Here's How Long You Can Leave Your Cheeseboard Out Before It's Unsafe

Combining our favorite creamy, mild, gooey, mature, and stinky cheeses, cheese boards are a staple after-dinner feast, lunchtime graze, or festive snack. Completely customizable, cheese boards are an extension of our characters and personalities. Unlike charcuterie boards, every element on a cheese board should be carefully selected to elevate the taste and complement the texture of the different cheeses. You may be surprised to learn that chocolate-covered espresso beans are an amplifying addition to any cheese board.

Yet, these heavenly spreads can also be unsafe to consume if they are left out too long. You're probably wondering how this works, especially when some cheeses sport different variations of mold (blue cheese, for example), but this does not make them immune to harmful bacterial growth. To ensure that you can safely enjoy your favorite cheeses, it's important to be aware of exactly how long different cheeses can be left out before they are no longer safe to eat.

Like all perishable foods, cheese is subject to spoilage. Various factors can affect its shelf life, including the growth of bacteria that can make it unsafe to eat. But since a lot of cheese has mold already growing on it, where is the line? How long can cheese be out of the fridge before it's harmful? Hard cheeses like parmesan, gouda, and cheddar are less likely to encourage bacterial growth since these cheeses have a lower moisture content. Remember, most bacteria like warm and moist environments, so the harder the cheese, the longer it'll take for bacteria to grow. With this in mind, hard cheeses can usually be left out for up to 8 hours.

On the other hand, soft cheeses, like camembert, brie, or gorgonzola, will spoil much faster due to the higher levels of moisture under their skin. If you're planning to place some of these gooey cheeses on your board, make sure you refrigerate them as soon as possible once you've finished. Otherwise, it's recommended that they are only kept out for a maximum of 2 hours. Some super fresh cheeses, like mozzarella, should not even be stored in the fridge as this can affect their texture and taste. If mozzarella is on your cheeseboard, you better eat the whole thing in one go! Sadly, it's the price we pay for that delicious creaminess.

There are a couple of other factors you should consider that will also impact the amount of time you can leave the cheese out for. First off, remember that cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature. Temperature can manipulate the fat molecules inside cheese, affecting its taste and texture, so make sure you combine the time it takes to get to room temperature with how long it will sit on the board. Usually, cheese takes 20-30 minutes to reach room temperature.

It's also important to take into consideration whether your room temperature is above average. Room temperature is generally between 68 degrees Fahrenheit and 74 degrees Fahrenheit, so if you're making your cheese board in the summer and it's hot, your cheese will spoil faster. To prevent this from occurring, you can always serve smaller boards throughout the day and only take out the cheese you know will be eaten immediately. An additional tip — make sure to use cheese wrapping paper to store your cheese once the feasting is finished. This will keep your cheese fresher for even longer. You don't need to be monitoring the clock every time you serve a cheeseboard, but keep in mind that as soon as you've finished munching, it's time to put those wedges back in the fridge.