Many people do not realise they are storing cheese wrong as the popular dairy product is incredibly delicate and can quickly spoil if not kept in the right conditions
Cheese lovers, take note. It’s often at the top of our shopping lists, but many of us are guilty of letting our beloved cheese spoil before its time. The culprit? Improper storage.
Cheese is particularly sensitive due to its high moisture content, and leaving it exposed to air can result in a tough, crusty layer that’s a nightmare to slice through. But there’s more to it than just keeping it away from air; wrapping cheese too snugly can create a humid haven for bacteria, leading to unwanted mould. Fear not, though, as an expert from Yarra Valley Cheese has spilled the beans on how to keep your cheese in tip-top shape.
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They advise: “Don’t use cling wrap. This makes cheese sweat. Don’t wrap the cheese back up in the paper or wrap it came in. It needs a fresh, clean environment so as not to deteriorate.”
It’s crucial for cheese to breathe if you want to maintain its texture and flavour, which is why plastic is a big no-no. Plastic traps moisture and restricts airflow, turning your cheese into a slimy, rubbery mess or worse, a breeding ground for mould.
Finding the perfect balance for storing cheese might seem like a quest for the Holy Grail – too much air dries it out, while too little encourages bacterial growth and mould. But actually, the solution is beautifully simple: just wrap your cheese in baking paper.
The cheese connoisseur suggested: “Most cheese should be wrapped in baking paper or waxed cheese paper (if you can locate it) inside a sealed plastic container lined with dampened paper towel or cloth to control humidity and stop the cheeses from drying out.”
The technique of using baking paper gives cheese the perfect balance of airflow without retaining too much moisture, thus extending its freshness way beyond what the original packaging could offer.
For those firmer or harder cheeses, snugly wrapping them in baking paper is key to preventing them from becoming dry; double wrapping is an option for added safeguarding.
When it comes to blue cheeses, they too need to be bundled up firmly, reports the Express. However, soft or washed rind varieties require a looser wrap in baking paper.
Once your cheeses are neatly packaged, stow them in a lidded container to avoid any unwelcome odours from other fridge fares.
Marinated cheeses like mozzarella and creamy delights like brie should remain in their original brine or oil packaging for optimal storage.
Though, remember to place any of these soft or marinated cheeses at the back or on the bottom shelf of the fridge, where it’s coldest.
Given their high moisture content, soft cheeses are prone to spoiling quicker, so keeping them chilled is essential for maintaining that delightful freshness.
