Does Waxed Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated?

Storing cheese correctly is essential to preserve its flavour and texture and to extend its life. Our delicious cheeses deserve to be kept in their finest condition, and their wax coating plays an essential role.

Wax provides such an excellent covering that there is sometimes confusion over whether waxed cheese needs to be refrigerated.

Let's look at how to store your cheese to remain delicious for as long as possible.

Why is cheese waxed?

Cheese has been around for millennia. It was preserved and transported in ceramic pots or muslin cloth for centuries.

It wasn't until the nineteenth century that clever Dutch cheesemongers began to seal their Gouda and Edam in melted wax.

Not only did the wax covering look distinctive, but it also prevented dehydration, protected the cheese from mould, and allowed it to age gracefully.

Like all cheese, waxed truckles should be kept in cool dry conditions away from direct sunlight to preserve the integrity of the wax and the cheese itself.

Controlling the temperature of your cheese

We still use wax to cover our truckles as it does a great job, but we also advise refrigeration if cheese is to be stored for any length of time. Chilling will slow down ageing and prolong the cheese’s shelf life.

Perhaps you have been the lucky recipient of one of our cheese hampers, in which case you may have more than one cheese on the go.

If you plan to keep the cheese for over a few days, store it in the refrigerator at between 5 and 8 degrees. This will keep the cheese fresh and preserve its flavour and texture. Cooler temperatures prevent the development of mould and keeping your truckles in the fridge will keep the wax from splitting.

How to treat cheese that has been left out of the fridge

If you have received your cheese through the post, it will have spent some time out of the fridge while in transit.

The wax coating of the cheese may have expanded in warmer conditions and developed hairline splits. As the cheese has become softer, some leakage may occur.

This is nothing to be concerned about. Simply wipe the leakages away with a clean cloth and place your truckle in the fridge to chill and become harder again. Our cheese contains bacteria-busting salt, so you do not need to worry about harmful mould developing in a short period of time.

How long can I keep waxed cheese in the fridge?

Waxed cheese can be kept in the fridge for three months, less for blue cheese. Refrigerated cheese should be kept in a sealed airtight container.

We love cheese with chillis like our Jerk Spice - Chilli & Garlic Cheddar Cheese but chilly cheese is always disappointing. Remember to take yours out of the fridge at least 30 minutes before eating to allow the full flavour to develop.

If you have a glut of unopened cheese, you can freeze it for up to 12 months.