How Long Can Ricotta Cheese Sit Out? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Can Ricotta Cheese Sit Out? ›

1. How long can cheese sit out before it becomes unsafe to eat? For the best taste and quality, cheese should not be left out for longer than two hours at room temperature.

However, if a high-moisture cheese like ricotta or cream cheese has a spot of mold, throw it out—it will have contaminated the entire container. See this beautiful oozy wheel of Harbison? Don't let it sit out for more than four hours!

Speaking of temperatures, the perfect temp for ricotta to be stored at is between 35 and 40 degrees Fahrenheit, which is what your fridge should be set to already.

Opened ricotta generally lasts for about one week in proper storage conditions. To be on the safe side, give it the sniff test. If there is any off odor, toss it. Additionally, if there are any black spots, it's got to go.

The U.S. Department of Health doesn't recommend keeping any perishable food sitting out of the fridge for more than 2 hours — and that's definitely the case for soft cheeses, like cottage or cream cheese, brie, or fresh mozzarella. If it's squishy and it's been out for 2 or more hours, yeet that sucker into the trash.

Therefore we say that typically, you can leave cheese out of the fridge for anything between four and eight hours for it still be safe to eat and look its appetising best. If you follow these guidelines, you're in safe territory:. Soft cheeses, like brie or Époisses PDO fall into the lower end of that scale.

Bacteria thrive in temperatures between 40 and 140 degrees and can double every 20 minutes in that “danger zone.” Based on that growth, scientists pinpointed two hours to be the maximum amount of time consumers can safely leave perishable food at room temperature.

You can cut mold off hard cheeses and still eat the cheese, but once mold appears on ricotta, throw it away. Some molds produce harmful toxins and the mold spores have likely infiltrated the entire container.

Transfer the remaining ricotta cheese to an airtight container or wrap it tightly with plastic wrap. Place the container or wrapped cheese in the refrigerator at or below 40°F (4°C). Consume the ricotta cheese within the recommended time frame specified on the package or within five to seven days after opening.

Buying and storing

While it's available prepackaged, fresh is generally best and the only choice when it comes to baking. Ricotta is available fresh all year round from the supermarket deli section. Store in the fridge in an airtight container and use within two to five days.

Can cheese sit out for 8 hours? ›

How long can cheese sit out before it becomes unsafe to eat? For the best taste and quality, cheese should not be left out for longer than two hours at room temperature. Hard cheeses can be left out longer without becoming unsafe, but the quality and taste may change.

Soft cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, shredded cheeses, and goat cheese must be refrigerated for safety. As a general rule, hard cheeses such as cheddar, processed cheeses (American), and both block and grated Parmesan do not require refrigeration for safety, but they will last longer if kept refrigerated.

How long can pizza safely sit out? Believe it or not, pizza can only be left out safely for two hours at room temperature. At higher temperatures, it's safe to be left out for just one hour.

Cream cheese that has been left out for too long can be dangerous, and you run the risk of food poisoning. “While it will soften, it is not safe past the two hour mark,” Edwards says.