There’s a Right Way to Store Your Cheese—Here’s How

You’d be hard-pressed to find someone who strongly dislikes all kinds of cheeses—and you’d also struggle to find a typical cheese lover who actually knows how to store cheese properly. Most good cheese platters leave a few leftover cubes or slices of cheese behind. Learn how to store that cheese in the fridge the right way, and it will last—and taste better—until you’ve eaten every last morsel.

Here, learn how to store cheese and see what materials to wrap different varieties of cheeses in before storing them. With this guide, you can give your precious cheese the care it deserves, whether you’re eating Gouda, lactose-free cheese, or the healthiest cheese you can find.

• A resealable plastic bag will do the job, but it’s not the ideal storage solution for your cheese. The best way to wrap leftovers really depends on the particular type; see the list of kinds of cheeses below to see how to store your cheese.
• Whatever the sort of cheese, store it in the vegetable crisper of the refrigerator, where the temperature is cold and stable.
• Use a fresh piece of plastic wrap or wax paper to rewrap cheese after each use.
• The length of time you can keep cheese also differs according to the variety; in general, the harder the cheese, the longer it will last.

Hard, aged cheeses (Parmigiano-Reggiano, aged Gouda): First wrap in wax or parchment paper, then add a layer of plastic wrap.

Blue cheeses (Gorgonzola, Roquefort): Wrap in plastic wrap.

Semi-hard and hard cheeses (Cheddar, Swiss, Gruyere): Wrap in plastic wrap.

Soft, semi-soft, and stinky cheeses (goat, Camembert, Brie, Limburger): Place in a resealable plastic container.

Fresh cheeses in water (mozzarella or Feta): Leave the cheese in the original packaging, changing the water every couple of days.