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
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That is an excellent hint. Cheese of any kind is expensive, too expensive to have to throw out. Thanks!
I'll have to try that. Another way to at least delay the mold forming is to wrap the cheese in wax paper before putting it in a plastic bag. Cheese in plastic bag...no, no.
What a smart idea. My deli wraps the cheese in waxed paper before putting it in the plastic bag but that does not always work--I end up with moldy cheese. I will certainly try this. Thanks!
Great tip...will have to try it.
This absolutely works. In the cheese-making process it is used. When the cheese is cured, they rub the outside each day with a sponge in vinegar water.
Wonderful information. Thank you for sharing. I never knew that! So helpful./ss
I wash berries in diluted white vinegar as soon as I get them home - they keep much longer and don't mold. We always have lots of cheese here, so I'm trying this tip next. Thanks!
I use vinegar as well to wash fresh berries when I get them. One cup of vinegar to three cups water. I rinse the berries first in ice water, then soak in the vinegar water for 2 minutes. Then I put them in clean ice water for 2 minutes, dry in my salad spinner and then layer the fruit with paper towel in between the layers, in my dehydrator in the fridge.
Does it have to be regular vinegar, or will apple cider vinegar work?
It seems a good idea
I'll try it cause I like all kind of cheeses n buy them on sale too
Thanks for sharing
I did just as you suggested, and it has worked beautifully, no more moldy cheese. Thanks soo much! Jackie Mattingly, Louisville, Ky.
WOW! TY for posting this hint! I use vinegar for everything (I thought). But this has never occurred to me to do!
Thanks for the easy money saving tip.
To keep onion longer I cut off what I need. I keep skin on onion then place onion in plastic container with paper towel. It lasts longer.
Ive been doing this in my butter bell. Just a small amount with the water and it extends the life beautifully.
It works. Saving a fortune now that I'm not cutting and throwing away mouldy cheese
Years ago I used to have a friend that worked in a cheese shop and at night they washed the cheese in vinegar. I now keep vinegar in a spray bottle and use it this way and many other ways....
I have done the same thing for years only I have wrapped the chunk of cheese in cheesecloth soaked with vinegar. I have never thrown out a piece.
I hardly ever had mold on my cheese until my nephew and family came to visit for a week. They cooked with cheese and would leave it on the counter for at least an hour, then putting it back in the fridge.
Awesome thanks for the tip I'm definitely going to try this
A co-worker gave me this tip years ago but I had forgotten. Thanks for the reminder. I know this works.
Thank very much. I have learned something new,as from today i am going to do that.
Can I wrap shredded cheese like this
I don't think that would work. The mold grows on the surface of the cheese and shredded cheese is all surface. I'm afraid that the vinegar wouldn't work in that case. I would probably store it in the freezer as the shredded cheese melts very fast, even from frozen.
I love cheeze and hate when it starts to green so to speak. I love my vacume sealer and have been cutting my big block of cheeze into useable pieces and vacume sealed them and they stay in my fridge crisper for months on end with no signs of mold.
What if you shred the cheese from a block?
I buy all flavors of cheeses and mix them together in a zip lock bag. I then freeze it. If it's stuck together when I need it I just bang it on the counter and take what I need then put it back in the freezer. It never goes moldy or loses it's flavor.
Lucy F
Thanks for the tip Trish.
Now I know
Very cool!
I just shred it and put in my freezer. Never gets moldy and thaws fast if I need a handful for a salad, baked potato or whatever.
It works. Also, fresh berries will last longer--not grow mold--if first rinsed in a solution of 1qt water + 1 Cup white vinegar.
That is good because chunks of cheese always gets moldy before I can use it all
I fold a paper towel in my Bread Bags and my Bread does not mold anymore. no vinegar.
Even if it molds, you carve out the mold and the rest is in tact.
That sounds like a great Idea, I will be giving your vinegar-dampened paper towel a go. so now I'm going to pass on another wee tip that I have found successful is to wrap my fresh veg in paper towels after rinsing them off then placing them in plastic bags My lettuce lasts weeks as well as all the other fresh vegetables I even place a paper towel on the top and bottom of the salad mixtures that come in the plastic container no more wilting and rotting veg !!!
Interesting, never thought to try vinegar. I usually just wrap mine in wax paper. Keeps it mold free too. Wonder which might work better for yhose using shredded cheese. I usually just shred as needed but I can see the convenience of preshredded. Does anyone have 3xperience with this?
Already shredded cheese also has ingredients in it that chunk cheese doesnt.
Thank you for the advice! There are only two of us & I typically have myriad cheeses in my fridge. We dont want to eat the same thing every day.
Thank you so much. I throw away more cheese than I care to say. I don't like the gritty stuff they put on the preshredded cheese to keep it from clumping. My dad used to butcher our own meat and while it was hanging would wipe it down with vinegar. Never any spoilage. I'm doing the cheese in the fridge TODAY...
Have been cutting off the mold on cheese, a waste of cheese and money. Was rewrapping in wax paper then bagging it but the mold came back. WILL surely give this a new try with the vinegar. Thanks.
Im so happy to find this information no matter how I carefully wrap cheese it often gets moldy! Trying this for sure !thank you
I keep my in the frizzer kid take what I need and put it back in the frizzer it last for ever
Awesome, thank you for sharing. Cheese is not cheap and oh so good to use in cooking, sandwiches, etc. This can save us all our wonderful cheese!
Wonder if it will work on top of cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, etc. Will try it to see.
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