The Biggest Cheese Storage Mistake, According To Tillamook

Who doesn’t love coming home from the grocery store with a fresh block of cheese? Charcuterie boards, dips, toppings—cheese is an essential part of parties and dinner tables. But unfortunately, nothing lasts forever, and cheese is no exception to this.

I know I’m always a little sad when I open up my refrigerator cheese drawer and see flecks of black and blue. If you run into the same issue, and it seems that your cheese is going bad sooner than it should, this may be because you’re storing it incorrectly. 

I’ll admit I have a tendency to throw all my leftover charcuterie board cheeses in a bag together and put them in the fridge so as not to waste extra bags, but that’s a sure way to spoil your cheese, according to an expert. 

Don’t store different types of cheeses together

“The worst mistake you can make when storing cheese is storing different types of cheeses in the same container,” said Jill Allen, Director of Product Excellence in Research and Development at Tillamook. “For example, if you put blue cheese and Cheddar in the same container, there are different yeasts and molds, and that Cheddar cheese is the perfect medium for those blue mold spores to feed on.”

Tempted to throw your extra chunk of cheese in the freezer? Jill warns that this may not be the best way to preserve your cheese’s flavor and texture either.

Avoid freezing cheese in chunks

“Another major mistake is freezing chunk cheese, which will stop the aging process, changing the flavor and texture. We recommend only freezing shredded cheese if you must freeze for preservation, and then use the shreds in cooking, as it will melt.”

So if you’re like me and have already committed these cheese storage no-nos, there is hope. The proper way to store cheese is a lot easier than you’d think.

Keep your cheese’s packaging for safe and easy storage

“When opening hard or semi-hard cheese, keep the packaging,” commented Jill. “Once you’re done with what you need at the moment, fold the original wrapper back over the end and secure it with a rubber band. If you need backup, use parchment paper, wax paper, or cheese bags, which help keep cheese in the ideal storage environment.” 

So there you have it. Next time you have leftover cheese, there’s no need to reach for a plastic bag. Simply return it to its original packaging, wrap it up, and put it back in the fridge to be enjoyed another time. These tips will help keep your cheese looking and tasting fresher for longer.