If you want to keep your cheese in top condition you need to learn how to store it properly. Not only will this prevent spoiling it can also help to keep cheese from drying out and becoming less appetizing. Ideally you will be purchasing only as much cheese as you can use in a short period of time but this is not always practical.
Cheese should be kept cool whenever possible. It will stay good for much longer if it is kept in a refrigerator or freezer but you still need to ensure that it is properly packaged so that it will not go bad. Different cheeses can be kept for different lengths of time before they will spoil. For example, a harder cheese such as Cheddar cheese will last between two and three weeks in a refrigerator and six to ten months if sealed and stored in a freezer. Swiss cheeses will also last between two and three weeks in a refrigerator but will usually only be good for six to eight months in a refrigerator. Soft cheeses have a much shorter lifespan. If sealed and stored in a refrigerator, they will only stay good for five to seven days and will only keep for four to six months if frozen in a sealed container.
You want to make sure that the cheese does not come into contact with air. Air can cause the cheese to dry out as well as allow it to spoil. If you have a piece of cheese that you will not be using for a few days it is important that you leave it sealed in its original packaging. If it has been taken out of its original packaging it is important to wrap it properly so that it will stay good for as long as possible.
Hard cheese or semi-hard cheese such as Cheddar cheese or Mozzarella cheese should be wrapped in a layer of waxed paper that is folded around the cheese. This is then wrapped in a layer of plastic wrap. It can be stored in the fridge or in the freezer this way.
If you are dealing with a softer cheese such as one that has a washed rind or which has been soft-ripened they can have quite a bit of humidity in them. Because of this, you want to make sure that it is packaged in a way that will not allow excess moisture to build up. A cheese like this should be wrapped carefully in plastic wrap so that the delicate texture is not damaged or destroyed. It should then be placed in a plastic container that has paper towel in it. This will make sure that any moisture that comes out of the cheese is absorbed and will not allow the cheese to spoil. You want to make sure that air can circulate so softer cheeses should be placed in an aerated plastic container.
A veined blue cheese also needs to be wrapped carefully. Although many people package them in plastic wrap this can alter the taste of the cheese. A better choice for wrapping material is aluminum foil since this will not affect the flavor. These cheeses need to breathe so even though they need to be stored in the fridge they do need to breathe every few days and should be allowed to sit in the fridge unwrapped for short periods of time.
By storing cheese properly you will notice that the taste and texture remain as wonderful as they were when they were first purchased.
-Written by Lisa Longworth
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