Should you freeze cheese and other interesting cheese questions

Cheese questions, like should you freeze cheese, step up to the cheese plate.

For many people, cheese is a favorite food. Still, many people have perplexing cheese questions, like should you freeze cheese, can you eat the rind and what about lactose intolerance and cheese. With all those questions on the table, why not make a cheese plate and get some answers.

Looking back at history, cheese has been around for over 5,000 years. Without going into scientific processing, milk can become cheese. Yes, it is a far, far more complicated process, but I am not a cheesemaker or a scientist.

Over time, people found various methods for making, storing and enjoying cheese. Depending on the methods, the area and the ingredients, cheese can come in a variety of forms. Soft cheese, hard cheese, fresh cheese, aged cheese and a variety of other options can be found across the globe. Yes, not all cheese is alike, even the same type of cheese can be very different depending on how it was made.

To most people, the biggest concern is how it tastes. Just like a simple recipe versus a complex one, who, how and why the cheese is made impacts the flavor. While some people might like Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Co. Original Blue doesn’t mean that she will like the Blue Jay by Deer Creek from Wisconsin. But, it is quite tasty to try all the different cheeses.

Since dairy is a natural mood booster, many people were stocking up on extra cheese. While it is nice to have a fully stocked fridge, no one wants food to go to waste. The idea to freeze cheese had some people perplexed.

From freezing avocados to even freezing milk, people were trying to maximize their grocery shopping but not waste food. But, what about that extra cheese?

Simply stated, cheese can be frozen. Hard cheeses are a better choice. If you are freezing cheese, cut the pieces into small blocks and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. When you want to enjoy the cheese, let it slowly come to temperature in the refrigerator.

Storing cheese is important. Many people wonder if that mold on the cheese is a good or bad thing. Fresh cheese should not have mold. But, you can eat the rind. Most parts of cheese are edible, but not the wax or the paper. Those items should be discarded.

Most importantly, cheese needs to be properly stored. You wouldn’t leave your milk out on the counter for hours, don’t do that with your cheese either.

Also, cheese needs to be wrapped well. Ensuring that the cheese is tightly wrapped in plastic when stored helps to keep it fresh. While the freshness varies depending on the type of cheese, proper storage is always a good idea.

As for lactose intolerance, some hard cheeses have little or no lactose. The same can be said for some soft-ripened cheeses like brie. It is best to stick with fresh cheeses and experiment to see what works best for you.

In the end, there is always a good reason to have some cheese in the house. From a cheese plate to burger topping to the best grilled cheese ever, cheese is what’s for dinner.

Do you have some cheese tips to share? Share your thoughts in the comment section or tag us with #FoodSided on social media.