How to Cut and Store Cheese So It Lasts Longer
This story is part of Home Tips, CNET’s collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out.
Despite the economic downturn, we still deserve to have nice things — like cheese. Manufactured cheeses like the shrink-wrapped or shredded ones that often occupy our refrigerator’s deli drawer are fine for everyday use, but splurging on artisanal cheese is to invite joy into your life, especially during difficult times, whether your taste in cheese runs to the mild or the more funky varieties. It’s all the more heartbreaking, however, when we do splurge on the good stuff, only to have it generate a layer of mold if we don’t consume it efficiently.
There is good news on this score, however, and you can employ some simple practices to make your cheese last longer. “Cheese is a preserved product,” says John Montez, Events and Education Coordinator for New York’s Murray’s Cheese. “It’s got a lot of things helping it be preserved. It’s high in acid and salt and has a lot of the water removed compared to milk. So it’s rare that you would ever have to throw out a piece of cheese.” Cheese, in other words, is built to last; ergo, an investment worth having.
How you cut and store your cheese matters, however, in terms of treating it in such a way as to extend its vibrancy for as long as possible. You don’t need a lot of fancy cheese gadgets to make cheese last for weeks or months, just some basic tools, supplies, and know-how. With Montez’s help, here’s…
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