Timing is everything when it comes to eating cheese. But when is the best time to eat cheese? Read on to learn about cheese’s best before date. And find out whether you can eat cheese past its best before date.
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Why does the Best Before Date matter?
When making cheese, producers calculate the Best Before Date to inform consumers when their product will be at peak ripeness. Consequently, that date is your best guide when you’re trying to work out whether your cheese is ready to be eaten.
Actually, this is particularly important for cheeses that are bought intact. Namely, small white mould soft cheeses (e.g. Camembert), soft washed rinds (e.g. Epoisses) or bark-wrapped cheeses (e.g. Mont d’Or).
Such cheeses continue to mature and develop even after you buy them. The aroma and flavours become more complex and the texture breaks down to produce that highly sought after ooze.
So, when should you eat your cheese?
Well, it depends on how strong you like the flavour to be. Within a week of the Best Before Date, you will get to enjoy a cheese with oozy texture and mild to moderate flavour. On the other hand, at or slightly past the Best Before Date, the texture will break down completely and the flavour will reach another level of intensity!
One last tip: Buy from a monger
If you’re buying cheese at the last minute, be doubly sure to get it from a specialty cheese shop. Your local monger will make sure that you will take home a wheel of cheese that is ready to be eaten ASAP. Cheeses being sold at supermarkets are often younger and can be a few weeks away from being ready.
Jonah is a a hipster, eco-warrior and slow food afficionado. Coming from a scientific background, Jonah has a particular interest in cheese science. And yes, he loves a good cheese pun!
