This is a Gouda tip. A UK surgeon is sharing how to best store cheese in the refrigerator — turns out, you may have been doing it wrong this whole time. Dr.

Karan Rangarajan, also known as Dr. Karan Rajan , recommends wrapping the dairy delight in cheese storage paper , parchment paper or wax paper and not placing it on its own in a plastic bag. “Once you finish gobbling your cheese like a hungry little rat, try and avoid putting your cheese in a plastic bag — especially softer cheeses, which have a higher water content, like havarti, mozzarella or Gouda,” Rangarajan advised in a Monday TikTok with more than 119,000 views.

“This is because the moisture can get trapped by the plastic bag and cover the cheese surface, and this provides a breeding ground for bacteria and mold — and not the tasty kind,” he explained. The Mayo Clinic warns that bacteria like listeria, brucella, salmonella and E. coli can grow along with mold on cheese .

The US Department of Agriculture says that soft cheeses — like cottage cheese, ricotta or brie — can be stored in the refrigerator for one week. Unfortunately, they don’t freeze well. But hard cheeses — such as cheddar, Swiss and Parmesan — can be frozen for six months.

They can also be refrigerated for six months if the package has not been opened. Once it’s opened, the cheese can last three to four weeks in the fridge, according to the USDA. Rangarajan says it’s generally OK to store harder cheeses in a plastic bag.

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