Especially in the warmer months, it’s especially important that we use the proper methods for storing cheese. This will keep it in the nest condition so that you can enjoy it for longer! Storing cheese well helps it to keep its flavor and texture.

Storing Cheese: Temperature

All cheese should be stored at a cold, stable temperature. Some refrigerators have a designated cheese drawer, so if you have one of these then definitely take advantage of it. Otherwise, the vegetable crisper is a good place to keep cheese as it won’t be so affected by the changing temperatures in the rest of the fridge.

However, most cheeses should be served at room temperature. Served straight from the fridge, they can taste bland and have a disappointing texture. Allowing them to come to room temperature also allows the aroma of the cheese to be released, which is an essential part of the whole eating experience. Try to remove cheeses that you want to serve from the refrigerator at least an hour before serving. For cheeses like brie, allow a couple of hours for them to reach their gooey best. Fresh mozzarella can even benefit from sitting in a little bit of of warmed, salted milk before serving to unleash its creaminess.

Storing Cheese: Wrapping

Unfortunately, keeping cheese in plastic wrapping can make it go off quickly. The plastic can also impart a taste to the cheese in as little time as one day!

The best wrapping for storing cheese is cheese paper, which is slightly breathable but will keep the cheese in excellent condition. You can also buy dedicated cheese bags. Wrapping your cheese will prevent any other foods in the fridge from changing the flavor and stop any cheese odors from affecting the rest of your groceries.

For fresh cheeses that might come in water, such as mozzarella or feta, we recommend keeping them in their original packaging. However, you might want to change their water periodically to keep them super fresh.

Storing cheese: Freezing

Did you know that you can freeze cheese? Hard, aged cheeses will freeze best as it will not affect their texture too much.

Any cheese that you wish to freeze will need to be fully sealed in airtight bags or containers to keep it at its best.

If your cheese does go through a change in texture after defrosting then you can cook with it, rather than serving it as blocks on your cheeseboard.

You can also grate cheese before freezing it. Label everything and use it within three months.

Storing Cheese: On the Move

If you want to take cheese with you out and about, perhaps to a picnic or to work for lunch, then consider purchasing a small cool bag to keep the cheese as fresh as possible. Try to only take along the amount of cheese that will be eaten, to avoid food waste.

 

We hope that these tips for storing cheese will be helpful. Do you have any top tips? Let us know in the comments below!