Cheese Wax Will Save Us All

cheese-variety2

 

 

Well, at least those of us who are addicted to cheese anyway.

  • Can you name at least 10 different kinds of cheese that you love?
  • Do you believe that cheese should be its own food group?
  • Are you helpless to abide by your diet unless it involves huge amounts of melted cheese?

Then this article is for you!

 

cheese-fruit-plateSo picture this.  It’s a bona fide emergency survival situation.  You are holed up on your home and living off of the emergency preparedness supplies you stored.  And you’ve got one heck of a hankering for some yummy melted cheese.  But you’re just not in the mood for the Velveeta, that nasty powdered stuff, or the “squirt” kind of cheese.  You want a good solid bite of a yummy Parmesan, or Swiss, or a sharp cheddar.  (I’m making myself drool even as I write this.)  But hey, cheese doesn’t store for a very long time, right?  Well, in this case, I’m happy to tell you that you’re wrong.  And if you’re a true cheese addict, then you’ll be happy to hear that you’re wrong for once, right?

 

cheese-wax-goudaSo here’s the good news.  You CAN have your favorite cheese on hand, even in an emergency, and even though no stores are open and you have no access to electricity.  All you have to do is buy the hard blocks of cheese that you want now in order to have them  stored for up to the next 25 years.  Cheese wax prevents your cheese from developing mold or bacteria and it keeps the moisture in.  Simply use a combination of dipping and brushing with a natural boar's hair brush to apply the melted cheese wax liberally to your block of cheese, let it harden, and then, VOILA – you’ve got your wish.  Cheese treated with cheese wax will store for up to 25 years at a mild to cool temperature.  Sure, it will continue to age.  But it sure won’t get moldy!  (And even if it does in parts, you can simply cut off that part, and re-wax over it.) Be sure that you select block sizes of cheese that you and your family can easily consume within a 3 to 5 day period in order to avoid it going bad once you’ve cut into it.

 

A couple of tips you should know though.

  1. Don’t use paraffin wax.  It tends to crack.  Cheese wax warms slower and heats to a higher temperature and thus plies better to your cheese shapes and sizes.  Cheese wax is also less crumbly and you can use less of it than paraffin. Remember, it's reusable too!
  2. I have yet to find a hard cheese that I can’t wax.  So long as it’s hard enough to be in a solid block, you can wax it.
  3. You don’t need cheesecloth, but if you desire to use it prior to your wax layers, it may be helpful getting the wax off.  I haven’t had any problems without it though.
  4. It’s best to melt the cheese wax in a double boiler as opposed to direct heat. Any pan you use to melt your cheesewax in will be your designated cheese wax pan. They are impossible to get clean afterwards. So be forewarned.
  5. cheese-wax-double-broilers1The less you handle the cheese with your hands the better. Use food handling gloves.
  6. Dip the cheese in for about 5 seconds, then bring it out and HOLD it there for about 90 seconds. Do 3 layers of dipping and then one layer of brushing.  (Using the natural boar’s hair brush)  The reason why you want to use this kind of brush specifically is because other brushes will apply the cheese wax too thick, or with crevices, etc.  This kind of brush is perfect for cheese waxing.
  7. You don’t need to use food-grade labels for your cheese, however, it’s smart to use a label on the outside of your cheese just prior to the last wax layer.  That way you don’t have to worry about it falling off.  Be sure to label not only the kind of cheese it is, but when it was waxed as well.
  8. Don’t store your waxed cheese in additional containers.  Just stack them on top of like cheeses and let them breathe.  I like to hang them from the ceiling in a “fishing net” kind of contraption.
  9. Be sure to check for pockets or crevices that didn’t get sealed.  Four total thin layers of wax is a good practice.  There’s no need to do more coats than that.
  10. The cheese surface should be clean and dry prior to waxing.
  11. If your 2nd and 3rd coats are applied while the prior coat is still just a bit warm you will get a better adhesion.
  12. Cheese wax can be re-used several times.  You can simply wash it in warm water, let it dry and then re-melt it.  So when you remove cheese wax from your cheeses, you can simply reheat and reapply the wax.  Simply heat the cheese wax to about 200 degrees F.  This will also ensure that you’re not transferring any bacteria or unnecessary moisture to your new cheese--even when you're putting it on your cheese which is cooler.
  13. You do not need to filter the cheese wax after you melt it.  So don’t worry about that step.
  14. Your first coat will have some unevenness to it.  Don’t worry.  The 2nd and 3rd coat will even it out just fine.
  15. Cheese will respond to gravity. So using cheesewax vs. paraffin is important as it's more pliable. I periodically turn my cheese in view of the gravitational pull.

