# How do you keep a block of cheese fresh in the fridge? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 18, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351 "2012-05-18T18:52:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/1 "2012-05-18T18:52:14Z")
Tightly wrapped, loosely wrapped, jar, tupperware, foil, plastic wrap? Your secret? ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/2 "2012-05-18T19:00:20Z")
I bought a Food Saver vacuum packer thingie from a coworker. When I buy a block of cheese, I cut it into smaller chunks and seal each one. Before I got that, I used plastic wrap with as much air as I could manage squeezed out. I still ended up throwing too much away. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/3 "2012-05-18T19:03:40Z")
Tightly plastic wrapped in one piece. That way if there’s mold, you just lose the outer part. It still won’t last forever. Cheese isn’t meant to. Buy less of it at a time. Dry, aged cheeses last the longest. Processed cheeses don’t last long. ---
**Author:** ![poker\_in\_the\_rear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/dc4da7/32.png) [@poker\_in\_the\_rear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/poker_in_the_rear)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/4 "2012-05-18T19:13:30Z")
[cheese paper](http://www.formaticum.com/products/cheese-paper) ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/5 "2012-05-18T19:25:51Z")
Ideally, wrapped in waxed or parchment paper, and then wrapped in plastic. The paper lets the cheese “breath” a bit so it’s not right up against the plastic, which traps moisture and encourages mold, but in paper alone it dries out pretty quickly. Kinda depends on the cheese, though. Fresh mozzarella stays in plastic, for example. (And gets eaten quickly.) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/6 "2012-05-19T00:46:06Z")
> [@FairyChatMom](#): > > I bought a Food Saver vacuum packer thingie from a coworker. When I buy a block of cheese, I cut it into smaller chunks and seal each one. > > Before I got that, I used plastic wrap with as much air as I could manage squeezed out. I still ended up throwing too much away. Absolutely. Cheese keeps for a very long time using a vacuum sealer. I have a Sears model that is cheaper than the Food Saver. ---
**Author:** ![jasg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jasg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasg)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/7 "2012-05-19T00:53:24Z")
I buy cheese in 2lb and larger packages at Costco all the time. I cut into hunks with a sharp and freshly washed knife and place into quart sized ziplock bags for refrigeration. I avoid touching the cheese when I can (I’m an ex-microbiologist and try to use pseudo-sterile technique - must help, mold problems are minimal). ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/8 "2012-05-19T02:19:07Z")
I just eat it quick enough to not be a problem. Even with just me, I usually get through a 2 pound block before it starts molding. ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/9 "2012-05-19T03:21:54Z")
I do it by taking care of any mold I find immediately. If necessary I will wipe down or bleach my cheese drawer depending on the severity of the problem. There is no way to completely keep mold off the cheese, but if you reduce the spores in the cheese drawer (I use the one meant for sandwich meat) you’ll have less of a problem. I hate mold on my cheese. It doesn’t just stay on the surface. The roots of the spores will go down deeper into the cheese and yes, I can taste that mold on semi soft and soft cheeses. It’s disgusting. I found that by not letting the mold get to be a problem in the first place I had less trouble with mold. My cheddar goes a few weeks without getting moldy whereas growing up we couldn’t go a week without mold on the cheese. My mother was pretty relaxed about cheese mold (you can always cut it off!) so we always had issues with it. I’m seriously anal about it and I have a lot less of an issue with mold. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/10 "2012-05-19T17:04:49Z")
I use [Ziploc Vacuum](http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/VacuumFreezerSystem.aspx) bags. The pump with a few bags costs about $5 at the grocery store. Bags are a little expensive but are reusable for non-messy things like cheese. Works great. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/11 "2012-05-19T19:13:11Z")
Freezer type double zip zip-loc™ bags. I’ve used these for up to a 3 pound block of --dreamy sigh-- Cabot Extra Sharp Cheddar bought at the Cabot factory in Vermont. For Cheesies ( my own word for Foodies who adore cheese ), it’s Mecca. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sudden\_Kestrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/12 "2012-05-19T19:40:01Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > I use [Ziploc Vacuum](http://www.ziploc.com/Products/Pages/VacuumFreezerSystem.aspx) bags. The pump with a few bags costs about $5 at the grocery store. Bags are a little expensive but are reusable for non-messy things like cheese. Works great. We used these and loved them, but they’ve stopped selling them in our area. We now put blocks of cheese in a regular zipper bag and squeeze the air out before sealing. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/13 "2012-05-19T19:42:25Z")
Have to admit here that for many years, I have zipped a freezer bag 95% closed, held the small gap to my mouth and sucked for all I’m worth until the bag tightly conforms to the outline of the contents. Seems to really help. For one thing, when I bake banana bread with chocolate chips, I tend to bake 8 or 16 at a shot. ( Or used to when I had a 2nd freezer 😃 ). Sucking the moist air OUT before freezing meant that 3 months later when that loaf was defrosted, it tasted quite fresh and moist with not a hint of freezer burn. And lawdy god don’t I just sound like Betty Crocker !! ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/14 "2012-05-19T21:25:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I just eat it quick enough to not be a problem. Even with just me, I usually get through a 2 pound block before it starts molding. This method works pretty well for us, too. If we’re trying a new sort of cheese, we get the smallest size, so that we can learn whether we like it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/15 "2012-05-19T22:51:53Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > This method works pretty well for us, too. If we’re trying a new sort of cheese, we get the smallest size, so that we can learn whether we like it or not. I’ve never met a cheese I didn’t like ! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2012, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-keep-a-block-of-cheese-fresh-in-the-fridge/622351/16 "2012-05-19T23:42:24Z")
> [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Ideally, wrapped in waxed or parchment paper, and then wrapped in plastic. The paper lets the cheese “breath” a bit so it’s not right up against the plastic, which traps moisture and encourages mold, but in paper alone it dries out pretty quickly. > > Kinda depends on the cheese, though. Fresh mozzarella stays in plastic, for example. (And gets eaten quickly.) This, although I use foil instead of plastic. This was the recommended method on Cook’s Illustrated, which experimented with many different types of wrapping. Keeps MUCH longer this way.