How to store Parmesan: useful tips for the housewife

Parmesan is produced only in two provinces of Italy - Parma and Reggio, where its name - Parmigiano-Reggiano - comes from. It belongs to hard types of cheese and is used not only for preparing salads and pasta. It can be eaten as an independent dish, lightly seasoned with balsamic vinegar. The incredibly delicate taste with a spicy aftertaste is loved by many connoisseurs of this product around the world. Since Parmesan is a long-ripening cheese, it can be classified as a gourmet cheese. Therefore, its price is quite high, and not everyone can afford to use it every day. But during the holidays, Caesar salad can be seen on many tables. But what to do if the cheese has already been purchased, but the celebration is still far away? How to store Parmesan? Let's look into this issue.

Special properties of Parmesan

This cheese can age for up to 3 years. During this time, it reaches a good consistency, its structure becomes crumbly and granular. Such a product can be stored for several months and will not lose its quality. There are several opinions about the shelf life of this cheese, but all experts agree on one thing. The place where you store Parmesan should be cool and have moderate humidity. Therefore, you should not store Parmesan at room temperature. In addition, it is generally accepted that a cut head of cheese cannot be stored for a long time. And within 10-15 days it will lose its unique taste.

If after this product has been in the refrigerator for some time, mold begins to appear on it, there is nothing to worry about. The affected areas are simply cut off, and the cheese itself is eaten, as it remains completely normal. It’s another matter if Parmesan has lost its shape during long-term storage at high temperatures. In this case, it is better to throw it away.

How to Store Parmesan in the Refrigerator

It happens that after the celebration there are parts of this cheese left, and a question arises. How can I prevent them from spoiling? How long can Parmesan cheese , cut into pieces, be stored?

1. In order to preserve a piece of cheese, it is wrapped in slightly damp gauze or any other cotton fabric.
2. To prevent the moisture from evaporating and the cheese from drying out, wrap the fabric on top with foil.

Parmesan cheese can stay fresh in the refrigerator for several weeks as long as it is not too close to the freezer.

There are several rules for storing Parmesan that should be followed to extend the shelf life of this product.

• For example, you should not wrap it in film or keep it in plastic bags. This product requires air access.
• This cheese is wrapped, as already mentioned, in foil and cloth so that it does not become moldy. It is also acceptable to store it in parchment or wrapping paper.
• If it is not possible to keep Parmesan in the refrigerator, cover it with salt and store it in this form. But this method can make the cheese over-salted, and it will lose its unique delicate taste.
• For long-term storage of this product, use a freezer, where it can be safely stored for up to six months.

Where not to store

The shelf life of Russian cheese largely depends on where it is placed in the refrigerator. You should not store the product at home:

• on the top shelves of the refrigerator;
• close to the freezer;
• on the door.

It is also not worth putting the product in plastic or wrapped in plain paper for safekeeping; very soon without ventilation it will begin to deteriorate and acquire an unpleasant odor and unpresentable appearance.

Important! Under no circumstances should you wrap the product in newspaper; contact with lead will have a negative impact on your health.

Professional ways to store Parmesan

This cheese comes to our market in different forms. Italian manufacturers supply it to our stores both as whole heads and cut into pieces starting from 50g. Therefore, the issue of storing pieces of cheese remains relevant.

In addition to storing in the refrigerator, the method of storing Parmesan in a vacuum has become widely used. To do this, a special device is used to pump out the air from the bag where the cheese is located. This method has long been used not only by manufacturers and professional chefs, but also by housewives.

If the cheese has already been purchased in vacuum packaging, it should not be opened until you use this product. And when its integrity is compromised, it is better to transfer the cheese to a bag of parchment paper. They roll it into a bag and pack the cheese there.

You can also save chopped Parmesan cheese, prepared in advance, for adding to various dishes. It can be stored in the refrigerator in this form for up to 7 days.

Tips to help preserve Parmesan

• In order for the taste and aroma of the cheese to be preserved for as long as possible, it should be stored in paper, which, in turn, is wrapped in foil;
• You need to know exactly when the shelf life of the product ends; for this, the packaging must be signed. A sticker is attached to the foil with tape indicating the date the cheese was placed in the refrigerator. This method is especially relevant for those cases when Parmesan is in the freezer for 6 - 8 months. Signing becomes even more relevant when there are several pieces of cheese placed in storage at different times;
• It should be remembered that chopped Parmesan does not last long. When preparing dishes with this cheese, you need to try to correctly calculate the required amount of grated product. But if there is any leftover, it can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.

