How should we store cheese?

Proper storage of cheese will ensure retention of taste and aroma acquired during the ripening period. Each type of cheese has its own properties and characteristics that give it a unique taste, so after buying cheese, it is up to us whether it will retain its taste. There are a few rules and factors that are worth paying attention to. Let’s not buy cheese for stock. In the moment of buying cheese, it is already worth considering when we plan to consume it. We should not buy cheese for stock. The purchased cheese is suitable for consumption and there is no need for it to keep maturing. Cheeses have their own specific expiration date and should not be stored for too long after opening. Of course, the shelf life after opening depends on the species. Sliced cheeses can be kept in the refrigerator for about 4 days, while cheeses in pieces for about 2 weeks. The shortest storage time of open packages is recommended for fresh cheeses, it is about 1-2 days. Temperature and storage When storing cheese, as well as during the ripening period, two factors have a significant impact – temperature and humidity. Cheese feels best at temperatures around 4° and 6°C. Of course, you can also adjust the conditions to the type of cheese. Fresh cheese should be stored in the coldest place of the refrigerator, this is usually at the very bottom. On the other hand, hard or semi-hard cheeses should be stored in a “warmer” place of the refrigerator – on the upper shelves. The other types can be stored on the middle shelves at a temperature of 6 to 8 °C. Storing soft cheese at too high temperatures may cause them to start to melt and fat may start to flow out of hard cheeses. When storing cheese in the refrigerator, we do not have much ability to regulate humidity, so in this case we should take care of proper packaging so that the air does not reach the products. For example, hard and semi-hard cheese is best stored wrapped in a slightly damp cotton cloth. Unlike blue cheese, which is best stored in their original packaging – most often wooden or cardboard boxes. There are many materials which we can safely pack our cheese in, such as aluminum foil, transparent foil, food oiling paper and vacuum packaging. Place in the refrigerator When packing cheese, it should be remembered that each cheese should be packed separately. This will prevent the mixing of flavors and aromas. In addition, when placing cheese in the refrigerator, it is best to place it away from other, aromatic products. Cheese should not come into contact with unwashed vegetables, as this may lead to its contamination. Is it possible to freeze cheese? When freezing cheese, we have to reckon with the fact that it will lose some of its taste, plastic and aromatic qualities. It is not recommended to freeze cheese in slices, if we want to freeze our cheese, it is best to choose cheese in one piece. It is important that before putting the product in the freezer, carefully pack it so that it does not come into contact with other products and does not soak them up with the smell. Hard cheese can be stored in the freezer for up to 3-4 months, while semi-skimmed cheese can be stored for about 2 weeks. How to prolong the freshness of cheese? When buying large amounts of cheese, it is good to choose cheese in pieces, because it will not dry out too quickly. It is also worth taking care of the appropriate packaging of the product. There are a few tricks that allow you to prolong the freshness of the cheese, for example by adding a little salt or sugar to the cheese container so that they absorb moisture. However, it is best to not buy cheese for stock to fully enjoy its taste and aroma. Before consuming Cheese should be removed from the refrigerator for a certain period of time before the planned consumption. Hard and semi-hard cheese – up to an hour and blue cheese about 30 minutes before consumption. Cheese achieves the best taste qualities at room temperature.