As that Cheetos orange cheetah tells us, "It ain't easy bein' cheesy!" True, but I didn't know how true until I read this article on the cheesemonger's top ten rules. The first eye-opener is that cheese is a living, breathing thing. It makes sense when you think about the bacteria, but who thinks of it in that light?

As for me, I like odoriferous cheeses like blue cheese, so I was happy to learn that it just keeps getting better. Other things I didn't know -- like the fact that I've been storing cheese the wrong way. You should actually use cheese paper. Who knew such a thing existed?

Don't just rely on what the package says. Taking some DIY responsibility for your cheese is important to you and your family. Read the article yourself to learn:

• how to tell when it's gone bad.
• the shelf life of different types.
• the do's and don't-do's of storage.
• and more!
  

Turns out the cheetah was wrong; it actually is easy bein' cheesy, as long as you know what the cheesemonger does!

[via www.thekitchn.com]