Source(s): 
Boyer, Renee, and Julie McKinney. "Food Storage Guidelines for Consumers." Virginia Cooperative Extension (2009): n. pag. Web. 7 Dec 2009.
The Cook's Thesaurus "Semi-Firm Cheeses" http://www.foodsubs.com/Chesfirm.html
Kraft packaging
 
 

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