Parmesan cheese should be kept cold. Once opened it will last about 8 weeks in the fridge. If unopened, it will keep on the pantry shelf for 9 months.
It should be stored at 38-40 degrees, colder is better, and can be frozen for 18 months.
If it smells or taste bad then discard because it may have bacteria growing.
Parmesan improves the taste of other foods. You can effortlessly raise the taste of a meal with a bit of Parmesan. This can be as simple as sprinkling a little bit of Parmesan cheese on top of something – like pizza, red sauce, or salad – or melting the cheese directly on top of pasta or a casserole.
It is easier to digest than other types of cheese, even for those who are lactose intolerant. When people have difficulty digesting cheese, they could have one or two problems – they are either sensitive to casein proteins or lactose.
Parmesan cheese goes through an extensive aging process. Because of this long process, the lactic acid enzymes break down the casein into smaller proteins. However, studies have shown that this cheese goes to market by the time it is almost lactose-free. Since the cheese has very low amounts of lactose and low quantities of casein proteins, most people do not have stomach sensitivities or digestive issues.
Parmesan Cheese Is More Flavorful With Age. Parmesan cheeses are aged for a minimum of 1 year, but it is aged for at least 2 – 3 years in many cases. The amount of time it is aged has a direct result on the taste of the cheese. Cheese only aged for a minimum of one year has a mild and sweet taste. After 2 years, it becomes more grainy and savory. After 3 or more years, the cheese has a nutty flavor.
Parmesan Cheese is Named After The Region of Italy Where it is Made. Parmesan cheese is named after the region of Italy it is made.Parmesann is short for parmigiano reggiano. Two different areas of Italy were making cheese with the same technique – one in Reggio Emilia, Italy, and the other in the region of Parma. Eventually, they decided to combine the name into Parmigiano Reggiano.
Legally, Cheese made outside of the two areas in Italy where the name comes from is not allowed to call their cheese Parmesan. In 2008 European courts decided that only the areas where this cheese was created can call it Parmesan. This is why you see so many different names and spellings for this type of cheese.
The cheese has different consistency depending on where on the cheese wheel you get it. Although you would not want any of your cheese to go to waste, the further the cheese is from the center of the wheel, the harder it is. To get the best-grated cheese, people choose to grate at the edges of the wheel of cheese.
Aging Parmesan Cheese Does Not Smell Good. Although you may think the smell justifies the end result, it is certainly not for everyone. When you have to spend 1 – 3 years to properly age a cheese to get it to taste as delicious as Parmesan does, it is not too surprising that the smell of the farms and factories would not be too pleasant. However, most people would think it is worth it.
