This is a Gouda chip.
A British surgeon shows us how to best store cheese in the fridge — and how you might have been doing it wrong all this time. Dr Karan Rangarajan, also known as Dr Karan Rajan, recommends wrapping your dairy goodness in cheese preserver paper, parchment paper, or wax paper, and avoiding storing it straight in a plastic bag.
“After gobbling down cheese like a hungry rat, avoid storing it in a plastic bag, especially soft cheeses like Havarti, mozzarella and Gouda, which have a high moisture content,” advised Rangarajan. On Monday’s TikTok It has been viewed over 116,300 times.
“The plastic bag traps moisture, coating the surface of the cheese and providing a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. And it’s not tasty,” he explained.
Mayo Clinic warns Bacteria such as Listeria, Brucella, Salmonella and E. coli can grow along with mold in cheese.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Soft cheeses like cottage cheese, ricotta, and brie will keep in the fridge for up to a week. Unfortunately, these cheeses don’t freeze well.
However, hard cheeses like cheddar, Swiss, and Parmesan can be frozen for six months or refrigerated for six months if the package is unopened. Once opened, cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four weeks, according to the USDA.
Rangarajan says that in general, storing hard cheeses in plastic bags is fine.
“Hard cheeses like Parmesan generally have a low moisture content, so storing them in a plastic bag isn’t a big deal,” he says. “For most cheeses, plastic bags don’t allow the right balance of moisture and airflow, making them a poor choice for storing good cheeses.”
If you absolutely must use a plastic bag, Rangarajan advised wrapping the cheese in paper beforehand.
His one-minute TikTok was inspired by the post From the ConVino boardis a cheese and charcuterie brand that frequently shares great tips for keeping cheese fresh.
“Plastic bags or saran wrap will suffocate your cheese and cause it to go moldy within days,” says Nicole Laviolette, owner and founder of ConVinoBoard. He said in a 2022 TikTok.“Cheese is expensive, so make sure you store it properly in the refrigerator.”