Description

Parmesan is a type of Italian hard cheese made from cow's milk. It is prepared exclusively from natural ingredients, due to which it has a rich taste and aroma. Italians eat small slices of cheese with red wine. It is added to various salads and vegetable dishes, meat and pizza to impart special flavor properties.

Storing Parmesan in the Freezer

The question often arises whether Parmesan can be kept in the freezer. Yes, this cheese can be stored at sub-zero temperatures. At the same time, its nutritional value will be preserved. At temperatures from - 15 to - 20°C, this product will remain usable for up to 9 months. But it is better not to keep cheese in the freezer for more than six months, while it will retain its quality and structure. It is important to avoid sudden temperature changes when defrosting it. To do this, the product is moved from the freezer to the refrigerator shelf, and after a few hours to room temperature.

When storing cheese in the freezer, it is recommended to divide it into small parts. In this case, you can use only the required amount.

Repeated freezing of cheese is unacceptable, after which it will lose not only its shape, but also its taste.

Wrap the sliced ​​cheese pieces in parchment paper and place in a bag. Remember! Each piece must be wrapped separately. The method of storing parmesan in small portions in the freezer was invented by Italian housewives who cannot imagine life without this product.

General storage table

Parmesan cheese expiration date

Parmesan is a very old cheese that has reached a state of crystallization. The ripening process alone lasts up to 3 years, so it is extremely difficult to destroy this product.

If you bought a sliced ​​piece, then Parmesan cheese, wrapped in film to preserve freshness or wrapped in thick paper, can remain in the refrigerator for at least 3 months , and then its taste may decline.

Some advise freezing it in the freezer , extending the safe shelf life to up to one year , but warn that when defrosted it may seem less tasty than before. Connoisseurs of Italian authenticity are clutching their heads at such rationalizations and warn that this dry old cheese should never be stored in a damp place.

If your Parmesan is too dry, don't worry. As long as it has not changed its smell and has not become moldy (and growing mold on such cheese is a truly impossible task), then it can be grated and used with pasta, pizza, and even in soup (as a seasoning).

What are the prices where I live?

1. Parmesan cheese, which does not claim status, named after the local supermarket “AH” – € 26.10 per 1 kg.
2. The same, but in the form of small pieces, packaged in plastic jars - € 33.22.
3. It’s the same, but ground into dust, much cheaper – € 24.33
4. The same supermarket parmesan with claims of biological origin – € 27.99.

5. “Zanetti Parmigiano Reggiano” turned out to be the cheapest in the assortment of whole pieces – € 24.95.

Naturally, no one sells them in kilograms. The jar contains 90 g of shavings or powder, and a regular piece reaches 250 g.

Your question came in very handy. While studying prices, I discovered that starting tomorrow all types of Parmesan are at a 50% discount.

Cheese is supplied to grocery supermarkets both in whole heads and in individual pieces of 50 grams each. In this article we will analyze the main points of how to store Parmesan cheese depending on the type.

Professional ways to store Parmesan

The basic rule: the larger the piece, the longer it will stay fresh in the refrigerator. Large chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese can be stored wrapped in thick cheesecloth or a towel. The fabric needs to be slightly moistened so that it is damp, but not dripping water.

A widely used way to store Parmesan is in vacuum packaging. But until the product is used, it cannot be opened; if the integrity was accidentally broken, it is better to transfer the cheese to a parchment bag.

Grated cheese should be placed in an airtight container and kept in the cold. How long Parmesan can be stored in the refrigerator is detailed in the table below.

Tips to help preserve Parmesan

1. Wrap the cheese in paper and then in foil.
2. Label the packaging so you won't miss the moment when the Parmesan cheese expires. This is especially important for cheese that is stored in the freezer for 6-8 months, or if the product was stored in the refrigerator in portions at different times.
3. Shredded (grated into strips) cheese stays fresh for the least amount of time—maximum one week. Therefore, when preparing a dish, it is better to accurately calculate the amount of cheese you will need, so that you don’t have to deal with excess later.
4. There is no need to wrap it in film or a bag, this will deprive it of the necessary air, so as not to mold it is better to store it in paper; some housewives wrap it in fabric.
5. Without a refrigerator, you can cover the cheese with salt, but then there is a risk of losing the original taste and quality of the cheese.

Parmigiano has earned the love of gourmets for its dense structure and special nutty flavor. In addition to taste, it also brings benefits - vitamin A, sodium, protein and calcium.

In order to fully enjoy all these benefits, you need to be able to store cheese correctly, not use an expired product and under no circumstances refreeze it - this way it will lose all its beneficial properties.

