If you want to maintain the integrity of your camembert, specialty products work – but you may already have a solution at home

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Fine cheeses can easily cost more per pound than steak, so unwrapping a long-anticipated treat to discover a science experiment gone wrong can be horrifying. A perfectly ripe cheese can be a transcendent eating experience, but what is the best way to manage that aging window? Storing cheese improperly can negatively affect taste and texture, and can hasten the growth of bad mold. Proper storage can preserve the product for weeks and even go so far as to encourage the good, naturally occurring mold to grow back.

By keeping factors such as moisture retention, breathability and flavor impact in mind, you can store cheese to keep it tasting as good as possible, for as long as possible. So is cheese storage really necessary? In short, yes, depending on your habits. If you’re looking to give your Humboldt Fog double the shelf life, then forget what you know about cheese storage and take a look at some of the products below.