HomeFirst of all, you need to remember an important rule that will help you store cheese.
This product must "breathe".
And therefore, in no case do not wrap it in cling film, foil or plastic.
So you can keep hard cheese fresh for much longer.
At the same time, because of the plastic, this product gets an unpleasant "chemical" taste.
However, there is an exception: you can safely leave the original plastic packaging.
How to store cheese in the refrigerator?
Reusable beeswax wraps or waxed cheese paper are the best options.
But various products in brine, such as feta or mozzarella, are best left in their original packaging together with the brine.
The cheese reaches the table no earlier than an hour before serving.
Avoid sudden changes in humidity and temperature.
Therefore, always wrap the cheese properly and store it in special cheese boxes or containers on the bottom shelf of the refrigerator or in the door.
How long can you keep cheese in the refrigerator?
Different types of cheese can be stored in the refrigerator in different ways:
fresh cheese (mozzarella, goat, ricotta) must be consumed as soon as possible - within three days;
semi-hard cheeses such as Gouda or Cheddar can be stored a little longer - up to two weeks if properly packaged;
any hard cheeses are stored for up to three weeks (with proper packaging);
cheeses with mold - if they are well packed, then two weeks;
cheeses with mold in the crust (camembert, brie) can be stored for a week and a half with wrapping.
Many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to store hard cheese in the freezer.
The answer is unequivocal - no.
After freezing, the taste of the product is dulled, and its texture becomes more grainy.
Is it possible to consume hard cheese on which mold has already appeared
If the mold does appear on the hard cheese, it can be eaten, just cut about three inches below and around the mold.
According to experts, the fungus cannot penetrate too deeply into the product.
But soft cheeses with mold can no longer be eaten.
This applies to chevre, white cheese, cream cheese.
They can be charged deep below the surface.
This rule also applies to those hard cheeses that crumble a lot.
At the same time, it is better not to throw away unspoiled but old cheeses.
They can be used during the preparation of various dishes.
For example, rub on pasta or in a casserole.
Is it possible to store hard cheese without a refrigerator?
Under normal conditions, it is not possible.
But, if you pack it correctly, then the product can be stored even when the light is turned off for a long time, and not be afraid that it will spoil.
In this case, there are two storage methods:
wrap a piece of cheese
in a cotton cloth, which is previously slightly moistened in a strong salt solution
.
Then put it in a dark and sufficiently cold place (perhaps a balcony) without access to direct sunlight.
Once a day, the fabric is additionally soaked in a saline solution.
Salt acts as a preservative, and therefore will help to protect hard cheese from the reproduction of bacteria, and because of the wet fabric, the cheese will not dry out;
cheese can also be stored without a refrigerator if you
wrap it in parchment and then place it in an airtight container
.
Next, the container is lowered into a deep enough container of cold water (a basin or a bucket is suitable).
Even without electricity or a refrigerator, you can store hard cheese for up to a week using these methods.
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