Do You Really Need Cheese Paper or Special Storage Bags?

There’s nothing worse than treating yourself to an expensive piece of cheese, then having to toss it in the trash a couple days later because it’s hardened or gotten moldy. The fact is, since it requires striking a delicate balance between moisture and air exposure, keeping cheese fresh in the refrigerator is tricky. Unless, of course, you’ve got Formaticum Cheese Bags, which keep your cheese fresh far longer than any other homemade wrappings do.

Gadget name: Formaticum Cheese Bags

Price: $9 for 15 bags

How it’s supposed to work: As cheese releases moisture, tight wrapping encourage mold, while loose ones let it dry out and harden. These bags’ two-ply material—wax-coated paper lined with thin, porous polyethylene plastic—allows moisture to wick off the cheese but not escape entirely.

How we tested it: We wrapped brie, goat cheese, and cheddar in the cheese bags and in a homemade double-wrapped combination of parchment and foil, which we’ve found works better than wrapping cheese in the usual plastic wrap or bag. Then we put both sets of samples in the refrigerator and checked on them every other day for a month.

How it actually works: This product worked for a solid two weeks longer than our homemade wrap.

Good to know: Formaticum also makes Cheese Paper, which uses the same material to keep cheese fresh. In our head-to-head testing, the Cheese Bags edged out the paper for their convenient fold-and-refrigerate convenience that doesn’t require you to seal them with stickers.

My favorite part: When you open and reclose the package, they don’t fall apart or rip like homemade wrappers.

Best for: The cheesehead who doesn’t want to eat an entire chunk of fancy cheese in one sitting.

Overall: It’s a great investment in keeping cheese fresher longer.