How Long Does Brie Last?

Creamy and delicious, this cheese is excellent for snacking or to use for your favorite dishes. But how long does Brie last and maintain its freshness?

Brie is a fantastic cheese that can be enjoyed anytime, whether it be for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. If you have some leftover Brie in your fridge, throw it on a baguette and toast it up! You can also serve your Brie as an appetizer with crackers or fresh fruit.

Soft and creamy, Brie can be served as an appetizer or with crackers. It can be used in various dishes and recipes, like salads, appetizers, sandwiches, and even desserts.

As for the taste, it is mild, slightly nutty, and creamy in texture. Brie is best when it's fresh, but how long does Brie last? 

Jump to:

• ❔ What is Brie Cheese? 
• 🧀 Taste Profile of Brie Cheese 
• 🤔 How to Store Brie?
• ❄️ Can you Freeze Brie?
• ⏳ Does Brie Expire Quickly?
• ⚠️ How to Tell if Brie is Bad
• ⏱️ How Long Does Opened Brie Last?
• 🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs
• 🥖 How to Serve Brie
• 🪤 Other Cheeses Similar to Brie
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Brie Recipes You'll Love 
• 💬 Reviews and Comments

Brie has a shelf life of approximately two weeks in the refrigerator. But there is more to learn! This article will discuss everything you need to know about brie cheese and how to store it. It also answers the question: does Brie cheese go bad?

❔ What is Brie Cheese? 

When it comes to cheese, one name always stands out amongst the rest: Président Brie. Président Brie is a smooth, soft, and creamy cheese made with cow's milk having a mildly piquant taste.

The cheese is so creamy and buttery, whether you're snacking on it straight out of the package or using it to top off a delicious sandwich, you'll have a hard time putting it down.

The regional name—Brie—comes from the area of northern France where it originated. Soft, creamy, and delectable, Président Brie is a classic that cheese lovers of all ages—from adults to the little ones- can enjoy.

🧀 Taste Profile of Brie Cheese 

Brie cheese is a soft cow's milk cheese with a creamy texture and a buttery, fruity flavor. Authentic French Brie has a thin edible white mold rind that grows around the outside of the wheel. 

Brie is usually served as an appetizer or dessert, but you can enjoy it with crackers or bread. The best way to serve Brie is at room temperature. The best way to cut Brie is with a serrated knife; this will help keep the intact rind while also allowing you to get clean slices of cheese.

🤔 How to Store Brie?

Wrapping brie cheese tightly in wax paper, parchment paper, or plastic wrap and storing it in a sealed container is the most effective way to prevent it from getting moldy. Brie will last for two weeks if refrigerated properly. Keeping it in its original packaging can also work.

When ready to serve Brie, take it out of the fridge one hour before serving for the best flavor and texture. If you don't have time to let it sit on your countertop for an hour, cut a slice from your wheel of Brie and let it sit at room temperature until it reaches room temperature; this should take 15-20 minutes.

The rest of your wheel of Brie can stay in its original container in the refrigerator until ready to use or serve later in the week.

❄️ Can you Freeze Brie?

You can store Brie in the freezer by tightly wrapping it in plastic wrap or foil and then placing it in a zip-lock bag. Be sure to compress all the air out of the bag before freezing. It should be thawed overnight in the refrigerator before eating.

Be aware that freezing Brie is not recommended as proper storage; it tends to crumble upon freezing.

⏳ Does Brie Expire Quickly?

Softer cheeses are more likely to develop mold and bacteria over time, making them unsafe to eat. Brie cheese is considered soft cheese, so it should be eaten within 2-3 weeks after opening if stored properly in the refrigerator. Hard cheeses like cheddar or pecorino tend to have a longer shelf life.

If you're concerned about your cheese going bad before you get around to eating it, wrap it tightly in aluminum foil before putting it back in its original container or transferring it into another airtight container for storage.

Cheese stored incorrectly can develop mold or bacteria on its surface, making it look fuzzy or slimy and smell unpleasant. You can easily remove it with a knife if you catch it early enough before it spreads throughout the block.

It's best not to consume spoiled cheese because it could make you sick with food poisoning!

