Everything You Need to Know About How to Store Cheese

Once you start to explore the wonderful world of cheese, you’ll discover that choosing the right cheese is part of the story. Knowing how to store cheese so that you get the most enjoyment from every piece, from start to finish, is another essential part of being a cheese-lover.

Read on to find out how to keep cheese in good condition after opening, the best ways to store cheese – whether it's opened or unopened – and all you need to know about storing cheese in the refrigerator. 

Ultimately, once cheese leaves the cheesemonger or cheese counter, it’s all about the eating, not the storing. At Cheshire Cheese Company, we want people to enjoy our cheese, not forget about it tucked away at the back of the fridge. So, while this guide covers the dos and don’ts for storing cheese, you’ll get the most out of your cheese if you enjoy it at its prime.

Our Cheese Club offers 10% off orders, meaning it’s easy to restock on our delicious cheese truckles as often as you like. We do the storage, you do the eating. Click here to join us - it’s free.

How do you keep cheese good after opening?

Because cheese is a living thing, it will go bad after a time if it's not stored at low temperatures. It can also change during storage, and absorb flavours and odours from other foods. If you've got leftover pieces of cheese from a cheeseboard that you don't know what to do with, you can put it in recipes (even the rind), or freeze it.

As a rule of thumb, once you’ve cut into a wheel of cheese or unwrapped a block of cheese from its packaging, the best way to preserve opened cheese is to store it in the refrigerator. You can wrap it in plastic or wax paper. If it’s got a strong smell or will be in the fridge with other foods with strong odours, it can be a good idea to put it in an airtight container with a lid. 

You can buy cheese storage containers from homeware specialists like John Lewis, but a Tupperware container or ziplock plastic bag will work just as well.

Hard cheeses with a lower moisture content will keep in the refrigerator for months, even opened, if stored properly. Soft cheeses have a shorter storage time and you should aim to enjoy these within weeks rather than months after you’ve opened them. 

Fresh cheeses like cottage cheese, Ricotta and cream cheese will only last a matter of weeks in the fridge after they’ve been opened. Keep an eye on cheese that’s stored in the fridge for some time for signs of mould, and check if it has an ‘off’ smell when unwrapped.

How to store cheese in the refrigerator

Storing cheese in the fridge isn’t something that's a scientific challenge, but there are a few technical things it’s worth knowing. 

The ideal temperature to store cheese in the fridge is between 5°C and 10°C. As such, the best place to store cheese is where temperatures are more stable and humidity is higher – such as the central part of the fridge or the salad crisper drawer. Extra-hard cheese can be stored in a cool, dark place up to 15°C. 

When storing cheese in the fridge, be aware of what’s nearby. It’s worth keeping cheese away from strong odour foods, like onions, to avoid cheese absorbing other flavours.

Take your cheese out of the refrigerator about 30 to 40 minutes before eating if you can, to return it to room temperature. 

Can you freeze cheese?

One question people ask is can you freeze cheese? Yes, you certainly can. Again, it’s preferable to eat cheese when it's fresh – but if you have cheese leftovers from a party or Christmas hamper, you can store our cheese in the freezer for up to 12 months, without any loss of texture or taste during preservation.

We suggest for defrosting, you should take it out 24-48 hours before. You can defrost it in the fridge, and you should consume it at room temperature for the best flavour.

The best way to store cheese by type

Here are some tips on how to store cheese in the fridge according to different types.

Hard, aged cheeses like Parmigiano-Reggiano, Parmesan and aged Gouda can benefit from being wrapped in wax or parchment paper, then a layer of plastic wrap.

Hard and semi-hard cheeses such as Cheddar, Swiss, and Gruyere can be sealed in plastic wrap to keep in moisture before you store it in the fridge.

Blue cheese like Stilton, Gorgonzola and Roquefort are known for their distinct mould. They benefit from being wrapped in plastic wrap or foil. Store them in the warmest part of the refrigerator to maintain their creamy texture.

Soft, semi-soft, and stinky cheeses include goat’s cheese, Camembert and Brie. Place them in a resealable plastic container to reduce the chance of absorbing other smells in the fridge.

Fresh cheeses in water: Leave cheese like mozzarella and Feta in the original brine, changing the water every couple of days. Keep them covered in a sealed container to preserve their delicate flavours.

Using a cheese dome

Cheese domes have a marble base and glass ‘bell’ covering, so you can see the cheeses inside. It’s for storing cheese out of the fridge, usually in a cool part of the house during the autumn and winter months.

One benefit of cheese domes is that they keep cheese nearer to room temperature for eating, and they can be taken straight to the table for a cheese course at dinner. Cheese will not last as long stored in the method as it would if stored inside a fridge. But it’s an attractive way to store cheese if you know you’ll be eating it within days.

Storing unopened cheese

All cheese comes with a best before date, though these are indications that cheesemakers are obliged to put on their cheese about the best time to enjoy your cheese. In reality, our cheeses are good to eat significantly longer.

If you’re buying cheese in advance to serve at a meal or a party, or because you just like to be stocked up on your favourite cheeses, it’s best to keep your unopened cheese in the fridge.

Please see the FAQs on our website for how long will cheese last in the fridge. In many cases, you can keep your unopened cheese refrigerated and it will last for months. 

Our cheese truckles have a shelf life of between 3 and 6 months. We recommend these be kept in the fridge to avoid the wax splitting, which lets air reach the cheese.

How does wax protect cheese?

Our cheese truckles are aged in wax which creates a depth of flavour in the cheese during the ageing process while protecting the cheese from exposure to bacteria. Wax provides a safe covering for cheese.

Once you’re ready to eat a waxed cheese truckle, simply slice the cheese wheel with a cheese knife as you would a cake. Leave the wax on the remaining cheese, and wrap the whole truckle in clingfilm to preserve the freshness.

Summary

Storing cheese in the fridge after it’s been opened is the best way to preserve its freshness and stop it from going bad. Storing unopened cheese in the fridge will usually preserve it for months - except for fresh cheese like cream cheese or cottage cheese, which has a high moisture content and the shortest best-before dates.

Wrapping cheese in plastic, or wax paper, or keeping it in an airtight container are all recommended to keep moisture in and other odours and tastes out. 

Storing cheese properly in the fridge after you’ve opened it means you’ll be able to enjoy every last bit, without any delicious cheese ever going to waste. 

Enjoy our cheese in a few clicks

At Cheshire Cheese Company, our cheese truckles come with best before dates of several months and can be stored in your fridge or freezer for longer.

You can choose from more than a dozen varieties and flavours of cheese truckles with free express UK delivery service on orders over £35. Join our Cheese Club for free and you’ll get 10% off online orders, rewards points and other extras.

We’re the cheese that makes you grin and we’re sure you’ll love our exciting infusions with flavourful ingredients like Chilli, Lime and Tequila Cheddar and Masala Spiced Red Leicester. Or try more traditional varieties like our signature Black Bob Cheddar and classic creamy Cheshire made to time-honoured recipes. 

Our cheese is the perfect food for Christmas cheeseboards and celebrations, summer socials or as a tasty treat everyone can tuck into all year round. Our cheese gifts are sure to put a smile on the face of any cheese lover in your life too.

Shop our cheese multibuys and individual cheese truckles today.