If you have ever removed a pack of cheese from the fridge only to realise it’s become hard and/or changed colour, then chances are that you haven’t stored it properly. In this article, I am going to walk you through the different ways you can store cheese so that it remains looking and tasting fresh for a long time!
Cheese is one of those ingredients you’ll find in most homes. It is the secret to instantly alleviate a boring dish and make everything insanely better. Right from cheese pav bhaji to a cheesy, garlicky kulcha or even momos and soups, you simply cannot go wrong with adding a bit of cheese.
But one question that I often get asked is, “How to store cheese” in order to keep it fresh for longer? The thing is, if cheese is not stored correctly, there is a very high chance that it will harden, develop a weird texture and smell, and in some cases even grow mould. Imagine taking out a pack of cheese from the refrigerator only to notice that it’s gone bad - heartbreaking, right? But don’t worry because that’s exactly what we are going to discuss in this article. Scroll down to find out how to store cheese the right way to make it last much longer.
Here’s how to store cheese the right way
- Remove it from the plastic: If the cheese you’ve bought comes in plastic packaging, then it is best to remove it immediately. This is because cheese is a living thing that breathes, sweats and ages just like any other living thing. A cheese wrapped in plastic feels suffocated, which can alter the taste and lead to the growth of harmful bacteria making it unsafe for consumption.
- Wrap it in parchment paper: Cheese bags or cheese paper are ideal to store cheese in. They have a thin layer of wax to keep the cheese from drying out. But they can be a bit pricey. Parchment paper, however, is half the price and does the job well! It has a similar layer of wax on top that does essentially the same thing as cheese paper and is perfect for storing cheese.
Note: If you have a large quantity of cheese and plan to store it longer, then I would really recommend changing the parchment paper wrapping every few days to prevent contamination.
- Store in the crisper box: If your fridge has a crisper box, then it’s best to store the cheese in there. The cold and stable temperature of the crisper box helps the cheese maintain its textural integrity, thereby making sure it stays fresh for much longer.
- Buy smaller quantities: The rule of thumb when it comes to cheese is to buy it in smaller amounts. This way, you can easily consume it within a few days and there’s a lesser hassle of wondering how to store it. Not only does fresh cheese always taste a lot better, but a smaller quantity means a lesser chance of forgetting about that cheese being in your fridge.
Wrapping The Cheese
The way you wrap cheese also affects its shelf life. Wrapping cheese in parchment paper is very similar to wrapping a gift. It should be tight and neat, but not crumpled and/or suffocating. Make sure all the ends are neatly tucked in and that there is no part of the cheese exposed to prevent it from drying out. Here’s a video tutorial on how to wrap cheese correctly that might come in helpful.
Some More Things To Keep In Mind When Storing Cheese
- Rewrap the cheese in a fresh piece of parchment paper after each use.
- You can even place the wrapped cheese in an airtight glass container for extra food safety. Glass container is a lot safer as compared to plastic as it doesn’t transfer smells from other foods in the fridge, thereby keeping it fresher for much longer.
- Don’t wrap the cheese too tightly in parchment paper as that can suffocate the cheese.
- Always label the cheese container/wrapper with the type and date at which you opened the packaging to help you finish it off in time without the risk of it going bad.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, absolutely! Cheese is best frozen in its original packaging, so if you have an opened block of cheese, simply stick it into the refrigerator as is and you should be good.
But if you want to store leftover cheese, then here’s how - remove the cheese from its original packaging and wrap it in wax or parchment paper as shown in the video above. Transfer the wrapped cheese into a clean and dry, airtight glass container and put it into the freezer. Frozen cheese should stay good in the freezer for about 3 to 4 weeks.
Again something that depends on the type of cheese in question. But as a general rule, hard cheeses like cheddar, aged gouda etc. can be stored for much longer in the fridge. But soft cheeses like cottage cheese, mozzarella, processed cheese, feta, etc. do not last as long and need to be consumed quickly.
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