We at Cheese Grotto look forward to fall in the Northeast United States for a lot of reasons: that crispness in the air as temperatures drop, the beautiful colors as the leaves change, the onset of fondue season. 

But one of the biggest reasons we love cooler autumn weather? It’s time to take our Grottos out of the fridge and onto the counter where they belong. 

When the ambient temperature drops below 70°F, it’s time to store cheeses at room temperature. At ambient temperature in a cool-weather kitchen, cheeses ripen differently, developing bolder, more complex flavors and lush, supple textures versus storing in the fridge. 

If you don’t know the temperature of your space, pick up one of our hygrometers, which measure the temperature and humidity inside your Grotto. That way, you can make sure conditions are perfect for your cheeses: between 75% and 85% humidity and below 70°F.

Thanks to the Cheese Grotto’s humidifying clay brick and breathable construction, you can store cheeses there unwrapped and at room temperature for 7 to 10 days. That means your favorite cheeses—lush bloomy rinds, savory Alpines, pungent washed rinds, piquant blues—are at the perfect temperature to enjoy any time the mood strikes. 

But don’t take our word for it. The entire country of France knows what we’re talking about, as does acclaimed cheese expert and Cheese Primer author Steven Jenkins, who keeps a Grotto on his own countertop.

Swaddling, de-swaddling and then having to re-swaddle is, to the cheese lover who plates cheeses so very often, beyond bothersome...nor do we want to put up with waiting an hour or so for them to warm up. To us, it's a needless inconvenience.

And here we have the raison d'etre of the Cheese Grotto. Soft-ripened cheeses, middle-aged chevres, mountain cheeses, blue cheeses—all are properly cosseted by the Grotto in the manner they deserve. Fine cheese that you have spent a lot of money on should be brought home and consumed over a period of days, not weeks...

Buy smaller portions. Knock them off. Go back to the cheese shop more often. Keep them in your gorgeous Grotto, and keep it nearby.

What is room temperature?

For cheese purposes, room temperature is roughly defined as between 41°F and 69°F, although “room temperature” as it’s commonly used refers to a comfortable indoor climate of 68°F-72°F.

Can you store cheese at room temperature?

How quickly a cheese ripens is directly related to the temperature in which the cheese is stored.  A cheese stored in a warmer climate will ripen faster than one in a cooler climate. If you’re planning to enjoy your aged cheeses within a week or so of bringing them home, this is a good thing. Over a few days at room temperature, a cheese can actually blossom in flavor, texture, and character.

For example, you purchase a whole wheel of Camembert, but it feels pretty firm when you give it a gentle squeeze. Place it in the Grotto for a day or two, though, and the wheel will ripen further. The enzymes in the cheese will stay active, and the result will be that lush, gooey Camembert texture we all love. This process can happen if you store your Grotto in the fridge, but it will take weeks rather than days.

So the next time you stock up at the cheese counter (or treat yourself in our online store), try storing cheeses in the Cheese Grotto on your countertop. We recommend having a nibble every few days or so—that way, you’ll get to enjoy your cheese at its best and taste the ways the cheese ripens and comes alive at room temperature. 

Have you tried storing your Cheese Grotto at room temperature? Let us know!

Photography by Direwolf & Co