Cheese Wheel Longevity: How Long Does It Actually Last?

A wheel of cheese can last for a surprisingly long time, depending on the type of cheese and how it's stored. An unopened waxed cheese wheel can last for over 25 years if kept under the right conditions. However, once a wheel of cheese is cut into, the aging process stops, and the cheese will only last for a few weeks. Hard cheeses can last a long time, while soft cheeses have a shorter shelf life. To extend the shelf life of a wheel of cheese, it should be stored in the refrigerator, wrapped in cheese paper or greaseproof paper, and placed in a sealed container.

Whole cheese wheels can be stored outside the fridge

If you have a whole cheese wheel that doesn't fit in your fridge, it can be stored outside, but it must be kept in a cool, dark place like a cellar or pantry, and covered with a clean cloth to keep out dust and dirt. You should regularly check for mould growth and cut away any affected parts. The cheese will continue to ripen, so it should be turned regularly to ensure even ripening.

Hard cheeses like alpine cheeses will last a long time, and you're more likely to encounter food quality issues than food safety problems. The biggest problem with hard cheeses is that they will dry out. The moisture content affects how long cheese will last, so softer cheeses tend to have a shorter shelf life.

If you're planning to consume the cheese within a few weeks, it can be stored at room temperature, which will allow the cheese to continue to age and develop. However, it's important to note that cheese is a living food that needs to breathe, so your storage method should allow for airflow while also protecting the cheese from drying out.

In summary, whole cheese wheels can be stored outside the fridge, but it's important to consider the type of cheese, the storage conditions, and the length of time you plan to store it. For long-term storage, a cool, dark, and humid environment is ideal, while room temperature storage is suitable for shorter periods of consumption.

Cheese wheels should be wrapped in cheese paper

Cheese paper, on the other hand, is designed to keep cheese fresh. It provides the right amount of breathing space while protecting the cheese from dehydration. It is made from a layer of paper and a layer of plastic fused together, with tiny perforations in the plastic to allow air and moisture to flow out. This helps to protect your cheese from off-flavours and the drying air of your fridge, while still letting it breathe.

To store a cheese wheel, wrap it in cheese paper and then place it in an airtight container or bag in the fridge. This will ensure the cheese retains its freshness and flavour. If you don't have cheese paper, you can use greaseproof baking paper as a substitute. It is important to note that cheese paper is not reusable or easily recyclable due to being a composite material. However, it is an effective way to keep your cheese wheel fresh for a longer period.

In addition to using cheese paper, there are other factors to consider when storing a cheese wheel. Firstly, it is recommended to store cheese in the fridge, as the cold temperature helps preserve it and prevent premature mould growth. However, some whole cheeses, such as a wheel of Gouda, can be stored outside the fridge in a cool and dark place like a cellar or pantry. If stored this way, cover the cheese with a clean cloth to keep out dust and regularly check for mould growth.

Additionally, it is important to only touch the rind when cutting the cheese, as this helps retain its flavour and texture. Using a cheese slicer or knife to cut slices will also help prevent bacteria from penetrating the cheese and speeding up the ripening process. It is also recommended to keep different types of cheese separate, as strong-smelling cheeses can affect the taste of milder cheeses if stored too close together.

By following these storage tips, particularly wrapping the cheese wheel in cheese paper, you can maximise the longevity and freshness of your cheese wheel.

Don't freeze cheese wheels

A wheel of cheese can be kept for a long time, especially if it's a hard cheese. For example, an unopened waxed cheese wheel can last for over 25 years if stored under the right conditions. However, freezing cheese wheels is not recommended.

Freezing cheese can extend its shelf life and reduce waste, but it can also negatively impact the texture and quality. When cheese is frozen, its water and fat content form ice crystals that can damage the protein structure, affecting the texture and making the cheese drier, crumbly, and mealy. The degradation of texture will be more noticeable in softer cheeses with higher moisture content, and frozen cheese may also be less meltable.

Additionally, freezing can inactivate beneficial microbes in cheese, such as the bacteria and moulds added to give distinctive textures and flavours to ripened cheeses like blue cheese and Camembert. Freezing can stop these cheeses from ripening properly, reducing their overall sensory quality.

For these reasons, it is generally recommended to freeze only certain types of cheese, such as semi-firm to firm blocks with no rind that are intended to be melted into a dish after thawing. Examples include cheddar, Jack, Colby, mozzarella, and provolone. Harder cheeses with lower moisture and higher fat content are better suited for freezing, while softer, ripened cheeses like brie, Camembert, and Muenster are best eaten fresh.

Avoid direct contact with the cheese when cutting

When cutting a wheel of cheese, it is important to avoid direct contact with the cheese itself. This is because touching the cheese can cause bacteria to penetrate and speed up the ripening process, affecting the flavour and texture of the cheese.

To avoid direct contact with the cheese, use a cheese slicer or knife to cut slices, touching only the rind of the cheese. This will help to preserve the flavour and texture of the cheese, as well as prevent the growth of undesirable bacteria.

In addition to using a cheese slicer or knife, there are other ways to cut a wheel of cheese without touching the cheese itself. One method is to use a cheese iron, which is used to take a core sample of the cheese. This allows you to taste the cheese and determine if it needs to be aged further without touching the cheese directly.

Another way to avoid direct contact with the cheese when cutting is to use a cheese wire. A cheese wire is a thin, flexible wire that is stretched taut and used to cut through the cheese. This method can be more difficult to control than using a knife, but it ensures that you don't touch the cheese with your hands.

Finally, if you are cutting a large wheel of cheese, you may need to use a cheese cutter or cheese knife. These tools are designed specifically for cutting through large wheels of cheese and often have long handles to provide leverage. By using a cheese cutter or knife, you can avoid touching the cheese with your hands while still getting a clean cut.

By following these tips and avoiding direct contact with the cheese when cutting, you can help to preserve the quality and freshness of your wheel of cheese.

Store different cheeses separately

When storing cheese, it's important to keep different cheeses separate. Some cheeses have strong odours that can be transferred to other cheeses if stored too closely together. Strong-smelling cheeses should be stored separately from milder cheeses to avoid affecting each other's taste.

For example, if you have leftover cheese from a wedding cake, which may include a bottom tier of a full wheel of Swiss cheese and a tier of Stilton, you'll want to store them separately. The Swiss cheese will last a long time, while the Stilton will go quicker.

In general, hard cheeses like alpine cheeses will last longer than softer cheeses. This is due to moisture content. The biggest problem with hard cheeses is that they will dry out, while softer cheeses will develop a gooey rind.

To avoid these issues, it's important to store different cheeses separately and to check on them periodically.

Frequently asked questions