Cheese wax can be found multiple places online or in your local health food stores.  (I have been buying mine at Cheesemaking.com) I also recommend that you use red or black cheesewax as it will prevent more light from getting in. You should also have no problem finding a boar bristle brush either.

 

Once you get the hang of this cheese waxing stuff you can progress to making your own cheese from powdered milk in any flavor you decide!

Yummy!

 

Enjoy the recipe below!

 

 

Kristen’s Cheesy Roughin’ It Enchiladas

 

1 can of tomato soup

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 regular sized can of enchilada sauce

2 cups of canned chicken, drained

About 2 cups of your favorite shredded cheese

 

cheese-enchiladas2Make your sauce by combining the soups and the enchilada sauce.

 

Use enough flour or corn tortillas to line a large baking dish or Dutch oven with your enchiladas (About 12 to 15 depending on how big you stuff them).  Be sure to spray your dish with some cooking spray.

 

Lightly coat the bottom of your tortilla with the sauce.  Then add about 2 tablespoons of chicken, according to your desire.  Top the chicken with about 2 tablespoons of cheese.  Then roll up your tortilla and place seam side down in the dish.  Continue until you’ve filled the dish a single layer deep.  Once you’re finished, pour the remaining sauce over the top and top with the remaining cheese.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes until the cheese is completely melted.  You can add chopped black olives, black beans, rice, or even green chilies to this recipe as well.

 

(Please note these are not ALL of the cheese waxing directions which are far too lengthy for a blog article. Should you like to know how to wax your cheese perfectly and without errors that may cause you to have to do it all over again, please use the resource guide available on this site "For the Love of Cheese" as found in the Pre Pro Classes tab of this site. It includes video instruction and detailed written instruction. This way you won't get discouraged and your waxed cheese will turn out right the first time.)

For more on cheese wax, visit the Cheese Wax Controversy.

Join us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter here To see our upcoming event schedule, click here Check out our inhome-course programs Subscribe to Preparedness Pro today and never miss a thing!   For any questions or comments on this article, please leave a comment on the blog site so that everyone can benefit! Copyright Protected 2009, Preparedness Pro and Kellene. All Rights Reserved. No portion of any content on this site may be duplicated, transferred, copied, or published without written permission from the author. However, you are welcome to provide a link to the content on your site or in your written works.

Tags: 

© 2019 Of COURSE this post is Copyright Protected by Preparedness Pro. All Rights Reserved. NO portion of this article may be reposted, printed, copied, disbursed, etc. without first receiving written permission by the author. This content may be printed for personal use only. (Then again, laws are only as good as the people who keep them.) Preparedness Pro will pursue all violations of these rights just as vigorously as she does any of her other freedoms, liberties, and protections.


Comments

awesome post - thanks for all the great information!

Okay I love this! It solves a multitude of food storage problems. My question is that the cheese sufficiently coated in wax can last 25 years at cool temperatures, how long will it last at room temperature. Most of our pantries are room temp. I don't have a basement so I don't have the benefit of the extra cooling. Can I get a year, or even two years at 75 degrees?

Karen,
You're question is VERY valid. Many preppers live in the south and don't have basements or cellars for year round cool storage. My refrigerator is very full. Can waxed cheese be safely stored, long-term, at about 75 degrees (F)?
(i.e. My master bedroom closet on a wire shelf.)

Also, if there's a grid-down situation, I'd like to know the maximum temperature to safely store my waxed cheese. For most southerners, no power in August means 90+ degrees in our homes.

