Food can often spoil quickly if it’s not stored in the correct conditions, especially fresh produce. A former private chef shared a simple trick to help keep the likes of feta fresher for longer to avoid mould forming.

Margie Nomura, who goes by Desert Island Dishes on TikTok, said her trick is something you will definitely “need” during salad season. It won’t cost you a fortune and is so easy to do. In a recent video, Margie wrote in the caption: “You need this feta trick since it’s salad season. I use this hack to stop feta going bad so fast because I never seem to get through a block fast enough. So easy and good for reducing food waste.”

Unopened feta cheese can last for about two weeks beyond its sell-by date when placed in the fridge. However, once opened, the cheese typically lasts for about a week in the fridge.

The issue with feta is that it can go off relatively quickly in comparison to other types of cheese. This is due to its high moisture content and porous structure, which make it susceptible to mould growth.

Once you’ve opened the cheese, its exposure to air and potential contaminants, such as fingers or utensils, can accelerate spoilage. To stop wasting feta, Margie detailed her simple storage method.

All you’ll need is a cleaned jam jar, some water and flaky sea salt. She said: “You know when you use feta, and you use a little bit of it, and you don’t really know what to do with the rest of it so you just kind of wrap it back up, put it back in the fridge.

“Then maybe ten days later you want to use some feta again, so you go to open the packet and it’s just covered in mould.. This is what you need to do.”

Firstly, boil a kettle of water and leave it to cool. Then fill the jar nearly all the way to the top with the water.

Add a spoonful of flaky sea salt to the jar, fastening the lid and giving it a good shake. Wait until the salt has dissolved fully.

Once dissolved, place the leftover feta into the jar, making sure it’s fully submerged in the water. Fasten the lid again and place the jar in the fridge.

Margie said: “When you wanna use it, just take it out of the jar, give it a little rinse under the tap to get off some of the extra salt, and you’re good to go.”