Safety of cheese

[chloebell]

In my frig, I have had an unopened pkg of goat cheese & Boursin for months. Both of them are expired, or about to. The goat cheese Dec. of 2012, and the Boursin Feb of 2013.. Are they still safe to eat, or should I just toss?

[The Professor]

Enjoy them...they'll be fine. The stuff doesn't go bad for quite some time after the so called "expiration date".

I routinely buy it marked down on last day of sale (at a great price) and sometimes don't open it for weeks.

[Delucacheesemonger]

Chevres will vary, but Boursin has so many stabilizers it may never get ickier. l have cheeses from the 70's and as cheese is controlled spoilage to begin with, you are just becoming an affineur (ager, maturer).

[cheesemaestro]

You have cheeses from the 70's? What kind and why have you kept them so long? More importantly, HOW are you maintaining them?

[Delucacheesemonger]

Original Black Diamond from before their sale to a corporate entity.
They are in five lb slabs and are cryopacked, at beginning had about 40, down to four, and they are my number one favorite cheese. Last one opened was in late 2009 and was still awesome.

[cheesemaestro]

I suspected it was cryopacked cheddar, but at 35-40 years old, that's still mighty impressive!

[jpc8015]

They should both be fine.

[Ruth Lafler]

Eat unless they smell icky when you open them.

[MonMauler]

Agreed. Should be fine. Smell test. If they don't smell like goat cheese or Boursin, then toss.