Randy Chandler
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads and tarts to pasta and risottos. It has a tangy, earthy, and buttery flavour with a creamy texture. With its unique taste and texture, goat cheese is a popular ingredient for many people. However, storing it correctly is essential to preserving its flavour and aroma. Proper storage methods include wrapping the cheese correctly and placing it in the refrigerator, preferably in the vegetable drawer, to maintain a stable temperature. Additionally, some goat cheeses can be frozen to extend their shelf life, but it's important to follow specific guidelines to avoid altering their texture and flavour.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Storage temperature | 8 °C-10 °C |
| Storage location | Vegetable drawer in the refrigerator |
| Well-aged cheese storage location | Middle of the refrigerator |
| Well-aged cheese storage temperature | 4 °C-6 °C |
| Fresh cheese storage location | Top of the refrigerator |
| Fresh cheese storage temperature | 0 °C-4 °C |
| Shelf life | 2 to 3 weeks |
| Packaging | Reuse the original packaging |
| Freezing | Possible for dry and semi-hard goat cheeses |
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What You'll Learn
Storing goat cheese in the fridge
Goat cheese is a versatile and delicious ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to grilled cheese sandwiches. But how do you store it correctly to maintain its freshness, flavour, and texture? Here are some detailed instructions for storing goat cheese in the fridge:
Firstly, it is important to note that there are different types of goat cheese, such as fresh, ripened, and aged, and each type has slightly different storage requirements. Fresh goat cheese, also known as chevre, is soft, young, and moist, with a creamy to crumbly texture. Ripened or aged goat cheese, on the other hand, has a longer ripening period, resulting in a firmer texture and a stronger flavour.
For storing fresh goat cheese in the fridge, it is best to keep it in its original packaging, which is usually vacuum-sealed. This unopened cheese can be stored anywhere in your fridge for about two months or even longer. However, once the package is opened, the cheese should be resealed correctly and stored in a stable, humid environment like a vegetable crisper drawer. The vegetable drawer typically maintains a temperature between 8°C and 10°C, similar to a cave, which is ideal for cheese storage. The fridge's coldest part, usually the back and bottom shelves, should be avoided as they can affect the delicate flavour of goat cheese.
Aged or ripened goat cheese, once opened, should also be stored in the vegetable crisper drawer of your fridge. Depending on your taste preferences, you can place well-aged cheeses in the middle of your refrigerator, where the temperature is between 4°C and 6°C. If you want to stop the ripening process of fresh cheese, store it at the top of the refrigerator, where the temperature is between 0°C and 4°C. Proper wrapping and storage practices can extend the shelf life of your goat cheese to 2-3 weeks, keeping it hygienic and flavourful.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that some goat cheeses can be frozen, especially dry and semi-hard varieties. However, fresh and ripened goat cheeses are not suitable for freezing as their texture and flavour can be negatively affected during the thawing process. If you choose to freeze your goat cheese, ensure it is properly wrapped and placed in an airtight container, preferably made of glass, to prevent odour absorption. Frozen goat cheese should be consumed within two months.
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Freezing goat cheese
When you are ready to use the frozen goat cheese, take it out of the freezer and let it thaw. Goat cheese thaws quickly, and you can even cube or crumble it while it is still partially frozen. You can also grate frozen goat cheese, similar to how you would grate a hard cheese like Parmesan. However, note that not all recipes are suitable for using frozen goat cheese, as some dishes require the cheese to be soft, creamy, and spreadable.
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Goat cheese recipes
Goat cheese is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from breakfast to dinner to dessert. Here are some mouth-watering recipes to try:
Breakfast
- Chilaquiles Verdes: Replace queso fresco with a crumbly goat cheese like Bûcheron in this comforting breakfast dish.
- Grits: Chef Bobby Flay adds goat cheese to his grits for a tangy, creamy, corn-flecked side dish.
- Omelet: Top a classic omelet with goat cheese for a luxurious touch.
- Scrambled Eggs: Chef Daniel Patterson's boiling water method for super-creamy scrambled eggs includes a drizzle of olive oil, fresh rosemary, and a generous topping of goat cheese sauce.
- Deviled Eggs: For an upscale twist on a classic, stuff hard-boiled egg halves with a mixture of mango, goat cheese, and pecans.
Lunch/Dinner
- Salads: Goat cheese is a delicious addition to any salad. Try pairing it with grapefruit, watermelon, or stone fruit, or crumbling it over polenta cakes with caramelized onions and honey.
