What Is The Best Way To Wrap Cheese For Storage?

There are many of us that are true cheese-aholics. For this reason it can be very sad to get a lovely variety you enjoyed last week back out of the fridge only to find that it is all hard and nearly inedible. Most of us don’t mind a little mold and know that slicing this off can rejuvenate a Cheddar or Mozzarella allowing us to still enjoy its delicious flavor.

In regards to storing your cheeses it’s best to consider what kind (is it Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella etc.) and what form (shredded, brick, cheese curds). Knowing these facts can help you determine how best to store your cheese. For instance shredded can mold very quickly and this is simply because of the large area that is exposed to air. In addition, it is obviously not possible for you to cut the mold off of your shredded cheese. For this reason it’s best to store shredded of any variety in airtight containers and vital that it’s used as quickly as possible.

High-End Cheeses

A lot of people make the mistake of getting a really good, artisan cheese and then bringing it home and sticking it in the fridge in plastic wrap. This isn't the best way to keep the most delicious cheeses. If you’re getting a quality Brie or Gouda then you want to keep it at its best for as long as you can. Remember that cheese tends to be porous and for this reason can soak up flavors from your fridge that you don’t want it to have. Your best way to store it is to use cheese cloth or cheese paper. If you can’t easily find this then wax or parchment paper will work. It’s a good idea to mark the outside of the paper with the name of the cheese and the date. Once you have wrapped it then store it in an airtight container, preferably glass but plastic will work.

Brick Cheeses Such As Cheddar Or Mozzarella

With these cheeses it’s best to keep as much of the original wrapping as possible and then store in a storage bag or airtight container. You’ll want to use it up within a couple of weeks or so and keep an eye out for molding or hardening. If you’re storing a more porous cheese as in Swiss, then it’s a good idea to wrap in foil and then store in an airtight container.  All of these cheeses can be placed in the freezer and stored for a few months as well. You might get a cheese that is a little more crumbly and mealy but it will work well in cooked dishes.