Has anyone done this and tested the cheeses at later dates. I am wondering how much stronger the cheese tastes as it ages. I would love any information on this that I can get.

I can't think of anything better than being able to save cheese! Thanks for the link!

wow. what a great idea! i have some doubts about how long the cheese would last in a hurricane situation (multiple days at 90plus temperatures in the house). but... i think i'll give it a try. thanks.

did you ever try the cheese wax? I also live in hurricane location and wonder about the temps can't find much info on storing foods in the south on the coast no root cellars or basements here. Thanks

Seriously? You must have me confused with some crackpot website. The only cheese you'll see in my fridge is shredded cheese that I got for a steal of a deal.

Consider this. Cheesemaking was an art long before refrigeration was ever available. While the sweating of the cheese will be more rapid in room temperatures or a hot and humid environment, the best cheeses in the world have come from similiar environments. Enjoy!

Your "Cheesy Roughin’ It Enchiladas" make me want to "rough it" all the time. Awesome dish.

It is good to see you on the camp-cook forum!

This post has opened up a whole new world for me.

My husband and I were just sort of whining about what we would do if some emergency occurred and we couldn't buy fresh cheese for any length of time. Canned and freeze dried cheeses have their place, but there's no substitute for the real thing in our household.

I just recently purchased a cheese making book, several pounds of cheese wax and a natural bristle brush to get started on preserving several blocks of cheese in our fridge. Next... making my own!

(I love this site)

Tell me where you got your cheese making book...

Woohoo! Kudos for you Emily!! Another cheese maniac after my own heart!

Kellene....I would like to try this in Relief Society. would that be okay? And where is the best place in Salt Lake county to get the cheese wax>

Sure. I dont' know about Salt Lake county. I get mine right here in my back yard. If I could do it again though, I would order it online. It's much better economically even with the shipping.

Fantastic information. I also appreciate your comment on my blog: cheesenbread.wordpress.com
I am adding you to my blogroll!

I was told that if cheese has mold that you should not use it as the bacteria or whatever caused the mold is throughout the cheese, even if you do not see it. Has new information been found or was I told wrong by the science teacher?

Because cheese is so dense, mold penetrates from the outside to manifest itself. Whereas with bread, it penetrates all the way through and then manifests itself on the outside. So yes, you can cut off the molded area of cheese and then still consume what's remaining that has not developed mold.

How do you clean the brush after you wax the cheese?

Good question. I just put it in a small pan of water and let it boil a bit. It melts away and the boiling water takes it away from the bristles.

Hi Karen!

I too am wondering if when you store waxed cheese over a period of time if it gets stronger in taste.

If so, what is your suggestion as to the kind of cheese to wax that is mild so as to ward off having it get strong when being stored?

The cheese wax itself has no taste. But yes, the cheese will "sharpen" with age. That's how you have "mild, sharp and extra sharp" kinds of cheddar cheese. It's all about the time they were allowed to age. The kind of wax you use will not affect whether or not your cheese ages. It's a fact of being. Cheese will age. But I've never had cheese age to the point that I didnt' like it. In fact, I find that I simply need less of the sharper cheese to give the dish the taste I was looking for. This is especially true with the cheddar and Swiss varieties.

Jackie,
See the comment just above for a place to buy your cheese was and the boars head brush. How your cheese is shaped and how small it is will determine how much you can wax. I would say a pound of cheese wax will do about 12-20 pounds of cheese if you brush it on. If you plan on dipping it, then you'll need about 5 pounds of wax for the same amount.

This is a great article! Thank you so much!

I have several questions...

1. Is there any special prep needed when buying cheese that has already been refrigerated?

2. Can refrigerated, but waxed cheese be left out?

3. You mentioned cheese life at cool temperatures. How does it's shelf life compare at warmer temps?

4. How can I tell if the cheese is bad when we unwrap it?

I'm sorry for all of the questions, but we are really new at this.

Thanks again!

