Yes, you can rehydrate hard cheese, and it's a practical way to revive cheese that has dried out.
When hard cheeses like Parmesan lose moisture, they can become crumbly and less enjoyable. The good news is that you can often restore some of their lost moisture.
How to Rehydrate Hard Cheese Using the Wet Cloth Method
According to practical methods, rehydrating hard cheese can be as simple as providing a humid environment for the cheese to absorb water. The reference describes a specific technique:
- Wrap the cheese: Take a wedge of hard cheese, such as Parmesan, and wrap it in a wet cheesecloth.
- Refrigerate: Place the wrapped cheese in the refrigerator.
- Wait: Let it sit overnight.
As the reference explains, "When that wet cheesecloth-wrapped wedge of Parmesan spends a night in the refrigerator, it will soak up some water, replacing the moisture it lost sitting in the dry air of the fridge." This process helps bring some life back to the cheese, making it more palatable. "Your Parm comes back to life, you don't waste food, and you save some money."
Practical Tips for Rehydrating Cheese
- Ensure the cheesecloth is genuinely wet, but not dripping excessively.
- Wrap the cheese snugly in the damp cloth.
- Store the wrapped cheese in a container or bag in the fridge to maintain humidity and prevent odors.
- Check the cheese after 12-24 hours. It should feel less dry.
- This method works best for cheese that is simply dried out, not moldy (except for intentional aging molds).
By following simple steps like the wet cheesecloth method, you can effectively add moisture back into hard cheese that has become too dry, improving its texture and usability.
