Last Updated on: 23rd October 2022, 04:45 pm
Depending on the quality of storage, vacuum-sealed and refrigerated cheese can typically last for 3-5 years.
The air should be removed from the vacuum bag to avoid spoiling the cheese after some time.
If the cheese is stored in a refrigerator, then it can last for 6–8 weeks, but it can’t be compared to the quality of vaccum-sealed storage.
Furthermore, the cheese will lose its smokey flavour and also become sappy if it’s not stored properly.
At the very least, if you are unable to store your cheese in a refrigerator and also can’t place it in an airtight container or vacuum sealed bag, then it will last for only 4–8 hours.
It will start to spoil and will become moist after some time.
I am a huge fan of smoked cheese and often serve it at family gatherings.
Although it’s simple, it’s not that easy to repeat the process every fortnight.
So I prefer to smoke enough cheese in a single go that it’s sufficient for the next few months.
In doing so, I also freaked out in the beginning when the cheese either started melting or became moist after a few days.
But after some bad experiences , now I have figured out the game and prefer storing in airtight containers in the refrigerator, which helps in retaining the same quality for several months.
Although cheese can last 6-8 weeks in refrigerator , you still cant eat it immediately after smoking. you need to at least rest for 1-2 weeks to enhance its flavor.
Smoking cheese is the simplest way to have fun with your smoker.
It is the best thing that a pitmaster can do to enhance the flavour of the cheese.
But smoked cheese should be stored properly for a longer shelf life.
How to Store Smoked Cheese for a Long Time
Smoking is a fine art form that is not limited to meat.
You can also smoke your cheese to give it a smokey flavor.
Smoking cheese is not a new thing. In fact, it has been done for ages.
In earlier times, it was done to preserve the cheese for a longer time. But after the invention of the refrigerator, the preservation of cheese has not been a big problem.
But still, refrigerators are able to replace the benefits of smoking.
Smoking enhances the flavour of the cheese and gives it a sweet, earthy flavor. Although smoking cheese is simple, its storage can get complicated.
The smoked cheese can last for anywhere from 24 hours to several months, dependent on its storage.
So it is more important than ever to store it properly. You can consider following our step-by-step guide to store cheese properly.
- The process of storing cheese begins with effective smoking.
You should make sure that the cheese is smoked efficiently, but it should be smoked at a lower temperature to avoid its melting. - After the cheese has been smoked completely , you should consider taking it off the smoker to avoid over-smoking.
The cheese should be placed on parchment paper for a while to allow it to cool own. you can also use butcher paper for this. here is a detailed comparison between parchment paper and butcher paper - After that, wrap the cheese in parchment paper and place it in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours.
Keep in mind to not place it in a vaccum bag at this step. It’s done to allow the cheese to sit in properly. - After 24 hours, you should consider taking out the cheese from the refrigerator and checking if the cheese has settled in or not.
If it’s still moist or melted, then consider storing it for another 24 hours. - After that, remove the cheese from the refrigerator and place it inside an airtight container or a plastic bag .
It’s placed inside the vacuum bag to increase the efficiency of storage and store it for a longer time. - After that, you should consider removing the air from the bag to avoid spoiling during refrigeration.
You can do it manually or by immersing it in water while keeping the opening above water to completely remove the air. - After removing the air, you should consider labelling the vaccum bag with the date of placement.
It’s a really effective way to remember the date of storing and thus be aware of the expiry date when using the cheese. - After that, you can think about putting it in the refrigerator.You should keep in mind that the temperature should not be too low to avoid the cheese freezing.
In addition, the refrigerator is more effective than the freezer for storing cheese.
If you have followed the guide properly, then you can be rest assured that your store will maintain its original quality for at least 2-3 months.
In addition to storage, the flavour of the cheese also increases over time due to smokey flavour distribution.
Can Smoked Cheese Be Stored in the Freezer?
The simple answer to this question might be yes, depending on the different conditions, but refrigerators are more effective for the storage of smoked cheese.
Although the freezer is still better than storing the smoked cheese at room temperature.
But storing it in the freezer can affect the tenderness of the cheese.
The cheese can harden over time, which can affect the quality of the cheese.
In addition, the taste can also be affected when defrosting the frozen cheese.
You should be cautious when storing the cheese in the freezer.
It can also spoil the cheese if some air is left inside the vacuum bag.
You should consider removing the air completely prior to placing it in the freezer.
Does Smoking Cheese Preserve It?
The short answer to this question will always be yes.
In fact, smoking was actually used to preserve the cheese prior to the invention of the refrigerator.
But nowadays, refrigerators have mostly replaced their requirements because they can store the cheese without smoking.
But still, people smoke the cheese to enhance its flavor.
The smoked cheese has a delicious smokey flavour and can also increase the shelf life of the cheese by several months.
So it’s a fact that the importance of smoking cheese is undeniable.
For a better flavor, after the cheese has been smoked, you should consider storing it for some time.
The reason is that when the cheese is smoked, the outer side absorbs the most smoke, which causes it to become bitter, but after 1-2 weeks, the smokey flavor is disturbed equally throughout the cheese.
in addition to that you need to keep in mind hat cheese will absorb less smoke after being smoke for sometime like meat. so you need to retain the absorbed flavor.
How do you know if smoked cheese has expired?
Smoked cheese can be stored for several months by following proper guidelines, but it’s important to be able to detect it if it expires before the due date.
You can tell if the cheese has expired or not by checking its odour and appearance.
The expired cheese usually has a sour milk smell, which can be distinguished easily from the normal smell.
Usually, you can detect the expiry of cheese even before smelling its odor by looking at the appearance of the cheese.
The expired cheese usually has a messed-up and sappy appearance.
To make the situation even worse , mould can grow on the expired cheese .
Usually, you are good to go by just cutting out the mouldy parts and eating the rest.
The final indicator of an expired cheese is its taste.
It doesn’t require any expertise or knowledge to differentiate an expired cheese from a good-quality one.
But you should consider identifying the cheese by other methods to avoid affecting your health.
Conclusion
Smoked cheese can last for a few hours to several months, depending on the quality of the storage.
You should consider storing it in a vacuum bag inside a refrigerator to get the most out of it.
If you want to dive deep into smoking, then consider reading this.
- Best offset Smokers under 1000:the complete guide - February 22, 2023
- When does brisket stop absorbing smoke - February 22, 2023
- How do I stop my traeger from rusting - February 22, 2023
