A few words likely come to mind when you think about goat cheese—silky, tangy, nutty, and absolutely delicious. Whether you’re enjoying it on a cheese plate or crumbled into a salad, the rindy soft cheese is one of the most pleasant to eat. However, it also has a short shelf life if you don’t know how to store it. Keep your cheese as creamy and luscious as the day you bought it with these tips.

How Long Does It Last?

Goat milk’s curds age quickly and are high in moisture, making the cheese more vulnerable to mold growth when exposed to damper environments. It’s preferable to eat goat milk cheeses like chèvre and garrotxa as soon as you bring them home, but wrapped wedges can last two to three weeks in the fridge. Unwrapped cheeses, on the other hand, should be consumed within the week.

How to Store Goat Cheese

Fridge

Goat cheese needs room to breathe and its moisture to be dispersed. Using plastic wrap traps moisture and airflow, so discard the original wrapping once opened.

To store the cheese in the fridge, wrap it in wax paper for breathability, followed by aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. Also, keep wedges in your vegetable crisper or cheese drawer, as those compartments tend to be colder, more stable environments.

If stored properly, you can extend your cheese’s shelf life by one to two weeks.

Freezer

You can also freeze goat cheese if you don’t plan to eat it immediately. If you’re saving a solid block, wrap it tightly with a double layer of plastic wrap and seal it inside a freezer bag. Spreadable goat cheese can remain in its original container, but double wrap it in plastic before putting the seal back on. Both storage methods prevent possible freezer burn and contamination.

Goat cheese can last about six months if stored properly. Write the freezing date on the package so you can track its freshness.

Get a taste of award-winning gourmet cheese from Surfing Goat Dairy at the foot of Maui’s Haleakala. Operating since 1999, this family-owned small business is the only certified humane farm in Hawaii, producing ethically sourced dairy while raising their goats with care and compassion. They also concoct their own cheese blends using locally grown ingredients like apple bananas and Haden mangoes. Preview their products online, and call (808) 878-2870 with any questions.