Don't worry about the questions. Most folks ARE new to waxing their own cheese.
Before I wax the cheese, I like it to sit at room temperate for just a bit in order to ensure that it doesn't get condensation from being too cold and then applying the cheese wax. If your cheese is completely sealed in wax, then yes, it sure can be left out. Mine is in my basement. At warmer temperatures (say consistently above 77 degrees) the shelf-life of the cheese will be compromised. Many Europeans used to keep their waxed cheese underground in a cellar to ensure the right environment. When you unwrap the cheese the only indicator of whether it's bad or not will be mold or it has completely dried out. I prefer the mold. The reason being is that when it comes to cheese, you can actually cut off the mold and still salvage the remainder. Bottom line, just dont' skimp on the cheese wax and make sure you get it completely sealed with it.

Many readers and those attending my classes have had great success with the cheese waxing. I LOVE it!
You can see the "recent posts" simply by scrolling down the landing page of prepreparednesspro.wordpress

Interesting post. I've been teaching myself to make cheese this past year or so but I've been to scared to use the wax after reading that it is incredibly flammable. You make it look and sound 'do-able'.

Incidentally, do you have a 'recent posts' section? I don't see it.

cheers,

HDR

Hi
thanks for this site! I heard about waxing cheese, but I did not know about cheese wax. I used paraffin wax. I put about 15 coats of the wax. I just noticed there is a yellow liquid coming out of a couple of the blocks and some yellow liquid in one of the blocks. Should I reseal the two that are leaking? Should I open the one with the yellow liquid?
The others seem fine should I just put them downstairs and keep them in my storage?

Thanks,
Sally

I dont' recommend using paraffin wax, as you may already know now. If it's leaking, I would open it up and use it up, not try to seal it again. Usually when this happens it's because the cheese was too cold when you waxed it, causing it to expand when you put the hot wax on it, then shrink when it cooled down. This causes a gap. The liquid you're talking about is probably just moisture. But I wouldn't take any chances. If the others are fine, I'd put them in cool, dry storage.

Where do you buy your cheese wax and brush and how many pounds of cheese will 1 pound of wax do?
Thanks
Jackie

Bonnie, YOu can go here to buy your wax. I prefer the red wax. http://www.cheesemaking.com/store/p/63-Red-Wax-1-pound.html
Yes, your cheese will work for waxing, however it's a softer cheese, so I would use the additional papers that the cheesemaking site recommends along with your wax. Hmmm...coming to my home. That will be quite the trick with all of the classes I have planned. But perhaps I should try to schedule a class just on cheesewaxing. I'll keep you posted.

While the tillamook cheese was on sale I bought 30 lbs. Now I need to find the wax. I looked locally. (Salt Lake) and can not find it. So a couple of questions.

Where is the best place on line to buy the wax?
Will this cheese work for waxing
If I come to your house will you help me? (kidding)

While the tillamook cheese in the 1lb size was on sale for $1.19 I bought 30 lbs I would like to wax. Few questions after reading this blog.
Can I do that type of chees
Where on the web do you get the wax
If I come to your house will you help me.

Cheese will definitely save my family!!!
However, I have to get this waxing thing right.

A friend and I waxed some cheese about 2 months ago. We used cheese wax from a reputable company. We waxed mild cheddar that was bought vacuum sealed like at the grocers and SAMS. We waxed a 16oz block and four 1.25lb blocks that were bought as one 5lb sealed block.

When I cut the 5lb block I was not wearing gloves. So it is possible that I could have gotten hand oils on the cheese. We wore gloves when we waxed and the cheese was at room temp.

We waxed all but one by brushing 3 layers on and made sure they were completely covered. The one I "dipped" got way slick and fell into the pot. I let it cool and it looked fine. All of the blocks were stored on a shelf at room temp.

We have since experienced 2 problems with our waxed cheese.

First, it leaks an oily substance, but only from one block. It is yucky!! Thought this might be the one I dropped in the wax.
Or, could it be the buttermilk separating from being stored too warm?

Second, the other blocks have cracked at the corners. They look as though the cheese shrank and then the wax cracked.

