Cheese is delicious, and if you spend a little money on a nice piece of specialty cheese, you want it to stay fresh and tasty as long as possible. Ditch the plastic wrap or bags the folks at Food52 have a better way to store your cheese so you can continue to enjoy it.
Plastic wrap doesn’t give your cheese the opportunity to breathe, sweat or gently age the way it needs to. It may keep moisture out, but it also stops oxygen from getting in, leading to an ammonia-like flavour. Instead, reach for parchment paper or baking paper.
The wrapping method depends on the size and cut of cheese you’re using — if you have a wedge of cheese, they suggest wrapping first around the back of the wedge, pressing the parchment paper against the back and the sides first, then folding the paper around the narrow end like a cone. Pull that cone end up and over the back of the thick end, and tape the final flap down. Repeat the process for any semi-soft cheese, even if it’s a rectangle or bar — you just need to leave yourself enough paper to do it right.
The piece goes on to explain how to properly wrap hard cheeses (same process, just store in a ziploc bag), bleu cheese (same process, but add an extra layer of airtight plastic to keep odour under control), and semi-soft cheeses (there’s debate, but you might be able to use plastic in this case). When you put your cheese in the fridge, place it in a crisper or dedicated segment where the temperature and humidity is more consistent. When you’re ready, unwrap, enjoy, and use fresh paper to re-wrap.
Hit the link below for more photos of each method.
How to Store Cheese [Food52]
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