Chef reveals the food you shouldn't store in zip-top bags: it creates mold

Chef, author and TV host Eden Grinshpan sparked a debate on social media by sharing her advice on preservation. In a video, she explained that you shouldn't store a particular food in zip-top bags because it causes mold.

"If you store cheese in plastic bags, stop doing that and watch this video," Grinshpan said.

According to him, cheese is a "living" food that needs to breathe, so wrapping it in plastic does not allow it to properly preserve its quality. Instead, he recommended using parchment or wax paper. "They will be your best friends," he said, showing the correct way to wrap it.

According to the chef, plastic traps moisture, creating conditions conducive to mold growth. “When you trap it in plastic, you’re creating a moisture-rich environment where mold will live and grow,” she explained. As a demonstration, she held up a cheese wrapped in parchment paper and said, “This is a yes, yes.”

She also suggested placing the cheese in a plastic container, but only after wrapping it in parchment paper. For better preservation, she recommended storing it in the refrigerator drawer intended for vegetables, as this provides more suitable conditions to prevent spoilage.

In the description of her video, the chef highlighted the importance of proper conservation to avoid waste.

"Stop spoiling your cheese with plastic bags. It's too delicious (and expensive) to let it get moldy," she wrote.

She also mentioned that leaving parts of the cheese exposed to the air can cause it to dry out, as refrigerators act as dehydrators. To avoid this, she suggests storing it in a glass or plastic container.

Grinshpan's suggestion was backed by the specialist blog Cheese Trail, which highlighted that "cheese needs to breathe" and suggested the use of waxed or parchment paper as the best alternatives. They also mentioned Formaticum paper, which is specifically designed for cheese preservation.

For its part, the Quesos García Baquero website provided recommendations on the ideal storage temperature. For soft cheeses, they suggest keeping them between 4 and 8 degrees Celsius, using microperforated or baking paper to preserve their humidity without damaging them.

In the case of hard or cured cheeses, they recommend storing them at temperatures between 8 and 12 degrees Celsius, preferably in the lower drawers of the refrigerator.

Beyond cheese, proper food preservation is essential to prevent spoilage and reduce health risks. The Clínica Universidad de Navarra emphasizes the importance of hygiene in the kitchen, recommending keeping it clean and ventilated, properly washing fruits and vegetables, and avoiding cross-contamination between raw and cooked foods.

When it comes to refrigeration, organization is key. Dairy products and eggs should be placed at the top of the refrigerator, cooked and defrosting foods in the middle section, and fruits and vegetables in the appropriate drawers.

Regarding freezing, the institution suggests avoiding refreezing products that have already been defrosted and cooling them properly before storing them in the freezer. The safest way to defrost them is in the refrigerator, oven or microwave, avoiding exposure to room temperature.

The Commerce (Peru) / GDA.

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*This content was rewritten with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on information from El Comercio (GDA), and was reviewed by a journalist and an editor.