How Long Can Shredded Cheese Be Left on the Counter?

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You probably always have some sort of cheese in your fridge, it is a staple in just about every household, and many people choose to keep shredded cheese as their go-to, as it is just wonderfully convenient to have.

Cheese needs to be kept in the fridge, and its shelf life is fairly limited, as it is made from dairy. What happens, though, if you forget to put the shredded cheese you have just used back in the fridge? How long can shredded cheese be left on the counter?

Almost all food guidelines tell you that food should not be left on the counter at room temperature for longer than two hours. While you should stick to this, there are some cases where certain types of cheese can be fine after sitting out for a little longer.

Hard cheeses, such as Gruyere or Parmesan, can be left out for longer than softer cheeses, such as mozzarella, so the rules change slightly depending on the cheese you are using. Read on to find out how long shredded cheese can be left out to keep your food safe!

Does the Type of Cheese Determine How Long It Can Sit Out For?

Before we go on to whether the type of cheese determines how long it can sit out, we should remind you that it is recommended that no food should be left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, as the risk of bacteria growth increases.

There are some cases where food can be fine after being left out at room temperature for 2 hours, but keep in mind that there is always a risk.

Getting back to shredded cheese – there are certain types of cheese that can be left out for longer. Hard cheese types, such as Gruyere and Parmesan, can be left out for longer than semi-soft cheese types, such as mozzarella and Gouda.

There are also soft cheeses, such as ricotta and cottage cheese, but these are too soft to be shredded, so we won’t go over these in this section.

Here are the different types of cheese, and why they have varying shelf lives at room temperature:

Safe Room Temperature Limits for Different Cheese Types

Cheese Type	Examples	Max Time at Room Temperature	Reason
Hard Cheeses	Parmesan, Gruyere, Pecorino Romano	Up to 4 hours	Low moisture content reduces bacterial growth
Semi-Hard Cheeses	Cheddar, Swiss, Provolone	Up to 3 hours	Moderate moisture content supports slower bacterial growth
Semi-Soft Cheeses	Mozzarella, Gouda, Havarti	Up to 2 hours	Higher moisture content accelerates bacterial growth
Soft Cheeses	Brie, Camembert, Blue Cheese	Not recommended (1–2 hours max)	Very high moisture content and minimal aging lead to rapid spoilage
Fresh Cheeses	Ricotta, Cottage Cheese, Cream Cheese	Not recommended (1–2 hours max)	Extremely high moisture and perishability

Sources: USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service. Danger Zone: 40 to 140°F. Institute of Food Technologists. Understanding Food Spoilage and Safety.

Hard Cheeses

Hard cheeses that you might find shredded include Gruyere and Parmesan, and these are cheeses that have been aged for longer, and which have quite a crumbly texture.

Most of the whey is removed from the cheese during the cheesemaking process, which means that most of the moisture is removed too. The cheeses are then aged for quite some time, which gives them a strong, complex flavor.

This type of shredded hard cheese can be left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, as it has a low moisture content, and it can be left out for a maximum of 4 hours.

Semi-Hard Cheeses

Most of the shredded cheese you will find in the grocery store will be of the semi-hard variety. This includes cheddar and Swiss cheese. These are aged in a much similar way to hard cheese, but they have a more springy texture, and contain more moisture.

Shredded semi-hard cheese, such as cheddar, can be left out at room temperature for a maximum of 3 hours.

Semi-Soft Cheeses

Mozzarella and Gouda are two examples of semi-soft cheese that can be sold in shredded form, and these are softer in texture and have a slightly higher moisture content.

The higher moisture content in semi-soft cheese, as well as the fact that the cheeses aren’t aged for too long, means that they cannot be left out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, without an increased risk of bacteria growth.

How Long Can Different Types of Shredded Cheese Be Left Out?

If you have been making sandwiches or cooking with cheese, only to return to the kitchen a few hours later and realize that you’ve left a bag of shredded cheese on the counter, you might be concerned that the cheese would not be safe to eat any longer.

The general rule is that any type of perishable food should not stay out at room temperature for longer than 2 hours, but the shredded cheese you have left out on the counter might still be okay to eat.

Softer cheese, such as mozzarella, and Gouda should not be left out for longer than 2 hours. Semi-hard cheese such as Cheddar and Swiss need to be placed back in the fridge within 3 hours of being left out.

Whereas hard cheeses, such as Gruyere and Parmesan can sit out at room temperature for a maximum of 4 hours at a push, but this also depends on the room temperature and humidity levels.

Most shredded cheese sold in grocery stores is coated with a preservative, which helps keep the shredded cheese from clumping, but this also helps to keep the shredded cheese fresher for longer when at room temperature.

How to Tell if Shredded Cheese Has Gone Bad

If you have left shredded cheese out on the counter for a few hours, you should definitely check to see whether it is still fine to eat, or if it has gone bad.

There will be some signs that the cheese has begun to spoil, and these are definitely worth looking for, as eating spoiled cheese can lead to foodborne illness.

These are the signs that indicate that shredded cheese has gone bad:

Bad Smell

One of the first signs that shredded cheese has gone bad is if it begins to smell off. The odor might not be too noticeable at first, but it will begin to develop a sour, rancid odor after some time that will become stronger.

If you notice any bad, sour, or acidic odor from the shredded cheese as you open the bag, it is best to dispose of it.

Slimy Coating

If left out for long, the shredded cheese might develop a slimy coating, or seem like it has been sweating. This is never a good sign and is a good indication that the cheese has begun to spoil, especially if paired with the fact that it has an off odor.

Dryness

Shredded cheese can either become slimy, or it can become very dry when it begins to spoil. It will become dry to the point where it crumbles or is very inedible.

While shredded cheese can become dry naturally, if compounded with other signs of spoiling, it should be discarded.

Mold

When shredded cheese has been left out for too long, there is a very good chance that it could develop mold. If you open up a bag of shredded cheese and notice mold, even if it is only one or two spots, it is best to throw it away.

You might only notice one or two spots of mold, but the spores can be really small and would have already spread to other areas of the shredded cheese, so it is best to not eat any.

How Best to Store Shredded Cheese

There isn’t much you need to do to store shredded cheese, as it is often best when stored in its original packaging. Most shredded cheese will be sold in a resealable plastic container, and this is a convenient and safe way to store the shredded cheese, making sure you squeeze as much air out of the bag before sealing.

If the shredded cheese doesn’t come in a resealable plastic bag, then you can either store the cheese in an airtight plastic container or in a resealable plastic freezer bag.

When storing the cheese in another container, make sure to label it with the expiry date shown on the original packaging, so you can keep track of when it needs to be eaten by.