CHEESE

How to Store Cheese (like a cheese shop)

How to Take Care of Cheese Like a Cheese Superhero

Cheese is a special snack, and knowing how to take care of it is super important. Those tasty little blocks in your fridge need just the right amount of air and moisture to stay fresh and yummy. This is why cheese doesn’t like living in plastic wrap—it needs to breathe! Taking care of cheese is easy, and when you do it right, it will taste even better. Here’s a simple guide to keeping your cheese happy and delicious, plus how long it stays good to eat!

How to Take Care of Cheese Like a Cheese Friend

Cheese is kind of like a little living thing—it needs air and just the right amount of moisture to stay happy and tasty! It might seem easy to leave your cheese in the plastic it came in, but cheese likes a cozy home where it can breathe. Taking care of your cheese is super simple and only takes a few minutes. If you treat your cheese nicely, it will taste extra yummywhen you eat it. Let’s learn how to be the best cheese friend ever!

3 REASONS WHY CHEESE DOESN’T LIKE PLASTIC WRAP

1. CHEESE CAN’T BREATHE 

Cheese needs to breathe, just like you! If you wrap it in plastic, it gets stuck with no air, and that makes it sad. A sad cheese won’t taste as yummy, and it might feel funny when you eat it.

2. TOO MUCH WATER MAKES CHEESE SOGGY 

Cheese needs just the right amount of moisture to stay happy. Plastic wrap traps too much water inside, making cheese slimy, stinky (not the fun kind), and a little gross.

3. CHEESE DOESN’T LIKE BRIGHT LIGHTS 

Plastic wrap lets in light, and aged cheeses don’t like it! Too much light can change their flavor, making them taste weird, like crayons—not fun for anyone.

Give your cheese the right kind of home, and it will stay tasty and fresh for longer

How to Keep Your Cheese Happy and Fresh

1. CHECK THE DATE BEFORE YOU BUY 

Sometimes cheese comes in plastic wrap from the store, and that’s okay for a little while. Cheese is good at holding its breath, but not for too long! When you’re buying cheese, check the date to make sure it hasn’t been in the plastic too long. If it looks fresh with no weird spots or cracks, it’s ready to come home with you!

2. TAKE OFF THE PLASTIC WRAP RIGHT AWAY 

When you get home, help your cheese breathe by unwrapping it from the plastic. Let it relax for a few minutes! If it’s a firm cheese and smells a little funny from the fridge, you can gently scrape off the shiny layer with a clean butter knife.

3. WRAP IT IN CHEESE PAPER OR PARCHMENT PAPER 

Cheese likes to be cozy but breathable. Use special cheese paper if you have it, or parchment paper with a loose Ziploc bag. Leave a little bit of air in the bag so your cheese gets the oxygen it needs to stay fresh. Make sure all the edges are wrapped up tight so your cheese doesn’t dry out.

4. DON’T WORRY ABOUT A LITTLE MOLD 

Cheese is alive, and sometimes tiny spots of mold might show up. That’s okay! You can scrape off the fuzzy bits with a knife, and it’s good as new. But if you have fresh cheese (like cream cheese or ricotta), and you see mold, it’s best to throw it away to stay safe.

Take care of your cheese, and it will taste amazing every time you snack!

How Long Does Cheese Stay Fresh?

Now that you know how to keep your cheese comfy, let’s talk about how long it stays yummy! This depends on the kind of cheese and how big the piece is. Smaller pieces don’t last as long, so it’s best to only buy what you need for a week, eat it quickly, and then get more. Cheese is happiest when it’s fresh and tasty!

Here’s how long different kinds of cheese usually last:

Fresh Cheeses, like ricotta: 1-3 days
These are super fresh and should be eaten quickly after opening. Otherwise, they’ll get sour! Feta cheese is an exception because it’s stored in salty water, which helps it stay good for months.

Bloomy Rind Soft Cheeses with a White Rind, like brie: 5-10 days
Cheeses like brie ripen until you cut them open. Once you do, they’ll start to get old faster. If your brie is new, you might have a little extra time to eat it. But if it’s close to its expiration date, enjoy it soon!

Washed Rind Smelly Cheeses, like Taleggio: 1-2 weeks
These cheeses can be squishy or firm. Squishy ones go bad faster because they’re wetter, but firmer ones can stay fresh a bit longer.