Thanks,
Kim

Every so often I get this very same question with the exact same scenario--even on my voicemail. Since I'm not there, I can't tell you exactly what went wrong, but I can tell you what is USUALLY the case. 1- I put 4 to 5 coats on my cheese. Again, let it cool completely in between coats so that you don't have the shrinking and then expanding. 2- You're smart to wax it only at room temperature. 3- I store mine hanging in cheese cloth so that the air circulates nicely. I hope that ONE of these suggestions helps you.

Very helpful. Yesterday I had a couple of problems and now I think I've figured out what went wrong.
1. cheese was straight from the fridge so (too cold)
2. wax had heated to over 220 degrees so (too hot)
combination caused the wax to separate from the cheese.
I took all the wax off and started over. blotting the cheese with paper towels, adjusting the temp on the wax. Results; Success

Thank you for this info! I have been interested in doing this for some time. I'm not necessarily too worried about waxing it and then sitting it on the shelf for 25 years, I intend to use it much more frequently thatn that to make sure it stays good and I am not wasting my ca$h. I contacted a reputable cheese making website and asked questions about where to store my cheese living in las vegas where its pretty hot most of the year. He said he was hearing more and more questions like mine from out west: utah, arizona, nevada. I don't think that's a surprise ;) What are your thoughts on where to store my cheese? He also said that I shouldn't be buying store bought cheese to wax because it hasn't matured yet. I'm doing a homemaking meeting on this and want to make sure I have the best info.

First of all, you do know that I'll be doing a class in Vegas next week, right? Check our "schedule" on the first page you see here.
Secondly, I would store the cheese under beds in your scenario since you likely do not have a basement. Store them on top of a cardboard layer first--not plastic or foil. This is fine for the heat. When it's cold down there though and you've got the heat on, store them in a less confined place where they would be less suseptible to the heat vent. I'm a big proponent of hanging it from the ceiling of a room, but that's not always practical in the NV and AZ homes. Fortunately many homes in Utah have basements, us included. So we store ours that way. If your cheese is too soft, it will not store properly. My favorite place to buy cheese is from the dairy farms that sell it and focus on quality cheese specifically. Matured, hard cheese is ideal to wax.

Okay I need some help!! I have been waxing my cheese and loving it. I have cheddar, parmesan, monterey jack, cheddar jack and mozzarella.

I have had great success with all but the mozzarella. It is consistently going bad. I had read that mozzarella was great to wax because it aged so slowly. My mozzarella is bloating the wax covering and when I cut into it is is very obviously fermented.

All of my cheese is kept in the same room on the same shelf at between 60 and 65 degrees.

Any thoughts? Is mozzarella to soft to wax?

Not all mozzarella is created equally. I too love my mozzarella, however, I choose to use the harder mozzarella. One trick you may want to use though is to pat your cheese with a paper towel to blot all of the moisture prior to waxing/dipping it. You'll find more success this way, I'm certain.

Thank you for the reply. I do blot all of my cheese with paper towels before dipping; I find that to be a good practice regadless of the variety.

I will purchase harder blocks of mozarella and give that a try.

thanks.

please do. West Jordan will do nicely

I have a question regarding the cheese wax. No where can I find whether you can use bee's wax. Can you? We have a close friend who raises honey and we get a lot of honey and wax from them. I have bought and used the commercial cheese wax, I was just wondering about the bee's wax. A long-term ready supply.
Thanks!

Becka, Sorry. I have no idea about honey wax. However, given that honey is the only food that never spoils, I'd actually be a bit attracted to the idea since my thought would be that the wax would be great as well. But alas, I haven't researched or used that method.

I found an answer regarding the use of bee's wax from Steve at www.thecheesemaker.com

"Yes, bees wax is natural but you should heat the wax to 160f so it is pasteurized."

We are going to try with our next batch of cheddar.

Didn't know if anyone else would be interested in this.

This sounds like a great storage technique, and one I've heard little about. I have to admit though that I'm a little nervous about it. Handling a room temperature ingredient and then putting it into airtight storage for a year or more just sounds like a recipe for spoilage to me. What am I missing? How could the random critters on our hands and in the air *not* have a grand old time on that hunk of protein, fat, and carbs once we let it hang out indefinitely at room temperature. I guess I could see dipping a block of cheese in really hot wax as something that would take care of any bacterial contaminants. Brushing wax on sounds more risky.

