22 Sep The Correct Way to Store Your Cheese for Maximum Freshness
According to research, more than half of UK consumers would rather give up chocolate than cheese.
If you own a delicatessen, corner store, bakery, or even a coffee shop, it can pay to stock a selection of speciality cheeses. But to store cheese safely, you will need a commercial cheese refrigerator, and you’ll need to know how to operate it properly.
Read on to find out how to store cheese safely and hygienically.
Set the Temperature Correctly
The first step to safely storing cheese is to set the right temperature for your commercial cheese fridge. Most cheese refrigerator units have temperature ranges of between 4°C and 15°C.
Here in England, it is a legal requirement to store cold food below 8°C. However, this rule doesn’t apply to ageing cheeses and harder cheeses.
The exact temperature to set your cheese refrigerator depends very much on the type of cheese you’re storing. Soft, fresh cheese like Camembert, Brie, and certain cheddars require temperatures of between 4°C and 7°C.
Semi-soft and semi-hard cheeses like Swiss, Gouda, and certain types of blue cheese store best in temperatures between 8°C and 12°C.
Hard cheeses like parmesan, parmigiano, pecorino, and Gruyère do best in temperatures as high as 13°C to 15°C.
If you want to store a variety of cheese the best solution is to buy or lease a commercial cheese fridge that has multiple chill zones or compartments.
Keep Flavours Separated
If you want to store your rounds like a seasoned cheesemonger, place the different types of cheeses into separate storage compartments in your fridge. This will help stop the flavours and aromas from transferring.
Don’t Overcrowd the Shelves
It might be tempting to generously stock your cheese refrigerator, but be wary of overcrowding the shelves – Why? Because this can impact airflow.
Proper airflow is critical for the safe storing of cheese. Airflow prevents moisture buildup and ensures the humidity levels don’t rise in your cheese fridge, which protects against mould growth.
Give each cheese some “breathing” room and don’t stack cheese wheels on top of each other. Ideally, you should use wooden or wire racks to set the cheeses on.
Inspect and Rotate on a Regular Basis
You must also regularly inspect your cheese fridge and its stock. Rotate each cheese to ensure even airflow, and check for any signs of mould.
Sterilise Your Cheese Refrigerator
It’s very important to regularly clean and sterilise a commercial cheese fridge. This will prevent mould growth and odour buildup.
If you have a cleaning schedule for your shop, slot your cheese refrigerator into this. If not, draw up a comprehensive schedule to make sure your shop stays sanitary and meets the Food Standards Agency’s requirements.
Do You Need a Commercial Cheese Fridge?
Storing cheese safely isn’t hard if you have a good cheese refrigerator. Make sure you set the temperatures right, allow for good airflow, inspect your stock, and put your fridge on a cleaning schedule.
Are you looking for a commercial-grade cheese refrigerator for your business? Capital Refrigeration is the answer to all your commercial cooling and food display needs.
Browse our refrigeration solutions or contact us to inquire about buying or leasing a state-of-the-art cheese fridge.
