American Neufchâtel Shelf Life

[Baby Chee]

How long does Neufchâtel last in the fridge?

Would you give it two weeks, or does it go bad fairly fast when home made?

[Cheese Head]

The longest my homemade Neufchatel (light Cream Cheese) lasted before all eaten was about 10 days at which time it was still fine.

In US, biggest manufacturer of Neuf is Kraft and that stuff in foil packages probably has a shelf life of months, similar to their Cream Cheese. But who knows what's in it .

[Sailor Con Queso]

We make 4 pound batches, keep enough fresh for a couple of weeks, and vac bag and freeze the rest. There are actually lots of cheeses that freeze well if you thaw them slowly in the refrigerator. Especially if you vaccum bag. Even the official Stilton website talks about what a great cheese it is for freezing.

One caveat. I generally do fresh Neuf not the French style with bloomy rind. So, I don't know how well that would freeze.

Neuf is fantastic in omlettes by the way. 

[DeejayDebi]

Neuf is fantastic in omlettes by the way. 

I love it mixed with chopped mushooms, onions and sausage to stuff jalepinos wrapped in bacon and slow smoked! Yummm!

[Cheese Head]

Just found surface mold on remaining half of my Chocolate Milk based American Neufchatel (light Cream Cheese) at 49 days age in household cold kitchen fridge. Was still good last weekend at 42 days.

Surprised it lasted this long, for homemade, maybe the store bought chocolate milk had extra stabilizers/mold inhibitors etc?

In hindsite, I should have frozen half like Sailor recommends.

[DeejayDebi]

Scrape it off and eat it quick!