Storing cheese might seem as simple as tossing it in the fridge, but anyone who’s had their cheddar turn crumbly or their Brie develop an unintended funk knows there’s more to it than that. Whether you’re preserving a precious wedge of Parmigiano-Reggiano or making your grocery-store mozzarella last a bit longer, knowing how to store cheese properly can make a big difference.
Does Cheese Need to Be Refrigerated?
The short answer: usually.
But it’s a little more nuanced than that. Soft cheeses like Brie, Camembert, and fresh mozzarella absolutely need refrigeration. These cheeses are higher in moisture, making them more perishable. Without refrigeration, they can spoil quickly and become a breeding ground for bacteria.
Hard cheeses, like Parmesan, aged Cheddar, or Gruyère, are more resilient. Their low moisture content makes them less likely to spoil at room temperature for short periods. In fact, in cooler climates or air-conditioned environments, some hard cheeses can sit out for a day or two without significant quality loss. However, for longer storage or in warmer, humid conditions, the fridge is your friend.
If you’re serving cheese at a party, it’s best to let it come to room temperature for optimal flavor—this can take about an hour. But if it sits out for more than two hours, especially in hot weather, it’s safer to discard it.
How to Store Cheese in the Fridge
Refrigeration keeps cheese fresh, but how you store it inside the fridge matters. Tossing a block of cheese in its original plastic wrapper directly onto a fridge shelf isn’t doing it any favors. Proper storage involves wrapping it in breathable materials to maintain texture and flavor.
Start by wrapping your cheese in parchment paper or cheese paper, which allows the cheese to breathe while preventing it from drying out. For extra protection, follow with a loose layer of plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This dual-layer approach strikes a balance between air exposure and moisture retention. Soft cheeses like Brie can go into airtight containers to keep them moist and protect their delicate rinds.
Location within the fridge is another key factor. Keep cheese in the crisper drawer or near the back, where temperatures are colder and more consistent.
Avoid placing it near the freezer section or in the fridge door, where fluctuations in temperature can harm the cheese’s integrity.
Regularly check your fridge for strong-smelling foods; cheese is highly absorbent and can pick up unwanted odors.
Can You Freeze Cheese?
The idea of freezing cheese sparks a lot of debate. Technically, yes, you can freeze cheese. From a food safety perspective, freezing is perfectly fine—it stops the clock on spoilage. However, whether you should freeze cheese depends on what you plan to do with it afterward.
Freezing cheese significantly alters its texture. When water molecules in the cheese freeze, they expand, breaking down its structure. Once thawed, soft and fresh cheeses like Brie or ricotta often turn grainy and watery. Hard cheeses fare better, but they can still lose their creaminess and become crumbly.
The flavor might also dull slightly, which is why frozen cheese is best reserved for cooking rather than snacking or serving on a cheese board.
How to Store Cheese in the Freezer
If you have more cheese than you can reasonably use before its expiration date, freezing can be a lifesaver—provided you do it right. The key is to minimize texture changes and make thawing as seamless as possible.
For hard and semi-hard cheeses like Cheddar, Parmesan, or Gouda, grating is your best bet before freezing. Shredded cheese freezes well because the smaller pieces don’t trap moisture as larger blocks do, reducing texture loss. Store the grated cheese in an airtight freezer bag, removing as much air as possible to prevent ice crystals from forming.
If you’re freezing a block of cheese, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container. For sliced cheese, lay out the slices on parchment paper, freeze them individually, and then transfer them to a freezer bag. This prevents them from clumping together into a single, frozen mass.
What Happens When You Freeze Cheese?
When cheese freezes, the water content turns into ice, expanding and breaking apart the fat and protein structure. As a result, the texture becomes drier and crumblier upon thawing. While the flavor profile doesn’t change drastically, subtle nuances might fade, especially in aged cheeses with complex flavors.
Soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert should generally stay out of the freezer. Their high moisture content makes them particularly susceptible to texture changes, often resulting in a watery, unappealing mess once thawed. For blue cheeses, freezing can kill the mold cultures that give them their characteristic flavor and aroma, making them less enjoyable to eat.
That said, frozen cheese still works beautifully in cooked dishes. From gooey mac and cheese to pizza toppings, melted cheese doesn’t suffer as much from freezing.
How to Thaw Frozen Cheese
Thawing cheese is where patience pays off. The best method is to transfer the frozen cheese to the fridge and let it thaw gradually. This slow process allows the moisture to redistribute evenly, reducing the chances of textural issues. Depending on the size and type of cheese, thawing can take anywhere from several hours to a full day.
Avoid thawing cheese at room temperature or in the microwave, as both can exacerbate texture changes and make the cheese unappetizing. Once thawed, use the cheese within a few days, as it will have a shorter shelf life than before freezing.
Learning how to store cheese can preserve its flavor, texture, and overall quality for a really long time. Whether you’re tucking away a wedge of Brie in the fridge or freezing grated Parmesan for a quick pasta night, a little extra care goes a long way.