- Pasta: Goat cheese can be used in a variety of pasta dishes. Try it with sliced, sautéed eggplant, shallots, chives, dill, parsley, cherry tomatoes, and spinach, or in a creamy risotto with porcini mushrooms.
- Pizza: Top a pizza with tangy goat cheese, sharp Parmesan, tender sautéed eggplant, and bold pesto.
- Chicken Skillet: Smother chicken and Brussels sprouts with garlic and goat cheese for a flavorful one-pan meal.
- Sandwiches: Goat cheese is an excellent choice for grilled cheese sandwiches, especially when paired with honey, pistachio, and kale pesto.
Dessert
- Cheesecake: Adding goat cheese to a traditional cheesecake recipe gives it a savory twist. Serve it with fresh berries to balance the tanginess of the cheese.
- Plum Tart: Grilled ripe plums dressed with a balsamic reduction and tangy goat cheese make for an elegant and simple dessert.
- Custard: For a uniquely creamy and tangy dessert, blend vanilla custard with soft goat cheese and a touch of lemon juice.
- Strawberry Custards: For an easy dessert, blend goat cheese with macerated strawberries and pour the mixture into ramekins.
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Making goat cheese at home
To make goat cheese, you will need the following equipment: a non-reactive pot (such as cast iron or stainless steel), a thermometer, a colander or sieve, and cheesecloth. For the ingredients, you will need goat's milk (preferably full-fat and pasteurized), an acid (such as lemon juice or vinegar), and salt.
- Prepare your workspace by lining the colander with two to three layers of fine cheesecloth.
- Slowly heat the goat's milk in the pot over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it reaches a temperature of 185°F (85°C).
- Remove the pot from the heat and add the lemon juice. Stir briefly until combined.
- Add the vinegar and stir again until combined. Allow the mixture to sit for about 30 minutes.
- Slowly ladle the mixture into the cheesecloth-lined colander.
- Add salt to the mixture and stir lightly.
- Gather the ends of the cheesecloth and tie them with kitchen string. Hang the bundle from your faucet and allow it to drain for about an hour.
- Place the cheese on a cutting board and shape it as desired. You can roll it into a log or form it into a disk.
- If you want a softer or more spreadable cheese, you can add a small amount of heavy cream.
- You can also add herbs, spices, or nuts to your cheese for extra flavor and texture.
Your homemade goat cheese will last for about one to two weeks in the fridge, so it's best to use it within that time. Enjoy your homemade treat!
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Goat cheese types
Goat cheese, also known as chèvre, is made from goat's milk and has a naturally tangier and fresher taste than cow's milk. Goat's milk can be made into almost any kind of cheese. The flavour of goat's milk cheese has little to do with what goats eat, but rather what they smell just before they produce milk. Goat cheese can be firm, funky, crumbly, melty, or nutty.
There are three main categories of goat cheese: fresh, aged, and soft-ripened. Fresh goat cheese, the most popular type sold in the US, is soft, rindless, and spreadable. It is usually in the shape of a log and has a tangy, lemony, and milky flavour. Aged goat cheese, on the other hand, has a firmer texture, a more pronounced flavour, and can be grated. Finally, soft-ripened goat cheese ages for several weeks and has a natural or bloomy rind.
Goat cheese can be used in a variety of dishes, from savoury to sweet. It can be used in salads, such as a peach and apricot salad or a sweet corn salad with buttermilk dressing. It can also be used in place of mascarpone in a savoury plum tart or as a topping for burgers. Goat cheese can also be used in grilled cheese sandwiches or to finish a risotto.
Goat cheese can be made at home with just three ingredients: goat's milk, cheese salt (or kosher salt), and an acid such as lemon juice or vinegar. The milk is combined with heat and acid, and then drained through a cheesecloth. Salt is added to the drained cheese, and then it is formed into a desired shape, such as a log or disk. Herbs, spices, or nuts can also be added to the cheese for additional flavour.
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Frequently asked questions
Goat cheese will keep in the fridge, tightly sealed, for 2 to 3 weeks.
Store soft or semi-soft goat cheese in a resealable plastic container. For semi-hard cheeses, wrap in parchment or wax paper and then in foil or plastic wrap to prevent them from drying out. The vegetable drawer is the perfect location in the fridge to store goat cheese.
Yes, dry and semi-hard goat cheeses can withstand freezing and thawing. Fresh and ripened goat cheeses should not be frozen as their texture and flavour can be altered.
Wrap the goat cheese correctly before placing it in the fridge.
