You find a moldy spot on that block of cheese and immediately think, “Well, there goes $8.”

Not necessarily.

You May Be Able to Save It

If it’s a block of hard or semi-hard cheese, a moldy spot doesn’t automatically mean the whole thing has to go. You can generally cut away the moldy area and keep the rest.

Don’t Just Cut Off the Mold

Cut at least 1 inch around and below the moldy area. Keep your knife out of the mold itself so you don’t drag mold into the part of the cheese you’re keeping. Then wrap the remaining cheese in fresh packaging.

But This Doesn’t Work for Every Cheese

This tip is for blocks of hard or semi-hard cheese. If you find unwanted mold on soft cheese—or on shredded, sliced, or crumbled cheese—the safer move is to toss it.

The Takeaway

Mold on a block of hard cheese? Cut generously, not just cosmetically.