Cheese - Pacific Crest Trail

imported
#1

Im hiking the PCT this year and would like to carry cheese for an ingredient to my lunch. How long does cheese keep without refrigeration before it gets funky?

Pacemaker

#2

Hard cheeses keep pretty well - soft not so much, depending on temps of course. I’ve kept cream cheese in those little foil packets for a couple of days no problem - great on bagels with some smoked salmon and cranberry sauce. Other softer cheeses are high in fat and tend to separate and weep a bit - icky. Hard cheeses you’ll have to grate or something - chewing them straight can be like eating cardboard.

Daniel Smith

#3

I carried cheese with me constantly while on the trail. I Usually I went with a block of sharp cheddar or Monterey jack (I think those would be considered a medium hard cheese?) and I was always amazed at how long you could carry those before they got “funky”. Temperature matters a lot, cheese goes bad faster in the Mojave than in the Sierra so be sure to keep it kind of insulated in your pack. I’d say you can get 4-7 days out of it, although that’s just a rough estimate since 99% of the time I ate all the cheese before it ever went bad, haha. My favorite snack was cheddar cheese and hot peanuts or salted skinless almonds. …yep, now I’m hungry.

FuntimecoolSnow

#4

I carry those individually wrapped 1 oz. cheddar snacks available at most grocery stores. I’ve had them last 17 days - probably would have lasted longer, but I really wanted a pizza and a beer so declared victory after a 17 day loop over Shepherd Pass.

booger

#5

I agree with booger on the 1oz packets of cheese. I had them last several days. I also like to carry string (Mozzerella) cheese. It lasts well and does not weep as bad as the cheddar. If it,s cool out the weeping will be minimal.

Big B

#6

It keeps a lot longer if you don’t touch it or let the block of cheese get in contact with other food or even your knife. Keeps the bacteria off and the funk away. Just squeeze the cheese off with the your fingers on the outside of the wrapping.

markv

#7

I carried cheeder all the time on the AT. Keep it close to your water(as in bladder)I would usually eat a block in about 5 to 6 days. It stayed good but did start to get a little oily

Virginian