Experts Are Finally Telling Us If Cutting Off The Mold From Cheese Makes It Safe To Eat

Generally, cheese shouldn’t change much in appearance after you buy it and store it in your fridge, Png said. When you notice mold growing on cheese that shouldn’t have it, such as mozzarella, cheddar or Swiss, you shouldn’t eat it. 

It most likely wouldn’t make you sick, though, Johnson said. It just wouldn’t taste very good. 

For hard cheese that grows mold in your fridge, like Parmesan or cheddar, you can usually just cut off the moldy parts and eat the rest, Craig said. Johnson said to avoid cutting directly into the mold or risk spreading it to other parts of the cheese, and to cut off an additional inch around the mold to be safe. 

Soft cheeses, like ricotta or cottage cheese, are a different story. When you spot mold, Craig said you should throw away the whole container, as the mold could spread even when you can’t see it.

However, any time you see black or dark red mold growing on any cheese, throw it away, Png said. It’s rare but it can be toxic. 

“Other than that, the only real consequences of ingesting most molds will be an unpleasant taste and texture,” she said. 

A few signs that cheese isn’t safe to eat.