When cooking, products that can be called delicacies are often used. One of them is Parmesan cheese. This is an ingredient for delicious Italian pasta and classic Caesar salad. Parmesan is not cheap, so it is important not only to know how to use it correctly, but also how to store it.

How to store Parmesan cheese? The question is by no means an idle one, because not all of it is always used during preparation; it’s a pity to waste such an expensive product on familiar sandwiches! Let's look at the basic methods of how to store Parmesan at home and how long this product can be stored.

Special properties of Parmesan

The ripening period of this cheese is quite long - from one to three years, it is during this period that it becomes the desired consistency: grainy and dry. Therefore, this product is not difficult to store and will easily be stored for several months. However, it needs a cool place with moderate humidity. Many sources indicate different times for how long to store Parmesan. However, professional chefs say that if the cheese is cut, it is not advisable for it to sit for a long time. After two weeks it loses its taste and aroma. It's okay if the cheese gets a little moldy after being in the refrigerator for about a week. You just need to cut off the damaged area and this product can be safely eaten.

If the cheese floats due to excessively warm temperature, the situation is much worse. This product is best thrown away.

A piece of Parmesan: storage method

If there are a few large pieces of Parmesan left, you can save them until next time as follows:

1. Take a piece of gauze or natural cotton fabric. Get it wet. Squeeze firmly so that the material is moist but not wet.
2. Wrap the parmesan pieces in the material and wrap the top with foil. The latter is necessary, otherwise the moisture will evaporate and the cheese will become too dry.
3. The cheese should be stored in a room with a low temperature; a refrigerator is ideal. You just need to choose a place that is not too cold, the bottom shelf is best.

With this method, the cheese will retain its quality for several months.

How to Store Parmesan in the Refrigerator

There are several secrets on how to store Parmesan in the refrigerator:

• For example, there is no need to store Parmesan in cling film. This product needs air, otherwise it will start to mold.

• As mentioned above, Parmesan should be wrapped in foil to prevent moisture from evaporating. If there is no foil, it is advisable to use other similar materials rather than leaving the cheese in the bag.
• You can pack the cheese in baking parchment, waxed paper, or wrapping paper.
• If Parmesan is covered with mold, then it can be removed; this will not affect the taste of the cheese, but the amount of the product will decrease.

If a cool place is not available, then Parmesan can be “salted”. Pieces of cheese need to be sprinkled with salt. But this method has a flaw: the product loses its taste and becomes overly salty. If there is a lot of cheese and you plan to store it for a long time, then it is better to use the freezer. Parmesan can be stored there for six months.

Professional ways to store Parmesan

Now cheesemakers supply Parmesan to the market in different forms. Cheese is sold as heads and small pieces from 50 grams. However, you may not immediately find a piece of the mass you need, so the issue of storing the product is still relevant.

If you follow the above rules, Parmesan is quite easy to store in the refrigerator.

Nowadays, vacuum bags are becoming increasingly popular for this purpose. They are used not only by professional chefs, but also by ordinary housewives.

Sometimes you can find Parmesan cheese packaged this way on sale. It is usually packaged in small portions of 20-50 grams. If cheese is purchased in this form, then it should be stored without opening the packaging.

If the package has already been opened, it is better to take out the Parmesan and wrap the pieces in parchment paper. You can also store shredded cheese for salads this way. Simply make a container out of paper in advance, like a bag for seeds, and pour the crushed product into it. In this form, Parmesan is quite suitable for food for two weeks.

Useful tips for preserving Parmesan cheese

It is better to store Parmesan not in store packaging, but in parchment paper wrapped on top with foil. This way the cheese retains its taste and smell better.

The storage period should not be exceeded (6-8 months). It is best to write down the date on the package; if you plan to store it for a long time, write the date on paper and attach it to the package with tape, so you will always know by what date a particular piece should be used.

Crushed Parmesan is preserved much worse, so when preparing dishes you should more accurately calculate the amount of product needed. If you still have some grated cheese left, it can easily stay in the refrigerator for a week.

Is it permissible to store Parmesan in the freezer?

Can parmesan be stored in the freezer? This question is very popular. This storage method does not affect the nutritional value of the product, since it has already undergone the necessary processing.

It should be remembered that the cheese can be stored in this way for up to 9 months. Temperature is 15-20 degrees below zero. The cheese should be defrosted gradually, first transferring it to the refrigerator, and after a few hours to room temperature.

It is also worth considering that when storing Parmesan in the freezer, it is better to divide it into small portions, since repeated defrosting and freezing does not improve the quality. This method is very popular among Italian housewives.

You can learn about how to store other types of cheese from this article.