Hello. I like cheese.
ambientmolecules asked: would you reccomend buying quality cheese at the grocery store or at some special retailer?
There are two things you should look for when buying cheese. One, how knowledgeable is the staff? And two, how well is the cheese cared for? You’ll find that in most cases the answer to the first question predicts the answer to the second.
Knowledgeable staff will make sure you have a good experience, will point you in the right direction when making decisions or trying new things, and are a good indicator of how well the products are cared for.
Look for cheese that is kept in wheels. You want a retailer who will cut your cheese from the wheel rather than sell it pre-cut and individually wrapped and stored in a cooler for god-knows-how-long. Do you see water droplets in the plastic wrap? Is the date on the wrap is more than a few days old? Does the cheese has a hard plasticy sheen on it? These are all signs that the cheese hasn’t been cared for and will not be at its best.
Once a cheese is cut and exposed to the air it begins to lose moisture, and flavors and texture start to deteriorate from peak form. This is especially true in softer cheeses, whereas hard cheeses like parmesan and pecorino have low moisture content to begin with, thus a longer shelf-life.
You may live in an area where this isn’t an option, and that’s ok. Ultimately the selection, availability and convenience of the store will influence your decision.
If you’re only option is to purchase pre-wrapped cheese you are not without hope. You can help your cheese by wrapping it in waxed paper and storing it in the crisper drawer of your fridge. You won’t regain freshness or undo any aging, but it very well could lengthen it’s life a bit.
I hope this helps!
Yours in Cheese,
Lindsay
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