Cheese storage paper is a wonderful invention that has been around for as long as refrigerators have been able to hold the cheese. In fact, it was invented by an employee of the National Dairy Council in 1948. However, if you have never used cheese papers before, knowing how to choose them can be confusing.
In general, the most crucial factor is the kind of cheese that you are using with them. Some cheese types, like Brie or goat cheese, have a higher moisture content than others. Hence, they need to be wrapped in paper with holes. You can consider looking through options for cheese wrapping from Formaticum or other reputed brands when looking for different varieties.
Other considerations include:
How Often Will You Use the Paper for Cheese Storage?
If you are wrapping a big block of cheese for your party, you will need to make sure that the paper is quite large. If you are only using it every once to store some leftover scraps of cheese, then any size should work fine.
If it is not used very often, you should purchase plain cheese papers, but if it is used multiple times a week or if you’re planning to wrap large portions of cheese, it is advisable to buy larger quantities of more expensive options.
Which Size to Choose?
The most common cheese paper size is 16 inches by 20 inches, but larger sizes are also available. After measuring the inside of your fridge, you should come up with a rough estimate for how long it takes to wrap around your block of cheese or container of leftovers.
What’s Your Budget?
It is possible to find cheese storage papers that are very cheap. However, you should be aware that cheaper cheese papers will not retain their shape or hold much moisture without tearing. If possible, spend a bit more money on quality paper for the best results.
The Right Texture and Thickness Matters Too
Cheese papers come in several different textures, with the most common being parchment paper, wax paper, and greaseproof paper. Papers with fewer holes are better for very moist cheeses, as the moisture will not evaporate as quickly. If you have cheese with a low moisture level, parchment paper will work best to retain the flavor of the cheese without mixing it with the flavors of anything else in your fridge.
What Type Needs to be Used with Which Cheese?
Soft cheeses like Brie usually need to be wrapped with paper that has holes. If the cheese is greasy, it can seep through to other cheeses in your fridge, so you might want to store it on the top shelf or wrap it with a different type of cheese storage paper.
It is not necessary with harder cheeses. However, if you are using the cheese for cooking, you might want to use waxed paper, as it does not soak up oil or flavor from other cheeses as high-quality cheese storage paper does. You can find cheese wrapping from Formaticum or other reputed brands to suit your requirement.
Avoid Using White Paper with Cheese Storage
All cheese papers are made from either regular white paper or parchment paper. You should not use traditional white paper for storing cheese because it may contain chemicals that can alter how the cheese looks and tastes.
Similarly, you should not use waxed paper, as the wax on it might seep into the cheese and make it greasy or slightly more watery. Instead, look for options made from paper specifically meant to be used with cheese storage.
Cheese storage paper is not just about keeping your block of cheese pretty to look at. It preserves the taste and freshness of your expensive cheeses so that you can enjoy them for much longer. If you want every piece to be perfect, choose good-quality paper before cutting it.
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