I'm generally not alarmist about food safety, but I sure would hate to spend the money to put up such an expensive item and then find it spoiled later on.

Kate, check out our other aritcle that was posted yesterday "Settling the Cheese Wax Controversy" I believe you'll have your questions answered there.

Bees wax is my second choice if cheese wax is not available. However, be sure you have the right temperature. you need 180 degrees F, not 160 degrees F, in order for pasteurization to take place. In that case, since your wax will cool a bit when it comes in contact with the cheese, you need to heat your wax to 200 degrees F. in order to be safe.

I want to wax 2lb pieces of deli type provolone cheese and age for 2-3 years. Will it get sharp like good aged provolone?
Thanks for all the great information!

This post just made my day! Thanks.

Yes, indeed it will get sharp. However, provolone is a softer cheese. Until you've aged it well so that it hardens a bit, I wouldn't recommend you storing it outside of refrigeration initially.

Hi, what a great idea! Thanks so much for this. I'm going to try it. How do you keep the cheese from rodents and such if you don't put it in containers? Carol

Is there a way to can sour cream? I know you can buy it canned, but can you can it at home? If not how do you make sour cream out of powdered milk? Thanks so much. I love your blog and all your information is so helpful.

Now I am very hungry. Yet another item I cannot wait to try. My husband lives and surely will die by the cheese... I am handing off the enchilada recipe to him, we'll likely have this tonight for dinner...Thank you!

Can "store bought" waxed cheese such as Babybel or others from a deli be stored at room temp? Assuming, of course, completely sealed.

Nope, that wax is just for marketing purposes and in no way indicates that it is sufficiently hard cheese to leave at cool room temperatures.

i am definitely going to try this i am so excited as i get coupons to buy cheese or its cheaper to buy in bulk but my family does not eat cheese enough to eat it all and half the block usually end up going bad. If you live in apt do you think it would be ok to stack them in a box and store them in a closet or under a bed?

@NatalieAnnDeGraw When I lived in my 800 sf apt. I stored a LOT of food items under the bed and in closets b/c it was cooler there (You can fit an entire years supply of essentials under a twin size bed). But ultimately, it's going to depend on the temp. that you keep your apt.; check to make sure those areas are cool enough, and remember, cheese needs to breathe.

So i know that you said you designate a pan for melting the cheesewax in but what do you do with it after your done dipping the cheese you have. Do you just leave the excess cheesewax in that pan for the next time or do you spoon it out into another container? Just curious. Also I saw on your doomsday prepper's episode that you use solar power to cook things. Do you have a section on your website about that? I have to admit once i saw you on the show it was enough to make me want to move next to you and learn all your secrets as everything you did on the show are things i want to learn how to do. I am not a scary stalker it was just amazing all the things you know how to do that i would love to learn.

@NatalieAnnDeGraw Yes, use the search bar on the site. It's your friend. :-)

a Cheese Toastie or jlfafe. Mum used to make them with tinned salmon instead of cheese, it just wasn't the same :(Love the picture :)

Thanks for great instructions...very helpful.

Re: using Bees wax...I suggest making sure your beekeeper doesn't use *any* petrochemicals of any kind in the hives from which the wax comes. Yes, bees wax is natural, but any additives to kill mites, moths, fungus, etc. are definitely *not* natural - or non toxic - substances...residues will be in the wax as the bees wax absorbs contaminants within the hive to it's capacity, the excess is detectible in honey when it's analyzed in a lab. "Cosmetic Grade" bees wax is *loaded* with contaminants...a treatment-free apiary is worth supporting when you find one.

I just want to clarify that I can wax the cheese I buy out of the supermarket right? Also, after I wax it can I store it in my refridgerator or not and if I do experience a power outage and had to remove the cheese from the refridgerator would that effect the cheese? I'm new to prepping and trying to learn as much as possible. Thank you for investing your time to help others like myself be prepared.

