Hard, semi-hard and semi-soft cheeses are stored in the temperatures from around 46° F to 55° F.
Grated Parmesan should be stored at room temperature as refrigeration can cause condensation to build up that will make the cheese stick together.
Generally, cheese should not be frozen. You will alter the flavour and texture and it will become crumbly with freezing. However, grated cheese keeps well in the freezer and can be used straight from the freezer for cooking.
Keep the cheese wrapped in waxed paper, grease-proof paper or foil to maintain the circulation of air. Cheeses contain living organisms that must not be cut off from air, yet it is important not to let cheese dry out.
For longer storage of firm and semi-firm cheeses, you can wrap the cheese in a paper towel dampened with cider vinegar and store it inside a sealed plastic bag. This will help inhibit the growth of mold.
Wrap blue cheese all over as mould spores spread readily not only to other cheeses but also to everything near.
Fresh cheeses (cottage, cream, ricotta) should be stored in their original containers in the coldest part of your refrigerator.
Do not store cheese with other strong-smelling foods. As a cheese breathes it will absorb other aromas and may spoil.
If you can’t use a whole cheese at once, cut off only what you can eat and keep the rest in the refrigerator. Moving cheese back and forth from the refrigerator only hastens moisture loss and spoilage.
The shelf life of cheeses varies from one type to another. Generally, the softer the cheese, the shorter the shelf life. For example, Parmesan block is a very hard cheese and, if properly stored, can last for years; while Ricotta is quite soft and has a short shelf life.
Best Before vs Use By:
The Best Before date is placed on all cheeses which improve “with age” – The Best Before date is set on the basis that the cheese will be at, or just over, the “peak of maturity” on that date. Therefore, a cheese that passed its “Best Before” date may still be perfectly good. It is just a matter of taste.
The “Use By” date can only be used on products that have to be consumed within a set period of time and/or have a short shelf life.
Do not improve with age:
Fresh cheeses: Mozzarella, Bocconcini (mozzarella balls) and Fromage Blanc.
