Cheese is one of the most used ingredients because of the amazing flavor it adds to the dishes. What many people don’t realize is that there is a wide variety of cheeses available to meet the different flavor preferences of the users, but it’s also essential to keep their storage in mind. So, if you are ready to purchase the cheese and want to know which cheese molds the fastest, we are sharing the details in this article!
Which Cheese Mold The Fastest?
Cheddar cheese is one of the fastest molding cheeses, and there are various reasons behind it. To begin with, it is common for the cheese to have spores, which creates the ultimate base for growing mold. Secondly, you need to keep the moisture content in mind because cheddar cheese has a high moisture content, which leads to faster growth of mold.
In addition to the high moisture content, you also need to keep in mind the pH level. This is because cheddar cheese has a lower pH level because the cheese with a higher pH level will be better at fighting off the mold. All these factors contribute to the faster mold growth in cheddar cheese. Furthermore, the softer cheeses are highly likely to grow mold.
Tips To Prevent Mold Buildup In Cheese
At this point, it is pretty clear that cheddar cheese grows mold the fastest, but there are different ways of preventing such occurrence, and we are here to share all of them!
1. Avoid Plastic Wrapping
When it comes down to storing the cheese, you need to consider the material you are using for wrapping, and the plastic wrapping is the worst way of storing your cheese. It might seem convenient to throw the cheddar cheese block in a plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator, but it will end up suffocating the cheese, resulting in mold. In addition, using plastic wrap will also damage the flavor of the cheese.
2. Wrapping Strength
The cheddar cheese has natural odors emitting from it, and the most important factor is the pungent smell of ammonia. So, when you don’t leave out room for your cheese to breathe, it will start smelling like plastic and ammonia. On the other hand, when the cheese is wrapped too loosely, it will result in hard and dry chunks, which makes the cheese useless. So, always be moderate while wrapping the cheese.
3. Use Cheese Paper
Many people don’t know this, but it’s easier to keep the cheddar cheese fresh with the help of cheese paper or cheese bags. This is because these special bags and papers are designed with a porous material, which protects your cheese from exposure to environmental factors while leaving room for breathing. In addition, it allows the moisture-wicking but doesn’t let it escape, promising better storage.
4. Opt For Parchment Paper Or Wax Paper
It’s needless to say that finding special cheese paper and cheese bags can be pretty hard, so if you cannot find these special bags, you can opt for parchment paper or wax paper. In addition to wrapping the cheddar cheese in this paper, you have to fit it in the partially-sealed bags. This is because the paper will create a barrier between the plastic bag and cheese to prevent drying and improve the storage.
On the other hand, if you don’t want to use a plastic bag, you can also choose aluminum foil, and it actually extends the lifespan and improves the flavor.
5. Don’t Forget To Replace The Paper
If you have a bigger block of cheddar cheese and you have to reuse it, it’s obvious that you will have to take it out and refrigerate it again and again. For this reason, it is important to replace the paper whenever you unwrap the cheddar cheese because it sweats. As a result, if you reuse the same wrapping, it won’t offer a protective seal.
The Bottom Line
To summarize, cheddar cheese is a soft form of cheese, which makes it prone to mold growth. In addition to this, you have to ensure proper storage of ricotta cheese and mozzarella cheese as well. All in all, you can prevent mold growth by following the proper storage protocols mentioned in the article above. So, are you ready to enjoy fresh cheese?