Randy Chandler
Cheese is alive and breathing, meaning it needs oxygen and humidity to stay fresh and tasty. The best way to store cheese depends on its type and texture. For example, soft cheeses like brie and camembert will continue to soften as they are stored, whereas hard cheeses like parmesan will get harder as they age. Fresh cheeses like mozzarella and feta are best stored in their original packaging with their brine, while other types of cheese are best stored in cheese paper, wax paper, parchment paper, or butcher paper.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Wrapping: Use waxed, butcher, or cheese paper, not plastic wrap
Cheese is a living, breathing food that needs oxygen to survive. As such, it should not be stored in plastic wrap, which can suffocate the cheese, leading to undesirable flavours and textures.
Instead, use waxed, butcher, or cheese paper. Cheese paper is a special type of thick paper coated on one side with a combination of wax and polyethylene. The coated side goes near the cheese, resisting sweating and condensation, while the paper is folded around the cheese and taped or tied shut. This allows the cheese to continue maturing throughout its intended shelf life. Waxed paper can also be used to wrap hard cheeses, which tend to sweat a bit. The waxed paper can then be placed inside a Ziploc bag.
For soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, or Limburger, which have more moisture, a plastic bag or cheese paper is best. If you are using plastic, be sure to squeeze out as much air as possible.
Vegan Cheeses: The Ultimate Guide to Dairy-Free Deliciousness
You may want to see also
Containers: Store in sealed glass or plastic containers, or bags
Cheese is alive and breathing, and it needs oxygen and humidity to stay fresh and tasty. Therefore, it is best to store it in an environment that allows for gas exchange. Sealed glass or plastic containers are good options for storing cheese, so long as the cheese is kept humid and cool. However, for softer cheeses like blues and Bries, it is essential to occasionally open the container to prevent condensation and the development of off-flavours.
Specialty cheese paper is also a great option for storing cheese. It provides airflow and humidity, keeping the cheese healthy and happy. When using cheese paper, ensure that no parts of the cheese are left exposed, as the fridge will dry them out. Parchment or butcher paper can also be used to wrap the cheese before placing it in a Ziploc bag. Again, it is important to leave some air in the bag to ensure the cheese has enough oxygen.
If you are storing hard cheeses, such as Parmesan or Asiago, they can be wrapped in wax paper or cheesecloth before placing them in a sealed container or bag. These cheeses tend to sweat, so the wax paper will help to absorb the moisture. Soft cheeses, such as Brie, Camembert, or Limburger, will continue to soften as they are stored. They are more susceptible to mould, so it is important to ensure they are adequately protected in their container or bag.
For grated cheeses or harder varieties like Cheddar, storage in the freezer is an option. However, freezing can affect the texture of the cheese, making it grainy or sandy. Therefore, it is generally recommended to store cheese in the refrigerator, in a sealed glass or plastic container or bag, with the appropriate wrapping to ensure it gets enough oxygen and stays humid.
Mac & Cheese: Where to Find the Ultimate Comfort Food
You may want to see also
Temperature: Refrigerate at around 35 °F/4 °C
Caitlin Clark, M.S., a doctoral candidate in food science and fermentation, advises that all cheeses be stored at a refrigerator temperature of about 35 °F/4 °C. This is because cheese is alive and needs oxygen and humidity to stay fresh.
However, refrigeration is not mandatory for cheese. In fact, cheese has been used to store milk for longer periods without refrigeration for hundreds of years. Nevertheless, if you want to store cheese in the refrigerator, it is best to store it in one of the bins usually reserved for vegetables at the bottom of the fridge, as there is more humidity, which benefits cheese.
If you are in an exceptionally warm and humid environment, it is best to serve cheese at room temperature. In such cases, remove the cheese from the refrigerator for at least an hour before serving. Smaller portions of cheese can dry up faster than larger pieces, so it is best to portion the cheese just before serving.
It is also important to note that cheese should not be stored in plastic wrap. This is because plastic wrap cuts off the air supply, essentially suffocating the cheese. Instead, it is best to store cheese in specialty cheese paper, which provides airflow and humidity, keeping the cheese healthy.
Ultimate Nacho Cheese: The Best Melting Cheeses
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Humidity: Keep cheese humid and cool
Cheese is alive and breathing, which means it needs oxygen and humidity to stay fresh and tasty. While cheese needs oxygen to breathe, it can hold its breath for short periods. However, plastic wrap cuts off the air supply, essentially suffocating the cheese. Therefore, it is best to avoid storing cheese in plastic wrap.
Specialty cheese paper provides airflow and humidity, which keeps the cheese healthy and happy. When using cheese paper, make sure not to leave any parts of the cheese exposed, as the fridge will dry them out and make them crusty. Alternatively, wrap the cheese in parchment or butcher paper, then loosely wrap it in a Ziploc bag. Before closing the zipper, make sure there is still some air in the bag so that the cheese has plenty of oxygen and humidity.
The cheese and produce drawers of your fridge are best at keeping cheese humid and cool. However, to avoid your mild Jack tasting like a burly Stilton, keep different types of cheese in separate containers.
For short periods, sealed glass or plastic containers are fine, so long as the cheese is kept humid and cool. However, for softer cheeses like blues and Bries, occasionally open the container to avoid condensation and the development of off-flavours.
Cheese Treats for Dogs: Which Types Are Safe?
You may want to see also
Location: Store in the fridge's vegetable bin
Cheese is alive and breathing, so it needs oxygen and humidity to stay fresh and tasty. While cheese needs oxygen to breathe, it can also hold its breath for short periods. Cheese should be stored in an environment that allows for gas exchange.
The best place in the refrigerator to store cheese is in one of the bins usually reserved for vegetables at the bottom of the fridge. There is more humidity in these bins, which benefits cheese.
The cheese should be wrapped before being placed in the vegetable bin. Speciality cheese paper provides airflow and humidity, which keeps cheese healthy and happy. Cheese paper is a special type of thick paper coated on one side with a combination of wax and polyethylene. The coated side is placed near the cheese, so that it can resist sweating and condensation, and the paper is folded around the cheese and taped or tied gently shut. Waxed paper or parchment paper can also be used. Then, the wrapped cheese can be placed in a Ziploc bag or sealed Tupperware box. Before closing the bag, make sure there is still some air in the bag so that the cheese has plenty of oxygen and humidity.
If you are storing cut pieces of cheese, it is safer to store them in the refrigerator as they are more vulnerable to potential contamination with other microorganisms than whole wheels.
Cheese for Diabetics: Best Options and Recommendations
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Cheese should be stored in an environment that allows for gas exchange. Cheese paper is ideal for wrapping most types of cheese, except for fresh cheeses like ricotta, feta, and mozzarella, which should be kept in their original packaging with their brine.
The shelf life of cheese varies depending on the type of cheese and how it is stored. Hard cheeses tend to last longer than soft cheeses, with some hard cheeses lasting several weeks to a month or more. Fresh cheeses like mozzarella and feta have the shortest shelf life.
The cheese and produce drawers in your fridge are best at keeping cheese humid and cool. However, one source suggests that the bins usually reserved for vegetables are better for storing cheese because there is more humidity, which benefits cheese.
