Can You Eat Moldy Cheese? When You Should Clean It and When You Should Throw It Away

• Blue cheese (like Roquefort or Gorgonzola)
• Brie
• Camembert

In these cases, mold is part of the recipe, and it’s safe to eat.

However, mold that appears unexpectedly on hard cheeses or soft cheeses may be a different story.

Hard Cheeses: Cleaning is Usually Safe

For hard cheeses like cheddar, Parmesan, or Swiss, surface mold doesn’t always mean the entire block is unsafe. You can safely salvage the cheese by following these steps:

1. Cut away the mold – Remove at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) around and below the moldy spot.
2. Use a clean knife – Avoid contaminating the remaining cheese.
3. Store properly – Wrap the cheese tightly in fresh paper or plastic to prevent further mold growth.

The dense texture of hard cheeses makes it unlikely for mold to penetrate deeply, so what’s left is generally safe to eat.