How to Store Cheese Properly

Cheese is a fermented dairy product with a wide array of flavors, textures, and colors, depending on the source of milk (cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo) and the cheesemaking process.

Cheesemakers categorize cheeses based on many factors, including moisture content, fat content, milk source, age, texture, length of fermentation, production method, and country or region of origin. Although no universal standard exists for categorizing cheeses, one of the most common methods is to group kinds of cheese by their level of firmness, ranging from soft to hard.

How long cheese will last depends on the type of cheese and how you store it. Removed from its original packaging and stored properly, hard cheese will typically last three to four weeks. Soft cheeses have a shorter shelf life, usually about seven days after opening.

Regardless of the type of cheese, always consult your cheesemonger about what to expect, and trust your senses. Most cheese has a funky smell, and some cheeses even sport colorful molds. If your cheese takes on unpleasant new odors or colors, it’s probably best to discard it.

Here are some fool-proof cheese storage tips:

1. 1. Remove the cheese from the original packaging. Grocery stores tend to sell cheese in vacuum-sealed packages. Although convenient for shipping, these packages can suffocate the cheese and promote spoilage.
2. 2. Wrap the cheese in cheese paper. Instead of plastic wrap, use formaticum (a.k.a. cheese wrap or cheese paper) to store your cheese. Formaticum is a breathable wrapper ideal for storing hard, semihard, and semisoft cheeses and is what most cheese shops and deli counters use to wrap cheese. Next to formaticum, parchment paper or wax paper will suffice. Some cheese lovers prefer a double-wrap method and will wrap once in cheese paper and again in aluminum foil. This method keeps the flavors from pungent cheeses, like blue cheese, from spreading to other foods.
3. 3. Store fresh cheeses in their original liquid. Store soft, fresh cheeses, such as ricotta or mozzarella, in their original liquid in an airtight container.
4. 4. Place in a storage container. After wrapping up your cheese, place it in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag.
5. 5. Refrigerate. If your refrigerator has a crisper or cheese drawer, use it. Otherwise, keep cheese in an airtight container on a shelf in your refrigerator. Use cheese as soon as possible. Hard cheeses typically last three to four weeks in the fridge, while you should use soft cheese within a couple of days of opening.

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