Based on our extensive testing in a dairy lab and with top cheese experts, we've found that a Cheese Grotto stored in the fridge can prolong the shelf-life of cheese 3X longer than cheese paper and tupperware, and 4X longer than plastic wrap.
However, we know we have many customers who love to keep the Grotto out on the counter, and we don't blame you! It's beautifully constructed, and is a great addition to your kitchen counter arsenal. Read on for further instructions on best practices on the counter!
And yes, we do have hobbyist cheesemakers who store their Grotto in a wine cellar to completely age whole cheese wheels, but we get into that in another blog post.
Storing the Cheese Grotto in the Fridge
Cheeses can last up to 4X longer in the Grotto than in plastic wrap
Depending on the cheese type, the age of the cheese when you receive it, and how soft it is (the softer the cheese, the more water it contains), cheeses' shelf-lives can vary. A softer cheese will ripen and transform faster than a hard cheese, but will be happier in the Grotto because it's not suffocated by a wrapper. Cheese in the Grotto does not need any wrap at all!
Space the cheeses 1-inch apart from each other
All styles of cheeses (with the exception of fresh cheeses, mozz, and feta which should be kept in their original packaging), can live in harmony unwrapped in the Cheese Grotto. Our main rule of thumb is that you should space the cheeses 1-inch apart from each other so they have room to breathe.
Extra funky cheeses and blue cheeses can be kept separate by wrapping in a little wax paper or cheese paper
Worried about the funk imparting itself on other cheeses? After 8 years in business, we're not too worried about that here, but we understand if you'd like to add an additional barrier for good measure. Simply tent a piece of wax paper or cheese paper around the cheeses with funk.
The fridge is a very dry climate
Part of the reason we developed the Cheese Grotto was to create a nice humid and breathable microclimate for naturally-made cheeses. The fridge air is incredibly harsh and dry, which is why you can sometimes end up with dry bricks of cheese if they are not wrapped well. The Grotto's clay humidifying brick eliminates that threat. When your Grotto is full to the gills with cheese, submerge the brick in water for two minutes once every 3 weeks. When there is less cheese in the Grotto, we recommend switching to a weekly schedule of saturating the brick in water. If you're not sure, we recommend one of our hygrometers to keep the Grotto around the 80% humidity mark.
Storing the Cheese Grotto on the Counter
The kitchen must be under 70 degrees F
Though you might love to store the Grotto year-round on the counter, we don't advise keeping it out if your kitchen is 70 degrees F or over. Why? The Grotto isn't electric, so it won't be able to keep the cheese at the desired under 70 mark. Do you live somewhere incredibly hot at certain times of the year? Into the fridge the Grotto goes.
Looking to serve your cheese at room temperature for the best tasting experience? No problem, you can slide the shelf out and allow the cheese to come to room temperature over 30 minutes to an hour on your kitchen counter. You can also take the entire Grotto out of the fridge for service a couple hours before you're ready to eat!
Softer cheeses should be enjoyed within 1 to 5 days, hard cheeses within the week (no fresh cheeses)
Though us cheese nerds love to live on the edge of fermentation, our best practices for storing cheese on the counter is to enjoy the softer cheeses within 1 to 5 days, and the hard cheeses within one week. Fresh cheeses are still best stored in the fridge. Since the rate of fermentation will be faster on the countertop than the refrigerator, your cheeses will soften in texture and open up in flavor, making for an excellent tasting experience.
Humidity fluctuates more than in the fridge
Live in a humid climate? You likely won't need to resubmerge the clay humidifying brick as often, as the ambient humidity will help the cheeses thrive and retain moisture. Live in a dry climate? You may need to submerge the brick more than the recommended every 3 weeks. How can you tell? The surface of a cheese can get a little more firm if the air is on the drier side. If you're not sure, we recommend one of our hygrometers to keep the Grotto around the 80% humidity mark.
The Cheese Grotto Family
Purchase a Grotto, and you'll receive an American-made heirloom cheese storage piece as well as a lifetime of cheese knowledge from us!
Leave a comment