You'll want to be sure to read all of the details on cheesewaxing, because I can't really say "yes" to your questions as they are posed. There's more to it than that. If you don't find the additional articles on here, you can just go to the "Prep Pro Classes" tab and get the "For The Love of Cheese" that includes a resource guide and DVD instruction. Good luck!!

Can a Crockpot/slow cooker be used instead of a double boiler or "dedicated" cheese wax pot? I figure the slow cooker would heat evenly and gently, and the ceramic would clean better than a metal pot.

So... if you're still responding to queries on this topic two years later, thanks for the help! LOL

P.S. I still can't wait to preserve my eggs with mineral oil. That project is coming up the next time they're on sale!

Yes you can but know that you will totally ruin the crockpot. You won't ever get the wax cleaned out of it. :-) That's why I use the rectangular pans (like you see in the buffets in the restaurants) I bought a shorter one that fits into a deeper one and they are indeed my dedicated cheesewaxing pans. I store the melted cheesewax in them with foil tightly wrapped around them.

I have been holding on to

I have been holding on to this info for a little while now and just purchased my wax to get going. I'm especially excited to buy blocks and cut them into portions for BOB meals and not worry about them expiring! I currently have velveta in my BOB because it's shelf stable, but, as a fellow cheese lover I know you'll agree, it just isn't cheese. Though it does make a good queso dip.

Remember, they need to be

Preparedness Pro's picture

Remember, they need to be stored with air circulation, not in a baggie or a backpack until you're ready to use them.

Yup! I've been thinking how

Yup! I've been thinking how best to do this and I think I will get some mesh bags to store the cheese in and clip these to the outside of the BOBs. Thanks for making sure though!

How do your cheeses taste

How do your cheeses taste after they have been stored since 2009? An update on taste/texture/storing conditions would be very informative. Thank you for all you do on this site to help us all learn a little more everyday.

Just sharper... I find that

Preparedness Pro's picture

Just sharper... I find that the flavors are so much more pronounced and since they are sharper, I get to use less for the tastes! *grin*

I waxed a bunch of cheese in

I waxed a bunch of cheese in small blocks, put them in basement, and a few months later saw puddle of water on floor...they were handing in netting...they had leaked lots of water in the wax and then started dripping through. 4 coats, red wax...should I have dried cheese 1st??

Yup!

Preparedness Pro's picture

Yup!

My wife and I saw this on a

My wife and I saw this on a Prepper show and did wax a few different types of store bought blocks of Mild Cheddar, Pepper Jack and Mozzarella... waxed in late '11.. the Mozz didn't hold up over time and did bloat like another post mentioned.. My wife doesn't like the "Bite" she gets from the aged cheeses? Do they need a little fresh air after opening them up to kinda take the sharpness out?? Rinse them and dry? They seem fine but scare her! LOL.. I did also try a sliver of the bloated Mozz... it tasted a little like Parmesan to me... was it bad with that water in it? Thanks for your time!! I LOVE TO WAX CHEESES!!

Unfortunately, you waxed

Preparedness Pro's picture

Unfortunately, you waxed cheeses that would not have qualified for waxing. The key is DRY/HARD cheeses. Mozzarella would never qualify.  When I purchase store-bought cheeses, I always let them "weep" on the counter for several days, blotting them with vinegar as they dry out. (The manufacturers nowadays pump their cheeses and meats up full of water in order to eek out a little bit more money.) Then, and only then can you wax them. But if your wife doesn't like sharp tasting cheese, then this is definitely not the answer for you. The longer a cheese sits, the more sharp it will become.

I have an old video over the

I have an old video over the door shelving rack, wouldn't this be good to put the cheese on to get air circulation?

Yes, it would. Be sure that

Preparedness Pro's picture
Yes, it would. Be sure that you have a cloth lining it or the floor as you will get weeping initially when you store them in the event that you didn't get all of the liquid out in the first place.

On figuring out where to

On figuring out where to store the cheese, I know it should be dark and cool, the basement is too damp, but what about like a cabinet with absorbers in it?

