How to store cheese without plastic wrap?

[wagamama]

The title says it all -- obviously it can be done, since cheese has been around a lot longer than plastic wrap. Does anyone have any suggestions? TIA!

[Marni]

It's scary how many things we frequently eat are wrapped in that horrible stuff. I wish I could BUY chees without it ever touching plastic -- but since I am not near a farm, I take it OUT of the plastic and store it in one of my many stainless, glass, or ceramic storage dishes (I don't use plastic storage bowls anymore -- not since educating myself on the many evils of the stuff).

[jbie]

waxed paper!!

[blizzard_babe]

Originally Posted by Marni

It's scary how many things we frequently eat are wrapped in that horrible stuff. I wish I could BUY chees without it ever touching plastic -- but since I am not near a farm, I take it OUT of the plastic and store it in one of my many stainless, glass, or ceramic storage dishes (I don't use plastic storage bowls anymore -- not since educating myself on the many evils of the stuff).

I might just be spoiled living in Wisconsin, but you can still buy cheese packaged in wax. I get mine either at my local co-op grocery or straight from the cheese factory.

Of course, there's still the question of storing it once it's open, but it sounds like you've got that part figured out.

This conversation has reminded me... I haven't been to the cheese factory yet this summer!

[mavery]

Yes, wax paper!
I wrap cheese in wax paper and then put it inside a plastic bag (grocery store vegetable bags, usually) or tupperware.

[hubris]

I just put the cheese into a glass container.

[Taedareth]

Can someone educate me on the evils of plastic wrap?

[wagamama]

Hmm ... I store feta in a glass container and it works, but my cheddar gets hard around the edges. I think I will try waxed paper in a glass container.

Taedareth, I've read that plastic wrap leaches BPA (among other chemicals, probably) into food -- especially fatty foods like cheese .

[Maple Leaf Mama]

Waxed paper-it works very well. It was what my grandparents always used.
It keeps it from drying out, without being too moist that it moulds.If anything, the paper absorbs excess moisture .
Then I just pop it all in a zip lock.

[snv1492]

For centuries before refrigeration and when wax was not available or after the wax was pierced, they used to coat the surface of the cheese that was exposed to air with oil. It apparently stays good for months, depending on the cheese' natural life span. Any mold will grow harmlessly on the surface of the oil and can be wiped away.

Canola or olive oil should work. I've never done it but it sounds like it would work, and the flavor of olive oil probably goes pretty well with most cheeses.

This was before refrigeration when the cheese was stored at room temperature, so I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work even better in a refrigerator.

I don't think cheese actually needs any sort of special storage. If just left in the air, the areas exposed to air will eventually dry out and become hard. It almost wraps itself. But the center should stay good for a long time.

I wouldn't want to try it with any kind of gooey cheese. But for hard cheeses, they should do fine by themselves.

[reducereuserecycle]

i'm going to try the oil on the edges as my cheese always dries out on the edges.