15TH OCTOBER 2026
Best-Before Dates:When Is Your Cheese Still Good to Eat?
If you’ve ever spotted a best-before date on a piece of cheese and wondered whether it really means your cheese is past its best, you’re not alone!
At The Cheese Society, all our hand-cut cheeses are labelled with a best-before date. This is a guide to the cheese’s expected quality, rather than a strict cut-off point for when it must be eaten.
What does a best-before date mean?
A best-before date is primarily about quality, not safety. It indicates when a cheese is expected to be at its best in terms of flavour, texture and overall enjoyment.
Cheese is a naturally maturing product, and its character can continue to develop over time. Depending on the variety, it may become stronger in flavour, softer in texture or develop more pronounced aromas as it matures.
Can you eat cheese after its best-before date?
Often, yes, provided it has been stored correctly, kept appropriately chilled and shows no signs of spoilage. However, this depends on the type of cheese and how it has been handled, so a best-before date should be treated as a guide rather than a guarantee.
Always check the cheese before eating it. If you notice unexpected mould, an unusual smell, a change in texture or anything else that concerns you, don’t assume it’s safe simply because the date hasn’t passed. Equally, don’t rely on smell or appearance alone to determine whether a cheese is safe.
It’s also important to distinguish a best-before date from a use-by date. A use-by date relates to food safety and should be followed.
How can you get the best from your cheese?
To help your cheese stay in the best possible condition:
- Keep it chilled: Follow the storage instructions on the packaging.
- Wrap it properly: Suitable cheese paper helps protect the cheese while allowing it to breathe.
- Enjoy it at its best: Take cheese out of the fridge before serving, allowing it to come closer to room temperature so its flavours can shine.
- Use your judgement: Consider the type of cheese, how it has been stored and whether anything about it seems unusual.
A date is a guide, not the whole story
We hand-cut our cheeses fresh to order and label them with a best-before date to help you enjoy them at their best. But cheese is a natural product, and different varieties mature in different ways.
The date is a helpful starting point, not the only thing to consider. Store your cheese well, follow any safety guidance and enjoy discovering how its flavour and texture develop.
If you’re ever unsure about a particular cheese, our team is always happy to help.
Good cheese deserves to be enjoyed — and understanding the date is part of getting the very best from it.
The Cheese Society Team x