⚠️ How to Tell if Brie is Bad

First, check the expiration date. If the cheese is just past the best-by date, it may still be fine. Once a long time has gone by, it's a good idea to be extra careful.

If you're not sure whether your Brie has gone bad, here are some signs to look for:

• Smell: The best way to tell if a piece of cheese has gone bad is by smelling it! A strong odor or funky smell usually indicates that your Brie has gone bad.
• Mold: Moldy Brie isn't safe to eat and will make you sick if consumed. Throw out moldy cheeses immediately! Cheese is made with natural mold and good bacteria, but discoloration is an indication of bad brie.

⏱️ How Long Does Opened Brie Last?

The average lifespan of brie cheese in your fridge is about two weeks. However, the cheese will continue to mature and ripen, altering its flavor and texture.

Live cultures in Brie convert milk proteins into ammonia when left for too long, resulting in a sour ammonia smell and taste. This is common with dairy products.

Once opened, store Brie cheese in the refrigerator as it matures, which might alter taste or texture. If you plan on eating your Brie within two weeks after opening, tightly wrap it in plastic wrap and then store it in a sealed container to prevent mold from growing on the cheese.

🙋🏻‍♀️ FAQs

🥖 How to Serve Brie

Brie is best served at room temperature. Take it out of the fridge about an hour before you are ready to serve it for an amazingly creamy texture. Brie can be served in a variety of ways, making it an excellent choice for dinner parties and other social events. 

Brie is delicious on its own or with fruit, crackers, baguette slices, or even as part of a cheese platter or cheeseboard. For example, try serving Brie with jam for an appetizer that will have your guests licking their fingers! You could also serve warm Brie topped with honey for dessert after dinner (or any time).

When serving Brie, always serve it at room temperature or warm. If you're planning to eat it cold, place the cheese in your refrigerator for a few hours before eating. It will help make it more flavorful and prevent bacteria from growing on your cheese.

This Baked Brie with Honey is one of my simple and delicious go-to brie recipes!

🪤 Other Cheeses Similar to Brie

Brie cheese is the king of all cheeses. It's buttery, soft, and creamy, with a hint of earthiness that's hard to beat.

But if you're looking for a substitute for this semi-soft cheese, there are several options you can use to get that Brie flavor without having to buy Brie. Here are some other types of cheese that you'll like if you enjoy Brie:

1. Camembert Cheese

Camembert is a soft cow's milk cheese that has a creamy texture. It's a French cheese with a mild, nutty flavor with a slight hint of spiciness, so it can be substituted for Brie without changing the taste of your dish too much. Camembert is an easy-to-crumble cheese when it's fresh and warm. Ensure that camembert cheese is at room temperature before eating it.

2.  Goat Cheese

Goat cheese has a strong flavor, texture, and a little tang compared to brie cheese. But it works well in dishes where you want something tangy or sharp. It's good as an appetizer or spread on toast for breakfast, but you can also use it in sandwiches or salads. The cheese is best served at room temperature, so it's often used to replace Brie because it doesn't require heating or cooling before serving. Goat cheese is suitable for cooking instead of eating raw.

3.  Reblochon Cheese

Reblochon is a French style of cheese that has been around since the 18th century. It's similar to Brie but has a more robust flavor, and even creamier texture than Brie does, so it's often used in different ways than Brie would be used—for example, as part of an entree instead of just being eaten by itself as an appetizer or dessert item like Brie usually would be eaten. You can only find reblochon cheese at specialty stores in Europe.

4. Chevre Cheese

Chevre is another soft cheese you can substitute for Brie in cooking or on sandwiches. It's made from goat's milk, which gives it a tangy and savory flavor profile that pairs well with fruits like apples or pears. If you are looking for a cheese that has a milder flavor than Brie, then chevre cheese is your best bet.

💭 Conclusion - How Long Does Brie Last?

Whether serving it as an appetizer or dessert, Brie has a long shelf life and won't spoil unless you let it sit out for too long without refrigeration. Brie generally has a shelf life of about three weeks when stored at 40 degrees Fahrenheit or less (the refrigerator temperature).

You should always check the packaging for any sell-by dates before buying Brie, though. Enjoy this delicious cheese!