What’s the best way of storing my cheese?

When you buy your cheese from The Cheese Wheel, it will have been cut from a wheel and wrapped in wax paper.  Wax paper (or parchment/greaseproof paper) helps the cheese to breath whilst minimising exposure to air which can quickly dry a cheese out. You should store your cheese in a fridge to prevent it from spoiling quickly. However, fridges are a mixed blessing as they can dry out your cheese prematurely.  To prevent this and to help to retain the full flavour of your cheese we would recommend keeping your cheese tightly wrapped in wax paper and putting it in the salad drawer, where moisture levels tend to be higher. 

How long will my cheese last?

Harder cheeses such as cheddars or a Lincolnshire Poacher, properly stored, last longer than soft cheeses such as a brie.  Uncut whole cheeses and larger pieces of cheese will last longer as they retain moisture better than smaller pieces of cheese, which will dry out quickly.  We would recommend that you consume a cut soft cheese within 3-5 days of purchasing it from us (unless it is a whole soft cheese like a Camembert. which will have its best before date clearly marked).  A harder cheese, properly stored and tightly wrapped can last up to 10-14 days.  For your cheese to be at its best, try and eat it up sooner rather than later! 

Why do I need to let my cheese warm up and for how long?

Remove your cheese from the fridge (leaving it in its wax paper to prevent it from drying out) at least an hour before you intend consuming it.  Allowing the cheese to warm up slowly to room temperature will release the full complexity and intensity of its flavours. Cold temperatures can hamper both the flavour and texture of cheese.

If you don’t consume all of your cheese in one sitting it is fine to re-wrap it in its wax paper and return it to the fridge. 

My cheese has white mould on it or has dried out, what can I do?

Using a clean knife just scrape the surface of the cheese to remove any residue or cut a thin slice off.  The remaining cheese is safe to eat and should taste delicious.  Clothbound cheeses frequently have natural surface mould as part of the maturing process.  Whilst unsightly, moulds of this nature are common and part of the cheese making process. 

 Can I freeze cheese?

It is possible to freeze cheese but we do not recommend it as it affects the taste and texture once defrosted.