Cheese is a versatile dairy product. It can be served as a liquid dip or in solid form; it can even be used as an ingredient in several meal recipes. As someone who uses cheese, you must know how to preserve it properly. Preserving your cheese can be tricky. If it is not done correctly, you can end up with moldy or stale cheese. Don’t worry; we will explore popular cheese preservation methods in this article.
5 Ways to Preserve Your Cheese
Before we begin, it is essential to note that various types of cheese require different forms of preservation. Some of the below methods may not apply to the cream cheese you desire to preserve. You must confirm that your chosen method works for the cheese you want to stock in your home. With that in mind, let’s dive in.
Wax Coating
Wax coating is the most traditional form of preserving cheese. If you want to use this technique, you have to make sure the cheese you’re preserving is hard or semi-hard. This is because this method cannot work if too much moisture is sealed into the cheese. Some examples of suitable cheeses for waxing are gouda and edam.
Refrigerating
Another way of preserving your cheese is by storing it in the fridge. You are typically advised to set your refrigerator at a cool temperature between 1 and 7 °C. This is designed to help slow down bacterial growth in your cheese. It also helps prevent your cheese from getting moldy. Certain cheeses, for instance, camembert, are often preserved with refrigeration. This helps to keep it fresh for when you decide to use it.
Freezing
Freezing is a suitable method if you want to preserve your cheese long-term. Keep in mind that this is not an all-around method because not all cheeses retain freshness after freezing. With that in mind, shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese can be frozen for weeks and months without losing texture or taste.
Vacuum Sealing
Another efficient method of preserving your cheese is vacuum sealing. It is done by removing all the air in your cheese packaging. This will keep out unnecessary moisture or air that might cause mold. Vacuum sealing will also help your cheese preserve its original flavor and texture.
Vacuum Sealed Jars
It might fascinate you to know that some cheeses are prepared using brining. In such cases, the cheese is aged for a certain period and then transferred to a sealed jar for preservation. This method is used for cheeses like feta or ricotta. The idea behind this method is to seal in the flavors of the cheese as well as prevent it from spoiling.
Serve and Enjoy
This piece has highlighted common ways to preserve cheese both short and long-term. You will no doubt be able to use one or two of the methods listed above. Don’t forget to make sure the method you use works for your cheese. Doing otherwise might ruin the cheese or make it runny. Alternatively, you can stick to buying fresh cheese whenever you need it.
