Keep cheese fresh and flavourful for longer with 1 common household item
Cheese is a sensitive food item and can easily spoil in the fridge, but there is a simple way to store it so it stays fresh and flavourful for longer
Autumn marks the season when numerous party foods start appearing on supermarket shelves, and many folk relish treating themselves to some posh cheeses to create a charcuterie board or incorporate into pasta dishes.
Nevertheless, even ordinary cheeses can prove quite costly, and there's nothing more frustrating than splashing out considerable cash on cheese only to watch it go off within days.
Cheese is particularly tricky to preserve in the fridge as it's extremely susceptible to humidity levels—insufficient moisture will cause it to dry out and turn stale, while excessive dampness can promote mould growth.
Nevertheless, one specialist from Over the Moon Dairy has revealed a straightforward technique to store cheese perfectly, ensuring it stays fresh and flavoursome—requiring nothing more than some baking paper.
They explained: "The goal is to let the cheese breathe while keeping it from drying out, so your best bet is to wrap it in a finely porous material, such as cheese paper or baking paper, or breathable plastic wrap made especially for cheese."
If you search how to store cheese, then many experts will recommend spending money on wax paper or speciality wraps, but this can be counterproductive if you are trying to save money.
Baking paper works brilliantly as it's a breathable substance that permits some air circulation around the cheese, preventing moisture accumulation on the surface, which might attract harmful bacteria and mould spores.
Yet it simultaneously functions as a protective layer, retaining sufficient moisture to stop the cheese from becoming hard, preventing it from turning stale or developing a crusty texture. It's a brilliant way to make cheese last ages without spending a penny, so you can stock up on your favourite varieties without fretting about them going off.
How to use baking paper to keep cheese fresh for longer
Simply wrap your cheese loosely in baking paper, then pop it in a food storage container with a lid. The expert explained: "The baking paper helps keep the cheese from drying out, while the loose coating of plastic (or box) holds in some moisture, allowing airflow in and around the cheese."
Next, store the container in your fridge's bottom drawer. It's designed to maintain a more consistent temperature and humidity than the main compartment, which helps preserve cheese freshness.
Remember to swap the wrapping every few days or at least weekly to stop bacteria building up, and your cheese should keep for far longer than usual.
Hard cheeses will stay good for a month or more, whilst semi-firm varieties will remain fresh for two to three weeks. Softer cheeses like mozzarella are meant to be consumed within days, so it's not advisable to store them for extended periods.