What Is The Best Way To Store Cheese?

Despite your best efforts, chances are that you will have some cheese leftover from your initial purchase. Whether you are looking to store the leftover cheese or store the entire thing before you ever take a bite, it is important to know the right methods. When you store cheese correctly, you will preserve the texture and flavor so despite eating it a few days later, it still tastes fresh.

Wrapping Material

The first thing to consider is what you will be wrapping the cheese in. Plastic is the most common option, but should almost never be used. Cheese, particularly softer cheese, needs to breathe in order to maintain its texture. Therefore you should opt for cheese paper, parchment paper, or even wax paper. No matter the type of cheese, wrap it in one of these materials.

How To Wrap

The process of wrapping up the cheese is actually fairly simple. Simply place the cheese, parchment, or wax paper flat on top of your counter, putting the cheese wedge on top of it. Fold up the edges, one at a time, ensuring that you make neat creases. Secure the wrapping with a bit of tape and be sure to label the cheese with the type and date so you can keep track of its age.

Changing Brine

If you have a fresh cheese, chances are that it is stored in some brine. The good news is that you don’t need to change this brine daily, like some people suggest. Instead, simply change it if it starts to smell or look off, or is contaminated. Simply dump the brine and throw in a few cups water with a tablespoon salt dissolved in it. Keep in mind that the cheese will absorb some of the salt, so you may want to reduce the amount.

Temperature

Hard cheeses can be out of the refrigerator for a few days, but with that exception, you should always store your cheese in a nice, cold environment. You want them to be in an environment that is 35 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit, and that means that the ideal location in your fridge is the vegetable drawer, or if you don’t have one, opt for the bottom shelf.

Based On Cheese Type

Although all cheeses should be wrapped up in cheese paper before placing them in the fridge, there are some differences in terms of the best storage method for various types. After wrapping up hard cheese, for example, you can put it inside a sealed plastic container or bag, as losing moisture isn’t as crucial. You may want to do the same with blue cheese, but don’t seal the bag, to prevent the odor from spreading around your fridge. If a fresh cheese was originally packaged in brine, leave it in the original container and simply change the brine as needed.