Have you ever wondered how Spanish restaurants and wineries serve great-quality charcuterie boards even though they stock lots of cheeses? It’s mostly because they know how to store cheese properly. Additionally, restaurants usually have huge storage spaces appropriate for different types of food.

Meanwhile, whether you’re planning to have a party or would like to try making your own charcuterie board, it’s possible to have a lot of leftovers. So before you start shipping for cheese, you should know the right way to store them.

Besides, cheese is not cheap, so you shouldn’t waste it. And if stored properly, you can still use it for a few more weeks.

If you’re looking for some cheese storage tips, you should check the list below!

1. Put in a plastic wrap

Plastic wrap is the go-to cheese storage fix for most homes. However, plastic wrap won’t guarantee prolonging the shelf life of all kinds of cheese.

When it comes to soft cheese, it’s recommended to wrap it first in cheese paper or parchment paper before wrapping it in plastic. Additionally, you should change the parchment or cheese paper every time you unwarp the cheese. Also, ensure that there’s no opening because soft cheese can easily get mouldy when exposed to air.

On the other hand, hard cheese (like parmesan) doesn’t need to be stored as airtight as soft cheese. You can use plastic wrap but wrap it a bit loosely.

2. Store in a cool, dry place (like a vegetable crisper)

The ideal storage temperature for cheese is the vegetable crisper in your fridge. It’s not too hot yet not too cold. It’s just right to keep the quality of your cheese. Moreover, some cheese still develops flavour as they age, so if you’re going to freeze the cheese, you might halt the process.

Meanwhile, if you’re going to put the cheese in the vegetable crisper without any wrap or container, it may absorb the flavours of other items around it and the moisture, which can cause in creating mould.

Do you want to take extra precautions? You can put the cheese in a food storage box first before putting it in the vegetable crisper. That way even if the vegetables are these, there’s a low probability that they’ll absorb the taste and smell of the veggies.

3. Avoid using a contaminated knife when cutting

When preparing meals, it’s important to use different utensils depending on the food. As you may know, one of the most important food safety reminders is using different knives and chopping boards when cutting food.

For instance, if you’re going to cut vegetables, use a designated knife and chopping board. Meanwhile, if you’re going to cut chicken, you should also use separate tools.

As for cutting or grating cheese, use clean ones to avoid transferring other unwanted substances from other ingredients. It’s best if you certain tools for cheese only. To avoid getting confused about whether you’ve already used it for other stuff.

Similarly, you should use a clean plate or directly put the cheese on the cheese board so that it won’t pick up the smell of other ingredients you’re preparing.

4. Shred and store in the freezer

When storing cheddar and other hard cheese, you can shred them, put them in a resealable plastic bag, and store them in the freezer. While shredding the cheese, you can add a bit of cornstarch in a bowl to prevent sticking. Of course, avoid using wet tools when preparing.

When you’re going to use the cheese, take it out of the freezer, and get the amount you’ll use. After that, you can store it again in the freezer.

5. Don’t touch with bare hands.

Even if you’re too busy in the kitchen, avoid using your bare hands when dealing with cheese. It encourages mould. So even if you store the cheese properly, it’s still possible to have moulds. Instead, use disposable gloves or clean plastic when touching them.

Sure, you may argue that you can wash your hands thoroughly, but plastics are more recommended. Besides, even if you don’t notice, your hands tend to be moist, which can contaminate the cheese.

Final thoughts

When you store cheese the right way, you can still use it for up to a few months, which can save you more money. Moreover, you can have the cheese you like anytime you want, and you don’t have to go to the grocery store to buy them whenever you’re craving wine and cheese.

Sure, you can easily visit Spanish restaurants whenever you like wine and charcuterie board, but it’s a lot cheaper if you can make your own in the comfort of your home.

We hope this article helps you find the answer about the best way to prolong the shelf life of different cheeses. Let us know if you have more cheese storage ideas by leaving a comment below!