is it calcium lactate (just googled and learnt of this) and/or mold? there’s a couple patches where you can see there’s a greenish/blue mold.
any tips on how to store cheese?
i just bought this block of cheese from Costco a couple months ago and it looks like this already. this process might be normal but just wanting some tips/advice.
by honeybearcoco
2 Comments
The white spots on your Costco block cheese are likely calcium lactate crystals, a harmless byproduct of the cheese aging process. These crystals are actually a sign of a well-aged cheese with a sharper flavor. You can safely consume the cheese with the white spots.
If you’re unsure whether the spots are mold or calcium lactate crystals, here’s a tip: mold will typically be fuzzy or powdery in texture, while calcium lactate crystals will be hard and crunchy. You can also try smelling the cheese – mold will have a musty smell, while cheese is safe to eat if it smells like usual.
You have an open package of cheese (cheddar?) and expect it to be mold free after a couple of months? That seems unrealistic to me based on my personal experience with cheese.
Mold = soft
Calcium crystals = grainy, crunchy