You’ve gone to the cheese shop, made your selection and carried home your prized fromage varieties, paying top dollar for some of the most interesting selections to boot.
Before you go ahead and chuck it thoughtlessly into the fridge, know this: cheese contains live cultures that needs to be treated right. In the wrong environment, it could dry out or develop calcium lactate.
So why waste what you spent and store it wrongly? Take heed for these five fast tips to store your cheese fresher for longer.
SEE ALSO: How To Build A Better Charcuterie Board
Before you go ahead and chuck it thoughtlessly into the fridge, know this: cheese contains live cultures that needs to be treated right. In the wrong environment, it could dry out or develop calcium lactate.
So why waste what you spent and store it wrongly? Take heed for these five fast tips to store your cheese fresher for longer.
1 Buy in small quantities
Ever purchased a sizable chunk of cheese, placing it in the fridge and then forget about it until the day you decide to purge your space only to find that it’s gone off? Before even entertaining the logistics of cheese storage, avoid it in the first place. Buy in small quantities, ideally close to when you wish to consume. That would mean having to make more frequent trips than before but it could, in the long run save you cash from letting good cheese go to waste.
2 Shave it
Some supermarkets and grocers sell their cheese in shrink wrapped plastic. While it isn’t the optimum method of storage, it’s unavoidable. Once you’ve made your purchase though, open it, smell it and taste it. If it has the unmistakable tinge of plastic, shave it very very thinly and keep tasting the shavings until you’re absolutely sure the flavour of plastic is gone. For this reason, cheese experts advise against wrapping cheese in cling wrap unless you absolutely have to.
SEE ALSO: A 5-Step Guide To Buying Oysters
Ever purchased a sizable chunk of cheese, placing it in the fridge and then forget about it until the day you decide to purge your space only to find that it’s gone off? Before even entertaining the logistics of cheese storage, avoid it in the first place. Buy in small quantities, ideally close to when you wish to consume. That would mean having to make more frequent trips than before but it could, in the long run save you cash from letting good cheese go to waste.
2 Shave it
Some supermarkets and grocers sell their cheese in shrink wrapped plastic. While it isn’t the optimum method of storage, it’s unavoidable. Once you’ve made your purchase though, open it, smell it and taste it. If it has the unmistakable tinge of plastic, shave it very very thinly and keep tasting the shavings until you’re absolutely sure the flavour of plastic is gone. For this reason, cheese experts advise against wrapping cheese in cling wrap unless you absolutely have to.
3 Wrap in wax paper
Any reputable cheese deli should also carry cheese storage bags. But if that’s not available wax or parchment paper is just as good an idea. To do so, simply lay the cheese flat on the piece of paper and wrap it around in neat creases. The idea is to give the cheese some room to breathe while creating a protective environment and to prevent it from drying out. At any point these cheese is unwrapped for consumption, use a fresh piece of paper to wrap it again. Don’t forget to label it.
4 Keep it in a sealed container
Fridges are moist spaces, especially if the doors are constantly being opened. To avoid fluctuations of humidity from hitting your precious block of cheese, store your wrapped cheese in a sealed container, preferably made of glass. Unlike plastic, glass does not transfer smells. If you’re an avid cheese eater, also consider designating a large container in a corner of your fridge as a permanent cheese home.
5 Place it in the warmest part of the fridge
Cheese should be kept between the temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees celsius – any colder and the quality might degrade. The best part of the fridge to store it is in the vegetable drawer or a bottom shelf. Avid cheese eaters can also consider designating a large container in a corner of your fridge as a permanent cheese home.
Recommended reading: View more ingredients stories here
Any reputable cheese deli should also carry cheese storage bags. But if that’s not available wax or parchment paper is just as good an idea. To do so, simply lay the cheese flat on the piece of paper and wrap it around in neat creases. The idea is to give the cheese some room to breathe while creating a protective environment and to prevent it from drying out. At any point these cheese is unwrapped for consumption, use a fresh piece of paper to wrap it again. Don’t forget to label it.
4 Keep it in a sealed container
Fridges are moist spaces, especially if the doors are constantly being opened. To avoid fluctuations of humidity from hitting your precious block of cheese, store your wrapped cheese in a sealed container, preferably made of glass. Unlike plastic, glass does not transfer smells. If you’re an avid cheese eater, also consider designating a large container in a corner of your fridge as a permanent cheese home.
5 Place it in the warmest part of the fridge
Cheese should be kept between the temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees celsius – any colder and the quality might degrade. The best part of the fridge to store it is in the vegetable drawer or a bottom shelf. Avid cheese eaters can also consider designating a large container in a corner of your fridge as a permanent cheese home.
Recommended reading: View more ingredients stories here
