The amount of time and ways that you can store cheese depends on the type. Follow these tips to keep your cheese safe and fresh!
Packaging
It’s best to remove newly purchased cheese from its plastic covering and re-wrap in cheese paper so it maintains its moisture and does not dry out or turn moldy. No cheese paper? No worries! Clinging wrap, parchment paper or wax paper will work too.
Hard cheese, like Cheddar, gouda, Edam and Swiss, should be tightly wrapped and placed in a sealable, zip-style bag, which allows the cheese to breathe.
If you have a softer cheese like brie, Camembert or a blue cheese, you should store it in a clean, airtight container after wrapping.
Remember to date and label your cheese as well.
Storage
All cheeses should be stored in the vegetable drawer, where the temperature is cold and stable (35-40°F). Cheese absorbs other flavors so be careful what you store it with.
It’s generally best not to freeze cheeses, because it often changes their texture and flavor profile. If you already have some cheese hiding in the back of your freezer, don’t panic! Simply allow the frozen cheese to thaw slowly in the refrigerator and use it in your cooking.
Hard cheese, like Cheddar, Gouda, Edam and Swiss, can last for 3-4 weeks tightly wrapped in the refrigerator after opening. If your harder cheeses start to grow mold, cut off about ½ to 1 inch below the mold line and continue to enjoy the cheese!
The softer the cheese, the shorter the shelf life — cream cheese can last for up to two weeks, while ricotta and cottage cheese last only one week. If your softer cheeses develop mold or are past their expiration date, they should be thrown away.
Presentation
A great way to serve a variety of cheese is to create a cheese board and pair with your favorite beverage and snacks.
Most hard and semi-hard cheeses are best enjoyed around room temperature (67-70°F) so it’s a good idea to take cheese out of the refrigerator around 30 minutes before serving – but don’t leave cheese unrefrigerated for more than 2 hours.
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