Store Parmesan correctly: How to make hard cheese durable for months
Created: 07/11/2022 15:54
By: Maria Wendel
Parmesan keeps for a long time and yet it sometimes gets moldy in the fridge.
Freezing will never let that happen to you again - but you have to do it right.
Do you love Parmesan, it should not be missing on any pasta dish or pizza?
Then you certainly have it in stock at home.
Annoyingly, it can happen again and again that the hard cheese starts to get
moldy
because you weren't quick enough to use it up.
Parmesan has a fairly long shelf life: it can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks.
To do this, you should pack it in an airtight container or wrap it in foil.
Why whole Parmesan is better than grated Parmesan
You always ask yourself in front of the refrigerated section in the supermarket: Do I
buy Parmesan already grated
or rather
in one piece
?
Here are the pros and cons: On the one hand, you need a grater for Parmesan in one piece - but that shouldn't be a problem.
Although grated cheese is ready to be sprinkled and eaten, it quickly loses its flavor in comparison.
Durability is also an important keyword.
The answer is easy: grated cheese keeps in the fridge for a week at most.
So you would have to eat a lot of pasta over several days.
Parmesan keeps a lot longer in one piece, as described above.
If you vacuum it in a plastic bag, even three to four months!
Parmesan also
freezes better in one piece
.
Read below for the best way to do this.
Parmesan vs Grana Padano
What we call
Parmesan
can only be called that if it has matured for at least twelve months and comes from the region around Parma and Reggio Emilia, which is why the original Italian name of the cheese is Parmigiano Reggiano.
But you can also buy the
Grana Padano,
which is also produced in other regions and stored for a shorter time.
Some gourmets think that this hard cheese cannot keep up with the original in terms of taste, but it is usually cheaper.
Preserve your parmesan for up to six months - by freezing.
You just have to know how.
© YAY Images/Imago
How to properly freeze Parmesan
It is best to cut the Parmesan into smaller portions beforehand.
This means you can only defrost as much cheese as you really need.
If you own a vacuum sealer: Perfect!
Freeze the cheese in a vacuum, as this is the best way to protect against freezer burn.
Alternatively, simply pack the parmesan in one piece in an airtight metal or plastic container or wrap it in foil.
How long can Parmesan be frozen?
Parmesan keeps for
about
six months in the
freezer
.
Of course, leaving it frozen doesn't immediately spoil it, but flavor and quality can suffer.
It is best to write the freezing date on the packaging of your choice so that you can keep track of it in the freezer.
White dots in the parmesan
If you notice white dots in the parmesan, don't panic: it's not a sign the cheese is bad.
On the contrary: these are
salt crystals
that form the longer the cheese is stored.
So you can see that a product has matured for a long time.
Do not refreeze these foods once they have been thawed
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How to thaw frozen parmesan
If you don't want to use the parmesan straight away, it's best to let the frozen piece of cheese thaw in the fridge.
On the other hand, if you want to use the parmesan immediately after defrosting, let it defrost at room temperature.
Because cheese develops its aroma best at room temperature.
Parmesan that has been frozen may be a little more crumbly than usual when thawed, but it still tastes great and can be used as usual.
By the way: If you need something really quick, you can even grate frozen parmesan directly over the pasta, that works too!
And if you've only ever grated to the rim so far, you should read on quickly, because the Parmesan rind can also be used for soups, sauces and flavored oils.
(mad)
