20 January 2024 , 08:30
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This expert-approved hack will keep mould at bay "for weeks".
As it's National Cheese Lover's Day - a sacred holiday for those that celebrate - the Mirror is addressing the most pressing issue on any cheese afficiando's mind: how to keep their favourite cheeses as fresh as possible, for as long as possible.
There's nothing more frustrating than opening your fridge to find that your favourite goat or blue cheese has gone mouldy since you last opened it up, and while the brave will simply chop off the affected area, not everyone is so keen to eat cheese once it looks hardened and discoloured and a bit past it's best.
Content creator - @Imperfectfoods - posted the hack on their TikTok account, which specialises in minimising food waste and captioned the video: "No more mouldy cheese".
The food-waste experts explain "The best way to prevent cheese from going bad is to use vinegar." However, they were quick to assure their viewers that "no you won't taste it and it will help prevent your cheese from moulding."
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In the video, they demonstrate pouring a layer of white vinegar into the bottom of a Tupperware pot, which they then soak some kitchen paper in, squeezing out the excess.
Next, they wrap the cheese in kitchen paper "slightly damp with vinegar" and then pop it straight into an airtight bag or container, which should mean that your cheese will "keep without moulding for weeks."
TV chef Martha Stewart is also a fan of this method, and it is noted on her website that it is one of the best ways of prolonging the lifespan of your cheese. "Putting a small amount of vinegar onto cheese cloth or a paper towel before storing your cheese will help save it from mould...The vinegar acts as a kind of barrier and kills mould."
Experts on Stewart's website also note that the best place to keep cheese in your fridge is in the dedicated cheese drawer - if you are lucky enough to have one. If you don't have this feature in your fridge, then they advise popping it in the bottom vegetable drawers instead.
Equally, they note that you should avoid using plastic wraps for your cheeses, instead going for cheese paper, or baking parchment - which is a lot cheaper - which will stop it getting sweaty, and if neither of these are available, use tin foil.
Many cheeses come packaged in plastic in the shop so the experts advise you to swap these for parchment or dedicated cheese paper when you get your beloved cheese home.
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