You've been storing your cheese incorrectly - and it's encouraging mould growth

Cheese lovers, rejoice - there's a nifty trick to keep that block of cheddar fresh for longer.

Whether you're melting it on toast or sprinkling it over pasta, cheese is a staple in many kitchens. But those hefty blocks sold in supermarkets can be a challenge to finish, especially if you're dining solo or not a big cheese eater. The dairy product does last longer than most things in our fridges, but it can still begin to grow mould if left untouched for too long.

But worry not, as there's a simple solution that could prevent your cheese from going to waste. It's all to do with how you store it once you've opened the air-tight plastic packaging that it comes in.

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A TikTok chef shared the secret for cheese preservation, advising against the common practice of keeping it in its original plastic wrap, as this can trap the moisture in the dairy product and make it a "breeding place" for mould. Kathleen Ashmore instead suggested specialised "cheese paper" as the ultimate wrapping choice for your fromage. If that's not at hand or seems like an unnecessary expense, baking paper is a fantastic alternative.

She said: "I beg of you, please stop keeping your cheese in the plastic from the grocery store. It's going to get mouldy and you're wasting your money. Once you cut into it the first time, take it out of the plastic.

"I use cheese paper, but if you can't get your hands on some you can even just use a wax bag or a piece of parchment paper and put it in a paper bag. Cheese paper is really just wax paper on one side and parchment on the other.

"The big thing is that you want it to be able to breathe. Cheese tends to have a higher level of moisture, if it can't breathe then the moisture gets trapped and that's a breeding ground for bacteria and mould. Just wrap it up like a nice little gift, and you'll find it lasts you three to four times longer in a fridge than if you left it in plastic."

Cheese paper can be pricey, with 15 sheets going for around £17.50 on Amazon. However, you can make do with greaseproof paper - also known as baking paper, or as Kathleen dubbed it, parchment paper - which will only set you back about £2 or less from most supermarkets.

Viewers of the video were quick to jest that cheese doesn't stick around long enough in their homes to warrant a storage hack that extends its shelf life. However, those who don't eat cheese often found it incredibly useful.

One viewer commented: "Cool! Thank you! We love charcuterie cheese boards in summer and we hate when we feel we have wasted a good cheese!" Another added: "I had no idea!"

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