If you are like me and prefer to purchase a "chunk" of cheese instead of already shredded cheese, this tip is for you. This is something I discovered on my own. Years ago, I would wipe down every surface I could get to on our sailboat (inside), before leaving it after a weekend out, with plain old vinegar.
Vinegar retards the growth of mold. When we would return, the boat still was fresh. After finding mold on a chunk of cheese I decided to try a little experiment. I took a paper towel and folded it down to about a 2 x 2 inch square. I then dampened the paper towel with vinegar. Barely damp, just enough that you can tell it is damp. I then wrapped my cheese in the paper towel and placed inside a Ziploc bag and returned to the refrigerator.
I have never had cheese mold on me again and I have not wasted a bite. If your paper towel begins to dry out, all that you need to do is to redampen the towel with vinegar. The small amount that you are using doesn't leave a vinegar taste to the cheese. Buying cheese in "chunks" is cheaper than the already shredded and will save you a bit of money in addition to no more moldy cheese. Cheese will last for weeks stored this way. Hope you will give this a try because it certainly does work.
By Trish from Chatom, AL
This page contains the following solutions.
No more moldy cheese in the refrigerator: moisten a paper towel with a bit of cider vinegar and wrap it around your wedge of cheese; then place the wrapped cheese in a plastic bag and seal.
I purchase the sliced American cheese (120) slices from Sam's club. I like their American cheese the best. When I get home I put all the slices of cheese in an empty bread bag and it is just as fresh months later as the day I put in the bread bag.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I buy 5 lb. bags of shredded mozzarella cheese because my family makes pizza on a regular basis. However, once the bag is opened, it tends to begin to mold fairly quickly. Has anyone used a variation of this vinegar method with shredded cheese? If this doesn't work, does anyone have a suggestion?
By rcraftlady from East Coast
Once the bag of cheese is open be sure no one sticks fingers in to get out a handful. I instruct the family to use a long handled iced tea spoon.
How do I keep grated Parmesan cheese from molding?
Most semi hard and hard cheeses freeze very well in the freezer, that way they can't grow mold as they will in the frig after a couple of weeks. Cheeses like Romano, Parmesan, things like that, even Cheddar freeze great until you're ready to use them again.
I'm not sure why your cheese is moulding if you're keeping it in the fridge. Parmesan should be stored in the fridge if it will not be used up within a week.
Maybe your fridge is not cool enough>?
Make sure to keep the grated cheese in a sealed container. You can also put grated parmesan in the freezer for longer lasting.
I keep mine in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
I use it straight from the freezer. Especially my mozzarella and Parmesans :)
I too use this method of storing my grated cheese and it works great. Just remove it from freezer a few minutes before using, so it's easier to take amount needed.
Yes freeze it, Or eat it!
Keep your fingers OFF the cheese.. I use anything except my fingers to remove cheese from its wrapper or bag.. since I have done this I never get mold on any of my cheese.. this has been for 5 years now...when I want to grate a block of cheese I hold the block with the wrapper or a paper towel.
These are all great tips! But many years ago I purchase a FoodSaver machine. Sealing a block of cheese in a food saver bag will last for months and months. Grated cheese will last weeks to months in a food saver container which the air can be removed from using the FS machine.
Put your 5# bag of mozzarella in 5 sandwich bags..freeze 4 of them while using the 5th one..doesnt take long at all to thaw.
This what I have done for years. We are big cheese lovers, so I buy the big bag of shredded cheeses. Empty the cheeses into smaller ziplic bags and freeze all but one. I also freeze my American slices even though it says on the big box do not freeze. I have never had an issue freezing the slices either.
That is a good tip. I learned that a long time ago from a co-worker, and she learned the vinegar solution from Tillamook Cheese company
I shop at Costco, I measure out one cup of Shredded Cheese into snack size ziploc baggies and put all the baggies back into the original cheese bag and seal.
I do the same with a bag of Bacon Crumbles, in 1/4 cup measurements into snack bags. Perfect for our use.
I always use a rubber glove to not touch the cheese, I heard your sweat from hands causes the mold
I just put my already opened grated parmesian in it's container on the door of my fridge. Never a problem.
Will try the ACV in my opened shredded cheddar pkgs that I keep in the meat draw. It usually gets mold,so the ACV should help.
Cheddar cheese is crumbling after freezing. Still taste good, just falls apart.
I too have had parmasean Regiano go Miley on me once I opened it as well, kept in fridge. Now I grate it and put it in the freezer and use it out of the freezer. Have never had a problem since.
Can you use white vinegar instead of cider vinegar to stop moulding?
By Kevin
yes
YES, IVE USED this method for nearly 10 years on both solid and grated cheese.
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First dampen paper towel with apple cider vinegar then wrap around the block of cheese. Then wrap in foil and place in zipper type baggie.
