If you are wondering how to store Parmesan cheese, you have come to the right site; in this article, you will get all the information related to Parmesan cheese. Parmesan cheese should be stored in the refrigerator like any other hard cheese. It is usually vacuum-sealed, so you don’t need to open it before using it. However, if you want to wait to use it, you can store it in the freezer instead. You can also keep it in the vegetable crisper.
How to Store Parmesan Cheese?
Here are some instructions on how to store Parmesan cheese, which will allow you to store Parmesan cheese optimally. The easiest way to avoid or reduce the need for storage is to buy small cheese slices that are a Or remain after two meals. It immediately loses its flavoring properties when you break a vacuum-packed piece of Parmesan cheese.
When you cut into it, the process goes even faster. With the right storage, this process can be slowed down. Parmesan cheese works best when wrapped in wax or parchment paper, which still allows the cheese to breathe. It’s even better because it protects it from the cold temperatures of the refrigerator if you cover it in heavy-duty aluminum foil after wrapping it in parchment paper.
Wrap the cheese in a paper towel that has been lightly moistened, followed by a layer of aluminum foil (a technique recommended even for large pieces of cheese weighing two to three pounds or more); Wrap the cheese in parchment paper, then in plastic wrap or foil; Or you could use butcher paper, wax paper, or parchment to wrap the cheese.
Parmesan Cheese Stored in a Plastic Bag
When we bring home a new block of Parmesan, mozzarella, or another sort of cheese, the majority of us use a plastic bag or plastic wrap. This process will only work if you have aluminum foil or parchment paper. The drawback of plastic is that it prevents the cheese from breathing. Mold grows more quickly due to the trapped moisture inside the plastic.
Parmesan Cheese Stored in a Zipper-lock Bag
Put a small piece of Parmesan cheese into a zipper-lock bag, squeezing out as much air as viable before sealing the bag if you need to store a little bit of it. Please put it in a Ziploc bag after it has been wrapped so that the cheese can breathe. After wrapping, a clean, airtight container should store softer cheeses, such as blue cheese, brie, or Camembert. Label and date your cheese, too, remember.
Parmesan Cheese on Cheese Paper
Hard cheeses are wrapped in cheese paper, an absorbent substance, before being preserved in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator. Most grocery stores sell cheese paper, which you may need to familiarise yourself with. It functions similarly to parchment paper but is specifically made for cheese.
Storing Grated Parmesan Cheese
For convenience, grated cheese is typically pre-shredded and comes from a block of Parmesan. As opposed to cheese on a wheel, this kind goes bad faster. This kind of cheese should always be kept in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Before storing it, be sure the date on the original packaging is still valid.
Parmesan Cheese Stored in a Vacuum-Sealed Package
Refrigeration for parmesan cheese requires special care since the cheese is very sensitive to temperature. A vacuum-sealed package can stay fresh for about 2 to 4 months in the refrigerator, while Parmesan that is not vacuum-sealed can be stored in the freezer for up to 8 months. If you purchase Parmesan that has yet to be opened, it should have a use-by date.
Wrapping in Parchment Paper
Wrapping parmesan cheese in wax paper is an excellent way to freeze the flavor and texture of the cheese while preventing it from drying out. Unlike plastic wrap, wax paper can withstand the chilling environment of the fridge. Besides, it reduces the chance of the cheese absorbing odors and other contaminants from food.
Parmesan cheese is an extremely expensive type of cheese, so if you’re interested in preserving the quality, you should know how to store it properly. You can wrap a wedge of parmesan cheese in aluminum foil or parchment paper to help it last longer. If you can’t find any waxed paper, you can always use a piece of foil instead.
How should Cheese Mold and Dryness be Handled?
As a cheese enthusiast, you will inevitably encounter a situation where your Parmesan cheese is either too dry or has mold growing. Although eating dry cheese is no longer delightful, the entire block can be recovered. Instead, wrap your cheese in a kitchen towel dampened with water and wrung out.
To repair the towel, wrap it in plastic and put it in the refrigerator overnight. Mould doesn’t taint hard cheese. Most people remove the minor moldy areas and use the remaining portions. However, because it is a sign that the cheese is no longer fresh, we would only keep it for a short time.
How to Freeze Parmesan Cheese?
Parmesan is a hard cheese with a reduced moisture content than many soft kinds of cheese. Contrary to freezing raclette cheese, freezing Parmesan allows you to do so without substantially changing the cheese’s overall flavor and texture. Typically, dairy should be placed outside the freezer. But there is one exception—the type of cheese known as Parmesan.
Depending on how much cheese you intend to remove from the freezer and consume at once, divide your cheese into serving adequate sizes. When freezing Parmesan cheese, wrap the block in a paper towel first, then put the chunks in a freezer bag or airtight container.
Place the cheese in bags in the freezer. In the case of a freezer bag, remove all the air. Use a second bag to surround the first to block out any unwelcome odors for added security. Include the contents of the bags on the label, along with the day you begin the freezing procedure.
Use it as soon as possible, ideally within six months. Before putting the cheese in the refrigerator or using it in a recipe, take it out of the freezer and leave it on the counter for an hour to begin the thawing process. Put a frozen block right into a hot soup or stew for a quicker process.
How to Store Parmesan Cheese in Olive Oil?
You may mix cheese with olive oil to create a spread lasting up to six months if you’re looking for a strategy to preserve your cheese fresh for even longer. Place the grated Parmesan cheese and olive oil in a small saucepan and warm them for ten to fifteen minutes over low heat.
As soon as the cheese melts and clumps together, stir the mixture frequently. Remove the heating pan from the heat to allow the oil to cool. Put the oil through a strainer into a clean jar. Add the shaved cheese to a pressure canner and seal the jar. In a place that’s dark, cool, and in your home, keep the cheese oil for six months.
What is the Taste of Parmesan Cheese?
Parmesan cheese has a hard, gritty texture with a fruity and nutty flavor. It has a very powerful umami characteristic or savory taste because it contains one of the highest levels of glutamate of any naturally produced food. This explains why, despite being wonderful on its own, it improves nearly every dish it adds, whether cooked or not. Parmesan cheese is typically served grated over pasta or in soups and risotto.
The identified flavor compounds were shown to be sufficient to produce the distinctive taste profile of Parmesan cheese by the remarkable similarity between the sensory profile of the taste recombinants and the original cheese. It also opens up new possibilities for a more scientifically directed taste improvement of cheese by adjusting manufacturing parameters.
Reference: Quantitation of Key Tastants and Re-engineering the Taste of Parmesan Cheese.
What to do When Parmesan Cheese has Expired?
Expired Parmesan cheese should be thrown away. The paneer may have a foul odor and may be soggy or spongy. It can become moldy and cause foodborne illness. In some severe cases, it can also be fatal. If you find expired Parmesan cheese in your pantry, you must throw it away immediately.
You can buy Parmesan cheese in many different forms. It is sold in a wedge, block, grated or sliced varieties. While unopened wedges last up to a year, refrigerated grated or shredded cheese can last three to five days. However, if you are concerned about the quality, you can continue to use it for seven days.
Conclusion
Many diverse meals pair well with parmesan cheese. There is a reason why this cheese is used by millions of people and in many different cuisines, including chicken, pasta, and salad. Since Parmesan is adaptable, it’s important always to store it properly to prevent food waste and preserve its robust flavor.
The easiest approach should always be used. The best way to keep Parmesan cheese fresh is to keep it in the refrigerator. Most people don’t know it can last for more than two months in the fridge. If stored properly, the paneer will last for a year. Alternatively, it can be stored in the freezer.
