John Myers
As soon as you spot mold on your parmesan, inspect all of the hard cheese. If the infestation is severe, you should throw it away. Removing the Parmesan mold is then no longer sufficient, since the fungi are no longer only on the surface, but have already penetrated the interior. If it’s just a small spot on the surface, you can trim away the parmesan mold. However, keep in mind that the hard cheese is basically not mold cheese. Accordingly, you should not force anything. Parmesan mold can be dangerous if consumed too intensively. It is, therefore, best to prevent this by always keeping the hard cheese chilled, in paper from the cheese counter, in a storage tin, or linen or cotton cloth. This way he doesn’t start to sweat, which can later lead to mold growth. Also, keep in mind that the expiry date on the packaging always refers to the unopened product. Our expert Birthe Wulf knows how to store cheese to avoid mold.
Parmesan mold: the appearance
If you discover white spots on the parmesan, it is usually not mold. They are salt crystals, which you can consume without hesitation. Mold on Parmesan shimmers greenish-bluish and is therefore clearly different from the crystals. If you want to be on the safe side, you can also wash off the hard cheese. Salt crystals detach from the surface, mold does not. If you’ve eaten parmesan and only discovered after a few bites that it’s infested with fungus, don’t worry. Consumed in small amounts, hardly anything serious happens to you. Possibly nausea could occur, in the worst case you will throw up. For larger amounts, it may make sense to contact a doctor. By the way: Our expert Birthe Wulf will explain when you can eat cheese rind – even that of a mold-free Parmesan. Our cooking experts also reveal the difference between Parmesan and Grana Padano.
