Solid cheeses like cheddar have a relatively long shelf life in most cases but this is not always true when carelessly stored.
Though it is sufficient to loosely wrap the dairy product back in its original packaging for a few days, extending its shelf life beyond this takes a little more effort.
And according to one cheese shop owner, it’s incredibly easy to master.
Speaking to The Guardian, Patricia Michelson of La Fromagerie in London revealed that effective storage comes down to just “a few basics”.
She didn’t mean fancy containers or glass jars though, in fact, her top tip was to make use of whole sugar cubes.
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Patricia told the publication how she uses a combination of two sugar cubes and some clever wrapping methods to make her dairy delicacies last for weeks at a time.
She said: “Always double-wrap your cheese – in waxed paper or baking parchment, ideally – and put it in a plastic container lined with dampened kitchen towel or J-cloth.”
Not only did the cheese shop owner claim her method absolutely works, but also branded it “magic” compared to more orthodox storage solutions.
How to keep cheese fresh
Copying Patricia’s method is very easy, simple start by discarding any existing packaging from the cheese and replace it with baking parchment or waxed alternatives.
Tightly wrap this around the cheese to seal it from the air and then line an airtight container with a thin, dampened cloth.
It’s important that this is only lightly dampened and not wet so as not to encourage too much moisture in the tub.
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Place the wrapped cheese in the container and secure the lid to seal it off. Patricia recommended clearing a space for it on the top shelf of the fridge where the temperature is most well-regulated.
The sugar cubes work by regulating the atmosphere inside the box which helps to keep the cheese fresher.
However, it does require some maintenance to maximise the shelf life. The sugar cubes will melt over time and should be replaced if the cheese has not yet been eaten by this point.
Patricia explained: “Hopefully you’ll have used the cheese before that happens. If not, clean the box, replace the damp cloth, and put the cheese back in with two new sugar cubes.”
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