Updated 29 July 2026 · Written by Daniel Wright
It depends on the cheese. On hard cheeses like cheddar and parmesan, you can cut off at least an inch around and below the mold and eat the rest, since mold cannot spread far through the dense texture. Soft cheeses, shredded cheese and crumbled cheese with mold should be thrown away entirely.
Hard cheese: cut off 1 inch around the mold, eat the rest. Soft, shredded or crumbled cheese with mold: discard it all.
Hard vs Soft Cheese
- Hard and semi-hard cheeses (cheddar, parmesan, gouda): cut off at least 1 inch around and below the mold, keeping the knife out of it, and eat the rest.
- Soft cheeses (brie, cream cheese, cottage, ricotta): discard entirely if moldy, as mold and bacteria spread through them.
- Shredded, sliced or crumbled cheese: throw the whole package out if any mold appears.
Blue Cheese Is Different
The blue veins in cheeses like Roquefort and gorgonzola are edible molds added on purpose and are safe to eat. But if a blue cheese grows unexpected fuzzy mold in a new color, treat it like any other and discard the affected soft cheese. To keep cheese fresh longer, wrap it well or freeze firm cheese, as covered in can you freeze cheese. Store it in a sealed glass container.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you cut mold off cheese and eat it?
On hard cheese, yes. Cut at least an inch around and below the mold and eat the rest. On soft, shredded or crumbled cheese, no, discard it all.
Is the mold in blue cheese safe?
Yes. The blue veins are edible molds cultured on purpose. Only worry if a different, unexpected mold appears on the cheese.
