What makes cheese go mouldy

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time. I worked at Hickory Farms while I was in high school. We were always told that touching the cheese would encourage mold so we never touched it with bare hands. We always used a piece of plastic wrap when handling the cheese and it seemed to work. Plus, always make sure the surface you are cutting on is clean as well. Any left over residues on a cutting board can contribute to it molding. Celeste B-U. Store cheese in an airtight container with a couple of lumps of sugar.

Another way is to moisten a paper towel lightly with vinegar, and store that with the cheese. Really, you can! Soft cheeses like Brie and Camembert stay usable for up to one year if frozen.

Hard cheeses will last twice that long if tightly wrapped before freezing. Nancy K. You might tell your reader that buttering the ends of the cheddar, wrapping tightly in plastic, and storing it in an airtight container such as Tupperware helps to delay the molding process. Mary M. I usually buy the big two to five pound bricks and cut right through the shrink wrapping. That way, only one end is exposed to the air I cover that tightly with plastic wrap.

We store our cheddar and all other block and shredded cheeses in a freezer bag in the freezer. Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R. With Katherine Zeratsky, R.

Thank you for Subscribing Our Housecall e-newsletter will keep you up-to-date on the latest health information. Please try again. Something went wrong on our side, please try again. Show references Foodborne illness: What consumers need to know. Department of Agriculture. Accessed Aug. Molds on food: Are they dangerous? Rochester, Minn. Zeratsky KA expert opinion. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. See also A healthier take on a breakfast favorite A new way to enjoy fresh fruit A spoonful of sugar helps the veggies go down Add kick to fresh fruit Secrets of low-fat cooking An easy way to add omega-3 Bake with less sugar Batch cooking for 1 Beans and other legumes: Cooking tips Canned pumpkin: Better than fresh?

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Include food safety in your party plans Ingredient substitutions that pack a punch Lentils: How do I cook with them? Mashed potatoes: Cut the fat Meatless meals Mold on your cheddar? Instead of plastic wrap or wax paper, rub a little flavourless olive or vegetable oil onto the surface of the cheese, this will prevent it hardening out or it potentially growing mould.

Then it can be popped on a plate in the fridge sans wrap! Your hard cheese will actually dry out a lot quicker in the fridge and may become crusty and hardened! Moulds are part of the natural development of cheese and often enhance their flavour but scrape them off if they look unattractive. Want to grate your cheese right? Have a look at our top picks of the greatest graters. Type keyword s to search. Today's Top Stories. Gingerbread Cookies. Diana Miller.