You'll want some air movement

Preparedness Pro's picture
You'll want some air movement, ideally. There really wasn't any such thing as a "cheese cupboard" for a reason. ;-)

https://www.amazon.com/Cheese

Preparedness Pro's picture
https://www.amazon.com/Cheese-Wax-1-lb-Red/dp/B0064OLVFY/ref=as_sl_pc_ss_til?tag=prepapro-20&linkCode=w01&linkId=UXNVQS4AXMM6OSRG&creativeASIN=B0064OLVFY Here's a link for ya. ;-)

Thank you for a great article

Thank you for a great article. It was exactly what I wanted hear for taking some cheese (truly ambrosia) into the mountains on a long duration backpacking trip.
I'm sure cheese wheels in nice cheese shops (that are already out on the counter) are good to go. But I noticed on the “Mini Babybel” FAQ that they only say it’s good for one day outside of the refrigerator. I’m not saying I’m normally a fan… it just they were the perfect package size for one serving. I’m guessing it might just be corporate liability paranoia; but… it got me thinking on two options.
(1) Are other cheeses with wax coatings found in main-stream grocery stores (in the refrigeration section) usable without refrigeration?
(2) If I coat the Mini Babybel using the techniques you describe, will they then be able to be kept out of the refrigerator?

Mini Babybel cheese is NOT

Preparedness Pro's picture
Mini Babybel cheese is NOT waxed for preservation purposes. Only for marketing purposes. The same holds true for anything else you'll find in the grocery stores. That will be the case anywhere in the U.S. as the USDA does not condone waxing and storing cheese.

I live in the south outside

I live in the south outside of Dallas. I have a dozen cheese blocks I am going to wax. I have the wax, brush, and dedicated double boiler. I am going to store in a "cool" dark room but it may get up to 80 degrees in there for a couple of months during the dog days of summer. Will that ruin my cheese or significantly shorten the shelf life? Thanks, love your blog.

It could ruin your cheese all

Preparedness Pro's picture
It could ruin your cheese all together actually in a matter of days at that temperature. At the very least, you'll get weeping of the oils in the cheese at that temperature. Sorry, but you simply can't store things successfully above 72 degrees--ESPECIALLY cheese.

I love this idea however

I love this idea however there are several months of the year that my house gets quite a bit over 72 degrees, no basement. Can we wax the cheese and in the hotter months store in the fridge then hang it to store the other months? Would it be safe to move back and forth in that manner? Thanks for the info

You COULD move it back and

Preparedness Pro's picture
You COULD move it back and forth, but you'll get more sweating under the wax with that much of a temperature variance and that will cause separation. Bottom line is this, I INVEST in not just acquiring my preparedness supplies, but in protecting them as well.

Can you make cream cheese out

Can you make cream cheese out of powdered milk? I'm totally new as well, and I think that would make prepping that much better!

Yep.

Preparedness Pro's picture
Yep.

Like some who have submitted

Like some who have submitted questions, I live in the South. We have high humidity, hot temps, no basements and bugs on a tropical scale. All of these factors make food storage challenging. I've heard that dipping the cheese in (or spraying on) vinegar will keep it from molding. Have you heard of this? If so, what do you think about doing this prior to dipping in wax?

Each of my cheese blocks gets

Preparedness Pro's picture
Each of my cheese blocks gets treated with vinegar prior to dipping in the wax because I want it to lose some of its moisture before waxing and to leave it on the counter for that to happen requires that I keep dabbing vinegar on it. Vinegar is another way to ensure less of the bad bacteria coming into play when waxing your cheese. I live in a very humid area now too. But shelf-stable foods can still be successfully stored with a few modifications.

I am so pleased to be able to

I am so pleased to be able to wax cheese for the long term!! I have waxed @ 20 bars of store-bought cheese (Cheddar) and more than half of it ends up leaking a liquid and bloating after 1-3 weeks and i flip it and i am still not sure what to do. Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

So you're either not letting

Preparedness Pro's picture
So you're either not letting the cheese dry out enough before you wax, or you're trying to wax cheese with too high a moisture content (which I guess is technically the same thing). Take the wax off, rinse thoroughly, cut off any mold, and let it dry while dabbing with vinegar during that process of drying.

Disclaimer

Please note that the name you use in the "Name" field above will be the name displayed on your comment.