Cheese is an item that most UK households have sitting in their fridge and it can be enjoyed in so many different ways.

But it’s one of those food items that is rarely eaten in one sitting, so it needs to be correctly stored to maintain its texture and flavour before its next use. Hard cheeses, like Cheddar, Wensleydale and Red Leicester, are best stored in an airtight container in the fridge and should last around three to four weeks after opening. But other cheeses benefit from a different storage method.

Blue cheeses, like Stilton, Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Danish blue, are among the most popular varieties of cheese, particularly if you enjoy a particularly strong, salty flavour. If you favour these varieties then experts say you should wrap the cheese in tin foil once it’s been opened and then place it in the fridge. If properly wrapped in this way it should stay creamy and last for up to four weeks.

By encasing the cheese in tin foil, this helps to maintain its moisture content and preserve the overall flavour of the cheese, as well as preventing it from drying out. Additionally, it also helps to isolate the strong flavours of blue cheese from other foods in your fridge.

Blue cheeses have different moisture and air needs than other cheeses, so foil is actually the correct choice for wheels of fancy Gorgonzola or Stilton. Due in part to the veins of blue mold that run through the wheels, blue cheeses tend to have a larger curd structure, which means they release a little more moisture - excess whey - as they mature.

Food website Mashed explains: “Blue cheeses have different moisture and air needs than other cheeses, so foil is actually the correct choice for wheels of fancy Gorgonzola or Stilton. Due in part to the veins of blue mold that run through the wheels, blue cheeses tend to have a larger curd structure, which means they release a little more moisture - excess whey - as they mature.

“Traditional cheese paper could dry out the cheese, but foil helps keep the moisture inside so the cheese remains creamy. And when it comes to oxygen exposure, foil is also the happy medium that blue cheeses need.”

Specialty cheese website Cheese.com adds: “Storing blue cheese correctly is crucial for preserving its flavors and textures. After purchasing or opening a blue cheese wedge, it is recommended to wrap it in wax paper or aluminum foil, which allows the cheese to breathe while protecting it from excess moisture.

“Placing the wrapped cheese in an airtight container further helps maintain freshness. In the refrigerator, the cheese should be stored in the warmest part of the fridge, typically the cheese or vegetable drawer, away from strong-smelling foods to prevent flavour transfer.”