Aged Hard Cheeses, like Gruyère: 3-6 weeks
The harder the cheese, the longer it lasts! Big chunks of cheese like Parmigiano can stay fresh for months. Just remember to check for mold every week, and eat it sooner for the best flavor.

Blue Cheeses, like Stilton: 1-2 weeks
Soft blue cheeses last about a week, but firmer ones can stick around a bit longer. Keep an eye on them and enjoy while they’re still fresh.

Remember: Cheese is special, and every kind is different. If you’re not sure, just check how it looks and smells. Happy snacking!

NEW PRODUCTS

Newly Launched Farm2Me

• Couplet Coffee – Coffee Bean Roaster, Los Angeles, CA, United States (Link)

• Tiny Fish Co – Tinned Fish, Local Ingredients, Portland, OR, United States (Link)

• Central Coast Creamery – Handmade Cheese, Local Dairy, San Luis Obispo, CA, United States (Link)

• Three Sisters Charcuterie – Sustainable Pork Spanish Dry-Cured Chorizo, Richmond, CA, United States (Link)

PARTNER

NativePath

Cold winter air can be tough on your skin, but NativePath Collagen Powder keeps your complexion radiant and smooth through the holidays. Its collagen boost supports skin hydration and elasticity, so you can look and feel your best at every holiday gathering.

Gift them!

GROCERS

1,000+ Tiny Grocers to find Local Cheese

Farm2Me Map of Independent Grocers is not just a map – it’s a vibrant, living community celebrating the hardworking shops and shopkeepers you pass by every day.

Get lost in the intricate stories of shop owners. Discover their journeys, the products they love, and the reasons behind what they do.

Take advantage of the map when you’re visiting a new neighborhood, when you’re traveling around the country / world, or just looking for something special in your neighborhood.

We’ve spent 14 years building this, so enjoy!

PARTNER

NativePath

Tired of dealing with constant joint pain, swelling, or lack of energy? NativePath Antarctic Krill Oil is a powerful omega-3 supplement formulated to help reduce inflammation, support heart health, and improve joint mobility. With regular use, customers have reported fewer aches, better mobility, and a boost in energy levels.

This formula also supports healthy cholesterol and blood pressure, improved brain function, and even clearer vision. The best part? There’s no fishy aftertaste—just pure, effective benefits.

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COFFEE ROASTERS

Coffee Roasters Near Me

Farm2Me Map of Independent Grocers is not just a map – it’s a vibrant, living community celebrating the hardworking shops and shopkeepers you pass by every day.

Get lost in the intricate stories of shop owners. Discover their journeys, the products they love, and the reasons behind what they do.

Take advantage of the map when you’re visiting a new neighborhood, when you’re traveling around the country / world, or just looking for something special in your neighborhood.

We’ve spent 14 years building this, so enjoy!

PARTNER

Masterworks

How has the art investing platform Masterworks been able to realize an individual profit for investors with each of its 23 exits to date? 

Here’s an example: an exited Banksy was offered to investors at $1.039 million and internally appraised at the same value after acquisition. As Banksy’s market took off, Masterworks received an offer of $1.5 million from a private collector, resulting in 32% net annualized return for investors in the offering.

Learn more!

NON-ALCOHOLIC

600+ Non-Alcoholic Shops for Gifting

Farm2Me Map of Non-Alc Grocers is not just a map – it’s a vibrant, living community celebrating the hardworking shops and shopkeepers you pass by every day.

Get lost in the intricate stories of shop owners. Discover their journeys, the products they love, and the reasons behind what they do.

Take advantage of the map when you’re visiting a new neighborhood, when you’re traveling around the country / world, or just looking for something special in your neighborhood.

We’ve spent 14 years building this, so enjoy!

PARTNER

NativePath

This holiday season, we’re prioritizing our health and hydration with NativePath Hydrate. Packed with essential amino acids, electrolytes, and nutrients, NativePath Hydrate combats winter dryness, boosts energy, and enhances overall wellbeing—all without the excess sodium or added sugars found in other hydration products.

Learn more!

LOCAL FARMS

Farmers Markets to find Cheese

Farm2Me Guide of Farmers Markets is not just a map – you can finally search by day, location, and see what’s open — it’s a vibrant, living community celebrating the hardworking farms and makers all over the country, every day.

