Kamil Perry
Plastic wrap is a common way to package cheese, but it may not be the best method for preserving its quality. While plastic wrap can make cheese look more appealing on store shelves, it can negatively impact its taste and texture over time. This is because cheese needs to breathe, and plastic wrap can restrict airflow, leading to stale-tasting cheese with a poor mould. To maintain freshness and flavour, experts recommend storing cheese using alternative materials such as wax paper, parchment paper, or specialised cheese paper, which allow the cheese to breathe while preventing excessive drying.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese wrapped in plastic by grocers | For display purposes |
| Plastic wrap for cheese | Can cause it to spoil faster |
| Cheese wrapped in plastic at home | Can encourage microbial growth |
| Cheese wrapped in paper | Can be stored for a couple of days |
| Cheese wrapped in wax paper | Can be stored for a couple of days |
| Cheese wrapped in parchment paper | Can be stored for a couple of days |
| Cheese wrapped in butcher paper | Can be stored for a couple of days |
| Cheese wrapped in cheese paper | Can be stored for a couple of days |
| Cheese wrapped in plastic | Can cause it to taste stale and ruin its texture |
| Cheese wrapped in plastic | Can cause it to taste like plastic |
| Cheese wrapped in plain paper | Can cause it to dry out |
| Cheese wrapped in wax or parchment paper | Can prevent additional moisture |
| Cheese wrapped in plastic | Can cause it to become wet, mouldy and wasted |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic wrap can cause cheese to spoil faster
John Montez, a certified cheese professional and the education lead at New York's Murray's Cheese, explains that there are a lot of active microorganisms in cheese, and it is important to keep them alive until the cheese is eaten. He recommends wrapping cheese in paper, which allows the cheese to breathe while also protecting it from the cold air in the refrigerator, which can cause it to dry out.
Montez suggests that if you are storing cheese for a couple of days, it may not even need refrigeration. He recommends Formaticum cheese storage bags and wrapping paper, which are designed to keep the outside of the cheese from drying out while allowing it to breathe. Wax paper is also a good option for cheese storage, as it lets moisture leave while sealing the cheese from the outside environment.
Overall, while plastic wrap may be convenient, it is not ideal for storing cheese as it can cause it to spoil faster by limiting airflow and trapping moisture. Alternative wrapping options, such as paper or beeswax wraps, can help keep cheese fresh for longer.
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Plastic wrap can negatively impact the texture of cheese
Plastic wrap can suffocate cheese, leading to wet, mouldy, wasted cheese. It can also cause the cheese to take on a plastic taste. Plastic wrap can also negatively impact the texture of cheese by trapping moisture close to the surface and limiting airflow. This can cause the cheese to spoil and mould quickly.
To keep cheese tasting fresh, it is important to store it correctly. Cheese needs to breathe, so it should be wrapped loosely, and in a material that allows airflow. Plastic wrap should be avoided, and instead, cheese should be wrapped in paper. Wax paper, parchment paper, and butcher paper are all good options for wrapping cheese. These papers allow the cheese to breathe, while also preventing it from drying out.
It is also important to note that the way cheese is cut can impact its longevity and texture. Precise cuts that leave flat surfaces make it easier to wrap the cheese effectively and minimise surface area exposed to air, which can prevent the cheese from drying out or getting mouldy. Keeping the cheese whole for as long as possible can also help to prolong its life.
Overall, plastic wrap can negatively impact the texture of cheese by limiting airflow and trapping moisture. To keep cheese tasting and feeling its best, it is important to store it in a material that allows it to breathe, such as wax paper or parchment paper.
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Cheese should be stored in a way that inhibits unwanted microbial growth
Cheese is a preserved product, high in acid and salt, with a lot of water removed compared to milk. So, it's rare that you would ever have to throw a piece of cheese away. However, the way cheese is stored will have the biggest impact on its longevity.
To keep cheese tasting as good as the day you bought it, avoid plastic wrap or storage bags. These methods can starve cheese of the air it needs, leaving it tasting stale and ruining its texture. Plastic wrap suffocates cheese, leading to wet, mouldy, wasted cheese. Cheese needs to breathe. Instead, opt for parchment paper or wax paper, which will allow the cheese to breathe and prevent additional moisture. You can also use cheese paper, although it is much more expensive. Wrapping cheese in plastic can encourage mould and limit airflow, so it is best to avoid it.
Minimising the surface area exposed to air will prevent cheese from drying out or getting mouldy. Keeping the cheese whole for as long as possible is helpful for its longevity. Precise cuts that leave flat surfaces make it easier to wrap cheese so it doesn't spoil.
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Cheese should be wrapped in a way that minimises its surface area
Cheese should be stored in a way that minimises its surface area to prevent it from drying out or getting mouldy. While plastic wrap may seem like the default option, it is not the best choice for storing cheese. Plastic wrap can suffocate the cheese, leading to wet, mouldy, wasted cheese. Plastic wrap can also cause the cheese to take on a plastic taste.
Instead, opt for paper that allows the cheese to breathe and prevents additional moisture. Paper options include wax paper, parchment paper, butcher paper, or cheese paper. Wax paper is probably the best option for cheese storage. However, good cheese should be consumed within a couple of days, so the type of paper used is not as important as ensuring the cheese is eaten while it is fresh.
To further minimise the surface area of the cheese, it is best to keep the cheese whole for as long as possible. Resist the urge to cut up a whole chunk of cheese and instead cut as you go. Precise cuts that leave flat surfaces make it easier to wrap the cheese and prevent it from spoiling.
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Wax paper is a good alternative to plastic wrap
Plastic wrap is commonly used to store cheese, but it is not ideal. Plastic wrap can limit the exposure of cheese to air, causing it to turn stale and ruining its texture. Plastic wrap is also not environmentally friendly as it often ends up in landfills and releases harmful toxins during its manufacture, use, and disposal.
Beeswax wraps are another natural alternative to plastic wrap. They are made by infusing organic cotton with beeswax and can be purchased or made at home. Beeswax wraps are reusable, plastic-free, and keep food fresh.
Other alternatives to plastic wrap include silicone, cloth, and glass jars. Silicone bowl covers are perfect for covering containers of various sizes, while cloth wraps are washable and reusable and can be used as napkins or tablecloths when not used for storage. Glass jars are durable, washable, reusable, and recyclable.
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Frequently asked questions
Plastic wrap can starve cheese of the air it needs to breathe, leaving it tasting stale and ruining its texture.
Cheese paper, wax paper, parchment paper, and butcher paper are all good alternatives to plastic wrap for storing cheese.
These alternatives allow the cheese to breathe while preventing it from drying out.
Keeping the cheese whole for as long as possible helps with its longevity. Minimizing the surface area exposed to air will prevent cheese from drying out or getting moldy.
