Goat cheese is nowadays one of the most popular kinds of cheese throughout the whole world; however, that does not mean a whole lot of people would actually know something about it. For example, many don’t even know the answer to this question:
How long can goat cheese sit out? In the opinion of the USDA, goat cheese can sit out for only two hours before being dangerous to eat. The reason for that is bacteria multiply rapidly at room temperature, making all perishable food spoil exceptionally fast.
So do you know the answer? Well, not really, because this was just to put it quickly, and we need to dive into this topic deeper if we, in fact, want to understand it.
Let’s not waste any more time then and just jump right into it!
Table of Contents
- Does goat cheese need to be refrigerated?
- How long can goat cheese sit out unrefrigerated?
- How long can you leave goat cheese open?
- Is it OK to leave goat cheese out overnight?
- How long can sealed goat cheese stay unrefrigerated?
- How long can soft goat cheese sit out?
- How long can cooked goat cheese sit out?
- How to tell if goat cheese is bad?
- How do you keep goat cheese fresh?
- What happens if you eat bad goat cheese?
- Summary
- Resources
Does goat cheese need to be refrigerated?
Yes, goat cheese needs to be refrigerated if you’re planning on storing it for some time. That’s because when it is left out of the fridge, goat cheese can be dangerous to eat just after a few hours.
But when you do refrigerate it, the goat cheese should stay eatable for at least two weeks, provided it’s tightly sealed.
Can goat cheese be room temperature?
No, goat cheese cannot be room temperature, because when you leave your goat cheese out of the fridge, it will start to turn bad just after two hours, because of the very high activity bacteria have at 40 °F – 140 °F. Therefore, always refrigerating your goat cheese is highly recommended.
With that being said, though, there is a situation when it is convenient for goat cheese to be at room temperature, but more about that comes in the following answer!
Should goat cheese be served at room temperature?
Even though we’ve mentioned above you should never leave it at room temperature for a long while, it is actually best served at room temperature. So yes, goat cheese should be served at room temperature because when it is warmer, its texture changes, and when it is colder, it may kind of lose its flavor.
Can goat cheese spoil?
Yes, goat cheese can spoil, and it can also happen very fast – when you leave your goat cheese out of the fridge, eating it may be dangerous just after two hours. However, when you put it into the fridge, goat cheese shouldn’t get spoiled for at least 14 days.
How long can goat cheese sit out unrefrigerated?
According to the safety guidelines by the USDA, goat cheese can sit out unrefrigerated for no more than two hours. After that time passes, eating it may be dangerous since bacteria proliferate at 40 °F – 140 °F.
How long can sealed goat cheese stay unrefrigerated?
Like all other kinds of cheese and, to be fair, all other kinds of perishable food in general, sealed goat cheese can stay unrefrigerated for only two hours. Because of the extremely high activity bacteria have at room temperature, it may be dangerous to eat it if left out for longer.
How long can you leave goat cheese open?
Believe it or not, a pack of goat cheese can be left open for five to seven days, provided you store it properly. Of course, that most importantly means you always have to refrigerate it, but carefully sealing it into some airtight containers might also be helpful.
Is it OK to leave goat cheese out overnight?
We have explained above that it is not safe to eat any goat cheese left out for more than two hours, and that means it isn’t okay to eat goat cheese out overnight. This is because bacteria simply grow unimaginably fast at room temperature, resulting in goat cheese spoiling very fast.
How long can sealed goat cheese stay unrefrigerated?
According to the USDA, sealed goat cheese can stay unrefrigerated for only two hours before it is dangerous to eat. The reason for that is the extremely high activity of bacteria at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F.
How long can soft goat cheese sit out?
Because bacteria multiply very rapidly at 40 °F – 140 °F, the USDA recommends you not to leave any perishable food out of the refrigerator for more than two hours. Due to that, soft goat cheese can sit out for only two hours if you want to be entirely sure that it’s safe to eat.
How long can cooked goat cheese sit out?
As the USDA says, no perishable food should ever sit out for more than two hours before being dangerous to eat, and goat cheese isn’t an exception, not even when it is cooked. Hence, cooked goat cheese can sit out for no more than two hours.
How to tell if goat cheese is bad?
To tell if goat cheese is bad, you just have to take a good look and a good sniff. If you notice some weird, disgusting odor, change in its texture, or mold of any kind, it means that your goat cheese is past its best days and should be thrown away as soon as possible.
How do you keep goat cheese fresh?
If you’re not about to eat all of your goat cheese immediately, it is important to know how to store it properly. So, in order to keep goat cheese fresh, you first have to seal it into some airtight containers carefully and then put it into the fridge.
That way, the goat cheese will stay in excellent shape for at least two weeks and, in some cases, even as long as a month!
What happens if you eat bad goat cheese?
As you’ve probably guessed, eating bad goat cheese will likely cause food poisoning. What does that mean specifically? If you eat bad goat cheese, you might vomit or have a stomach ache or diarrhea.
Therefore, it is always recommended to rather throw out the goat cheese if you notice any signs of spoilage (that can be, for instance, a disgusting smell, we’ve talked about it just a bit above).
Summary
As the USDA says, goat cheese should never be left out of the fridge for more than two hours if you want to be entirely sure that it is not dangerous to eat. The reason for that is bacteria grow extremely fast at temperatures between 40 °F and 140 °F, making every perishable food, goat cheese not excluded, spoil in just the blink of an eye.
Related:
- How Long Can Mozzarella Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can American Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can String Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can Feta Cheese Sit Out?
- How Long Can Cream Cheese Sit Out?
Resources
Image credits – Canva