Get lost in the intricate stories of the farms. Discover their journeys, the products they love, and the reasons behind what they do.

Take advantage of the map when you’re visiting a new neighborhood, when you’re traveling around the country / world, or just looking for something special in your neighborhood.

We’ve spent 14 years building this, so enjoy!

NEWS

Seaweed Gets $2.5M

Triodos’ investment into the Faroese seaweed farming industry - the group’s first investment into the sustainable aquaculture industry - raises the total capital raised by Ocean Rainforest to € 2.5 million. Other notable shareholders include Katapult Ocean, Twynam, and WWF.

Founded in 2007, Ocean Rainforest was ahead of the curve, seemingly anticipating the massive boom in global seaweed production that was to come in the following years. Driven by the idea that growing seaweed in the ocean would take up CO₂ and mitigate climate change, cultivation began in 2013 after years of research and trials. Today the company employs 25 people and expects to produce 400 tonnes of seaweed biomass by the end of 2024, making it the largest cultivated seaweed producer in Europe.

“Ocean Rainforest addresses three impact pillars: from an environmental perspective, cultivating seaweed at scale is associated with significant enhancement of marine biodiversity and water quality. Seaweed-based fertilisers and animal feed also contribute to the sustainable agriculture transition. From a consumer perspective, consumption of seaweed-based products improves the digestive system and brings anti-inflammatory and other benefits,” said Adam Kybird, fund manager at Triodos, in a press release.

“Finally, from a socio-economic perspective, the company creates positive impact for coastal communities, creating jobs and positioning the Faroe Islands at the forefront of sustainable seaweed cultivation,” he added.

Ocean Rainforest has also begun to expand its reach, cultivating giant kelp in Santa Barbara, California, as part of a research and development project. The company recently applied for permission to transition this to commercial cultivation.

“We see the investment by Triodos Food Transition Europe Fund as a confirmation of our business strategy and our purpose to improve people’s wellbeing and make a unique contribution to our blue planet. With the funding provided by Triodos we will be able to further scale our production and capitalise on the huge potential of this global growth market while contributing even more to our sustainability goals,” said Olavur Gregersen, Ocean Rainforest co-founder and chief executive.

Pro Tip #1

Visit a local Grocer or Coffee Shop, or explore a local Farmers Market. Shop direct from your favorite emerging brands!

CHOCOLATE

Fine & Raw Chocolate

Fine & Raw Chocolate was established in 2007 in a notorious Williamsburg, Brooklyn artist loft by Daniel Sklaar. Daniel launched into making small Fine & Raw Chocolate batches and sharing them with friends, Fine & Raw Chocolate wholesale then started delivering them on his bicycle to local purveyors of fine food. It was apparent that the chocolate flavor was so good it was borderline addictive. Fine & Raw Chocolate wholesale grew based on the premise of producing organic, unparalleled quality chocolate and a shear love of the chocolate making process.

The “raw” in Fine & Raw is something of a misnomer. Sklaar and Fine & Raw Chocolate company do roast some of their organic cacao beans under lower temperatures and for longer durations than common in standard high-heat processing. Says Sklaar, “Raw chocolate is an amazing source of antioxidants. We’re basically looking to maintain those while playing with the unique flavor profiles of raw chocolate.” Fine & Raw offers chocolates using both “raw” and combinations of “raw” and conventionally roasted beans.

Fine & Raw Chocolate wholesale manufactures the finest chocolate in the world. Fine & Raw Chocolate wholesale specialize in bean-to-bar, organic chocolate bars and truffles, spreads and well, anything our imaginations can think of it. Fine & Raw Chocolate start by sourcing the worlds finest cacao beans and specialize in clean ingredients lists. Their products are always organic, plant-based and next level.

Fine & Raw Chocolate's first point of sustainability is a radically-transparent cacao supply chain which is focused on quality and direct relationships with cacao farmer! Fine & Raw's cacao is sourced from the highest quality and most ethical suppliers in Ghana and Ecuador. "We ensure that our farmers are paid above fair trade wages, because we believe farmers should have the economic freedom and empowerment to farm organically and develop sustainable land management practices. It is currently estimated that less than 0.5% of cacao beans are organic. By cultivating long-lasting and ethical relationships with suppliers and farmers, we hope to continue providing economic support for the organic cacao industry."

Made in Brooklyn, NY

Founded by Daniel Sklaar in 2007

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