Does cheese need to be refrigerated?

In general, all cheese should be covered and refrigerated at a temperature of 5°C or less. For food safety, due to its higher moisture content, it is particularly important to keep soft cheese refrigerated. If hard cheese is left unrefrigerated for a long period of time, it tends to dry out and often a layer of hardened oil coats the cheese. Refrigeration is a key step in maintaining the quality and shelf-life of any cheese product.