How to Keep Cheese Fresh Longer

Cheese can go waste within a few days of its purchase, if it is not stored properly. While the hard varieties of cheese, like Cheddar and Swiss, can last for about 30 days in the refrigerator, the softer varieties of the dairy product tend to become moldy within a week only. However, whether it is hard or semi-soft, mildly acidic or sharp, you need to store cheese at optimum temperature and in the right location, using the right method. Go through the following lines and get complete instructions on know how to keep cheese fresh longer.

Keeping Cheese Fresh For A Long Time

Temperature is a decisive factor, when it comes to the shelf life of cheese. The optimum temperature required for maintaining the freshness of cheese is 35-45 degrees F. Hence, the best suited location for storing the cheese is refrigerator.
Do not freeze the cheese, because too low temperature can affect the growth of the enzymes present in it and can alter its texture as well as taste. Rather, you should store it in a warm part of the fridge, say, the vegetable tray.
Avoid storing cheese in the compartments present in the door of the refrigerator, because temperature fluctuations in the area (because of the opening and closing of the door) can affect its life.
Apart from the location, the way cheese is wrapped also decides its freshness. Most of the hard varieties of cheese decay fast, when they are wrapped in plastic wraps. Hence, the best suitable options for preserving hard cheese are aluminum foil and parchment paper. Semi-soft cheese, like Brie, can also be wrapped in parchment paper.
The best way to preserve the freshness of soft and fresh Feta cheese is to use plastic container for its storage.
The dry varieties of cheese, including Parmesan and Asiago, can be stored in plastic or food bags, provided you allow the circulation of air inside them. However, in order to keep the cheese fresh longer, you should change the wrapping sheet on a regular basis.
The hard Blue cheese is characterized by its strong aroma. To prevent its odor from mingling with that of other food items stored in the refrigerator, double-wrap the cheese with a plastic wrap and then store it in an air-tight container.
An effective way to keep the cheese fresh for a long time is to remove its outer wrapping completely, the moment you bring it home from the market. After removing the cover, wrap the cheese in a paper towel and then place it in a zip-lock bag, to store it in the refrigerator. Be sure to seal the bag tightly. You may also replace the plastic wrap with a wax paper.
After getting cheese from the market, remove its wrapping (mostly plastic) as soon as possible. Now, take a clean cloth and soak it in vinegar. Wrap the cheese in the vinegar-soaked cloth, put it in a sealed container and store it in the refrigerator.

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