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Does Parmesan Cheese Need To Be Refrigerated
Parmesan cheese needs to be refrigerated to keep it fresh. Parmesan cheese spoils quickly and can make you sick. So, it should be stored in a cool and dry place. Always place it on the lowest shelf of the refrigerator and wrap it well in wax paper before keeping it in the refrigerator.
It is a common question whether Parmigiano should be treated like the other cheeses when coming into contact with refrigeration. Generally speaking, even processed cheeses such as American cheeses should not be refrigerated, at least not before opening. Generally, harder cheeses such as Cheddar, processed cheeses (American), and both blocks and grated parmesan do not require refrigeration for security, but harder cheeses such as Cheddar will keep longer if kept refrigerated. The difference means that although you can leave wheels or blocks of hard cheeses in the open, you always need to store them in the refrigerator if you wish to keep them for a longer period of time.
Hard cheeses, such as Parmigiano Reggiano, Pecorino Romano, and certain processed cheeses, can be kept at room temperature for up to several days, but soft cheeses, such as cream cheese and cottage cheese, need to be kept refrigerated at all times. It is recommended that you freeze soft cheeses like Cottage Cheese, Ricotta, Mascarpone, and Cream Cheese only. Soft cheeses like cream cheese, cottage cheese, grated cheese, and goat cheese should be refrigerated for safe consumption.
We commonly associate cheeses with being stored in a refrigerator here in the U.S., but not all cheeses need to be refrigerated immediately. Once American cheese is opened up and exposed to air and moisture, you are better off keeping it frozen or refrigerated. It is not recommended to keep Parmigiano-Reggiano in the fridge, as it will lose moisture and get stale.
Parmesan cheese (Parmesan) is a low-water-content cheese, which allows you to store it for longer periods of time, depending on packaging and the environment. Once purchased, storing the Parmigiano Reggiano in a fridge is recommended in order to preserve all of its flavor characteristics and ensure the best possible storage for the product. You can store Parmesan (Parmesan) vacuum-packed in the fridge, in the temperature range between 4 to 8 degrees Celsius. Ensure that the package is unopened and tightly sealed; otherwise, the cheese may become mouldy.
After buying a freshly cut Parmesan, or once you have opened a vacuum pack, you should store your cheese at home in a refrigerator, between 39 and 46deg F. When stored correctly, crumbled Parmesan can keep about 5 to 7 days in the fridge after being opened. Like any other cheese, Parmesan needs to be kept refrigerated or else it goes stale and turns rancid.
As mentioned, parmesan is not only a flavorful, uniquely aromatic cheese, but also one of the easiest to store in an optimum condition. This means that it is certainly possible to store in a refrigerator, without worrying about changing flavors or drying out parts. Parmesan, with its lower water content, is less prone to causing harmful bacteria, so large wheels and blocks of parmesan, such as you will see at stores, should not be refrigerated. The size of Parmesan that you take home is a lot smaller, with much more surface area, making it more susceptible to growing bad bacteria.
As long as you store Parmesan properly, it is shelf life will likely extend, particularly because it is typically packaged in larger quantities. If you purchase it in blocks, the best way to store it is by wrapping it tightly in wax paper, foil, or zip-lock bags, and keeping it refrigerated. Cover your block of cheese with plastic wrap or foil so that it does not absorb any odors from your fridge.
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You should store Parmesan in the lower compartment of your fridge to keep it from absorbing the odors of the other foods in your fridge. When you are storing Parmesan cheese in your fridge, be sure to put it in the crisper compartment, away from any cooling vents that could dry it out.
If you are planning on leaving the parmesan outside, though, be sure to find out just how long cheese can stay out before going stale. If you are leaving your parmesan unrefrigerated, you need to keep it refrigerated, and will need several months before it goes bad. Keeping parmesan fresh requires wrapping it tightly in plastic wrap and keeping it in the refrigerator for a few weeks. You can freeze a Parmesan block for quite some time, provided that you pack it well into a freezer-safe bag or another container, such as those found on Amazon.
The cheese needs to be wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and placed in a covered container in the fridge. Your family or friends might suggest placing the uncut or cut Parmesan in a Ziploc bag or wrapped in cling film before placing in the fridge.
Place properly wrapped slices of parmesan in the refrigerators cheese counter or crisper, where temperatures are right and away from foods that can give off a Parmesan flavor. To store any shredded cheese generically, simply place a package in a freezer or refrigerator at 40F before its expiration or best-by date. When storing cheese, grated cheese needs to be placed into a resealable container once grated.
| Storage Places | Shelf Life |
| Fridge | 1-2 month |
| Freezer | 4-6 months |
| Room Temperature | 2-3 days |
If you wish to store your cheese in the refrigerator, it can be acceptable to slice it into smaller pieces, provided that each piece is stored in its own airtight container (we would recommend these if you are in need of a container). For Parmesan cheese and other hard cheeses, you may remove parts that have blotches and keep the remaining pieces to use. Meanwhile, harder cheeses such as Parmesan, Swiss, and Cheddar can be saved by cutting off the mold spots. Hard cheeses have less moisture, so you can still eat them, even with a few molded spots appearing on the surface.
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Keep in mind, aged cheese is stored just below room temperature, so you can safely assume it will be fine surviving at regular room temperature for several days. Pecorino Romano also survives up to 2-3 days at room temperature as long as it is stored properly. When you need to invest 1 – 3 years in the proper aging of cheese in order for it to have a flavor that is anywhere near as good as Parmigiano, it is no wonder the farm and factory smells will not be all too nice.
How long can you leave Parmesan cheese unrefrigerated?
Hard cheeses like Parmesan can last 24 hours without losing quality, while a new cheddar is more delicate. You will observe drying and oiling from it as it is left out in the open. Put the food back in the refrigerator or throw it if it begins to appear to be gleaming.
Why does Parmesan cheese not need to be refrigerated?
Most people grate Parmigiano into crumbled cheese in order to create shredded cheese from the hard, dry cheese. As this cheese is very dry, you will not have to refrigerate it. However, refrigeration may be beneficial if you want to make the cheese last even longer.
How do you store Parmesan cheese after opening?
In order to avoid the cheese block from absorbing the aromas that are present in the refrigerator, you will need to cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. In a crisper drawer, place the cheese wrapped in plastic. As long as you store it in the fridge after it has been opened.