Brie is a soft cheese made from cow’s milk. It’s named after the region where it was first made – Brie, located in northern France.
Brie gained popularity across the whole globe, and now you can buy it in almost every supermarket in the US. Brie can complement many dishes, and it can be enjoyed alone, with a glass of wine.
Furthermore, what can happen is that you buy too much brie on sale. Inevitably, you’ll wonder how much time you have to eat it up? As we all know, the worst part of being a cheese lover is when you have to throw out cheese.
So, if you want to know how long does brie last, does it go bad and how to store brie, read on to find out the answers!
Does Brie Go Bad?
Brie is a popular type of cheese. It was first made in France, but now, it’s made across the world. Let’s check out the market shares of the largest cheese manufacturers:
Dairy Farmers of America (US) | 3.5% |
Fonterra (New Zealand) | 2.8% |
Groupe Lactalis (France) | 2.4% |
Arla Foods (Denmark, Sweden, UK) | 1.7% |
Nestle (Switzerland) | 1.6% |
Friesland Campina (Netherlands) | 1.6% |
Saputo (Canada, US) | 1.2% |
Dean Foods (US) | 1.2% |
Danone (France) | 1% |
DMK (Germany, Netherlands) | 1% |
California Dairies (US) | 0.9% |
The rest of the world | 81.1% |
Nobody wants to see brie go bad – but, does brie even go bad?
The answer is:
Yes, brie goes bad. Like all cheeses, brie has an expiration date. Moreover, aged and dried cheeses tend to have a rather long shelf life – but brie isn’t one of them. Brie is a type of soft cheese, and it doesn’t last very long.
If you want to get the most out of your cheese, store it according to the packaging guidelines. Proper storage ensures that the cheese won’t go bad before its time!
What Is The Shelf Life Of Brie Cheese?
Brie is a type of soft cheese – so it doesn’t have long before it goes bad. Keep in mind that brie’s shelf life is very short, so it’s not the greatest idea to stock up on this particular cheese.
The most important part of making brie is the aging process. For the most part, brie is aged in a special, controlled environment to let the good bacteria do the magic process called fermentation. That process is done for about four to five weeks, but it takes somewhere between six and eight weeks for brie to be fully fermented.
After it’s taken out of the special environment, brie is packed and shipped off to your local supermarket to finish aging. There, it stays in the refrigerator until you buy it.
So, to conclude, you have around two to three weeks to consume your wedge of brie. The brie is usually sold with a best-by date on the label. The best-by date is usually a manufacturer’s guarantee that the product in question will retain the same quality up to that time. So, the brie will not inherently go bad after the best-by date.
We recommend that you eat cheese when it’s about to reach the expiration date. When the best-by date approaches, you will find it tastes better than straight out of the supermarket.
So, you have around a week past the best-by date passes to enjoy your tasty wedge of cheese. Later, it will gradually change in taste and become spoiled.
This applies to opened and unopened cheeses. Opening the brie won’t shorten the shelf life – it will go bad at the same point in the future, whether you open it or not.
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Storage Tips & Tricks
Like all other cheeses, brie belongs in the fridge. The general storage rule is: if you bought it in the refrigerated aisle of the supermarket, it should be kept in the refrigerator. For the best results, always store the brie in the fridge – it will go bad way too soon at room temperature.
Unopened brie should be stored in the original packaging. There is really no need to transfer it to a different container – the manufacturer’s wrap is ideal until you open it.
Once you open it, the original wrap just won’t cut it sometimes, but if you can use it – that would be best. If that isn’t possible for any reason, use wax paper. The brie should be wrapped tightly after you open it.
Wrap the cheese entirely to keep any air or moisture out. That will prevent brie from soaking up various smells from the fridge, as well.
Let’s check out the nutritional value of 1 ounce of brie (one serving):
Nutritional value | Amount | Daily value in %* |
---|---|---|
Calories | 95 | 5% |
Total Carbohydrates | 0.1g | 0% |
Total Fat | 7.9g | 12% |
Saturated Fat | 4.9g | 25% |
Trans Fat | 0g | / |
Protein | 5.9g | 30% |
Sodium | 178.6mg | 7% |
Cholesterol | 28.4mg | 9% |
Potassium | 43.2mg | 1% |
Phosphorus | 53.4mg | 4% |
Calcium | 52.3mg | 4% |
Can You Freeze Brie?
Freezing this type of cheese is something we would have to advise you against. The reason behind that is that brie will change texture once it’s thawed. So, it won’t be as appetizing on a cheese platter or in a salad. It will become crumbly and perhaps lose some flavor in the freezer.
However, you can still use it for cooked meals like a casserole or a pot pie. If you’re wondering how long does cream cheese last, read our article.
If you have to choose between throwing brie out or freezing it, freezing is the way to go, then. Remove the cheese from the original packaging and place it in a ziplock bag. Push as much air out as you can and seal it tightly. For the best results, leave the brie to thaw in the fridge overnight. After the cheese thaws in the fridge, use it within three to four days.
We certainly don’t advise you to do thawing cheese in the microwave or in cold water. If you have to thaw it that way, use the brie immediately after it defrosts.
The shelf life of frozen brie is around six months, granted you close it in a bag properly. It will stay safe for longer than that, but the flavor will become bland.
How To Tell If The Brie Has Gone Bad?
We have determined that brie does go bad and has a rather short shelf life – no more than a few weeks. Eating spoiled brie will not be a pleasant experience, and it can give you food poisoning.
If you’re not entirely sure if your wedge of cheese is still good, take a few moments to examine it first. Read this section carefully to learn how to check the wellness of your brie.
- Firstly, brie is a type of white mold cheese. That means it has a certain white film over the surface (which makes it taste so wonderful). Any discolorations, like yellowish or green spots on top of the cheese, are a warning sign that it’s no longer safe to eat. You’ll have to throw it out, unfortunately.
- If the overall surface looks a-okay, cut a slice, and examine it. If you see that the cheese has darkened in color, or the texture has changed, consider it a tell-tale sign that this cheese has reached its expiration date. We’re sad to say, but this cheese is ready for the trash as well.
- The last step is smelling the brie. Because of the white mold, the smell of brie has a certain ammonia ring to it. That’s not a sign of spoilage, but any putrid or off smells are. If the brie doesn’t smell right, do not eat it!
How Long Does Brie Last – Conclusion
Brie is a soft cheese originally from France, but it’s adored across the entire world. Like all cheeses, it goes bad at some point. But, how long does brie last?
The answer is – a few weeks, at best.
Make sure to store it properly – wrap it tightly to make sure it doesn’t go bad too soon.
Brie can be frozen, but the texture and the taste can change in the freezer. So, avoid freezing this cheese unless it’s absolutely necessary.
If you’re worried that your brie has spoiled, check it before you start eating. Examine the surface and then slice it up. Check out the slice’s color and smell. If everything looks and smells up to par, eat your cheese without any doubts! Bon appetit!