mouldy cheddar

[jaydah]

I opened a sealed pack of cheddar, used half & stored rest in plastic box. After 3days its got mould all over. Any tips to make it last longer, please.

[NazNomad]

Don't touch it with your fingers once it's open.

[Mamyalynne]

Too much air in the box with the cheese to allow mould to grow, wrap in greaseproof paper instead.

[society]

The whole piece of cheese got mouldy? I'd dump it.

[welshlibranr]

You can either cut off the mlouldy bits and use it, or bin it!..............I would just bin it!........

[anneasquith]

best to put opened cheese in tin foil. it does last longer.

[jaydah]

thanx for replies, this happens a lot and I thought my storage was faulty - you've proved me right. Will feed it to robins - they love cheese.

[askyourgran]

I always put cheese in tinfoil and keep it in the fridge, and don't handle it, use the wrapper to touch it with.

[welshlibranr]

Good idea Jay!............the birds will enjoy!.........Not just the robins!..........T

[Andyvon]

At the risk of incurring some ABers disgust - what's wrong with the mould? Isn't it a harmless penicillin? I've always just scraped or cut any mould off and eaten the cheese.

It's different with bacteria on old meat of course, but I don't think anyone has ever become ill or died from mould on cheese. There would be the same Health and Safety warnings for cheese as there are for meat and other products is there were.

[jaydah]

I wondered that andy, isn't stilton mouldy cheese ?

[Andyvon]

Yes Jaydah - and Danish blue, gorgonzola etc. In fact, the mould is deliberately injected or introduced into those cheeses to give them the look and flavour. It's perfectly harmless - and I actually suspect it's good for you!

[pastafreak]

I also just cut the mould off...you can tell by the smell anyway.

[pips1]

On the subject of cheese I have an unopened pack of mature cheddar that was up on the 4th October, it looks OK through the clear wrapping and has been in fridge whole time - would you use it?

[Mamyalynne]

Yes

[Andyvon]

I most certainly would Pips!

I would use it with Ritz crackers, Branston pickle and silverskin onions. I would enjoy that feast and your cheese on a tray in front of the TV - with a T-towel around my neck to catch the crumbs! How common!

[Andyvon]

BTW. The only time I do throw cheese out is if it has gone hard. Then it's obviously past it's best. The full fat cheeses such as brie can be funny if you leave them, but it does get obvious.

[pips1]

Thanks for answers, I'll eat it, after all it is just a bit more mature, lol

[woofgang]

not sure if anyone has made clear NOT to store cheese in an airtight box. Cheese loses moisture naturally and if you don't allow it to, the moisture raises the humidity in the sealed box and makes a perfect environment for mould.

[woozer]

You can always freeze it if you know you are not going to use it up . I grate the harder cheeses like cheddar and stick it in the freezer. I am one of the eat it if it smells OK brigade - I dont bother with sell/useby dates and I just scrape the mould off cheese and jam and eat em. I have never had food poisoning and neither have any of my family !!!