How I Preserve Cheese for the Pantry ~ Dehydrating Cheese

[@roki5337]

I like the paper towel idea as it helps with air flow and absorbency.

[@teresaholland4790]

All of the paper towels are used in the kitchen for food prep I put in a plastic bag then I go let them air dry outside and crumble them up and put them in my worm bin

[@dondiego124]

I wonder if you can press the paper towels and recover the oil. They'd probably make great firestarters.

[@danielleterry2331]

Because I valcumn seal mine and keep dehydrating till no more grease showing on paper towels mine last longer . But that depends on family and how much you use cheese on how long it stays on your shelf lol

[@womensarmycorpsveteran2904]

Unfortunately we don’t have Wal mart in New Zealand. I hate paying extra for shredded cheese so I buy big blocks and grate using the food processor. I dump it in a huge bowl and toss the cheese around with a bit of corn starch before dehydrating (it keeps cheese from sticking together & absorbs a bit of the oil.) just like you with the paper towels . It’s great for camping. I am a camping freak and the lighter & smaller thing are the better. The hardest part of dehydrating cheese is getting as much oil out as possible.

[@bettypearson5570]

That's a much better idea than getting the preshredded. Preshredded cheese is treated with stuff to keep it from clumping together and block cheese isn't.

[@vickieparker3022]

I have heard the block cheese is better and if you freeze it. It just breaks apart when you cut it and crumbles

[@danniemcdonald7675]

​@@vickieparker3022 Yes,that is why it needs to be shredded before freezing if you want shredded cheese . If you are just going to melt it, freezing whole is fine.

[@ultramagapatriot5874]

Thank you for your post

[@Maggiewuvsrufus]

@@bettypearson5570 good idea I would’ve used preshreedded if you didn’t remind me

[@pattieaguilar]

well, i know EXACTLY what you mean about checking the cheese because if not u can have a disaster, I HAD A DISASTER !! lol and just fyi everyone, you can not salvage your melted cheese on the paper towells.. lesson learned from here in Kansas. i did have to change my paper towells at LEAST 5 times during the whole process. the final product was awsome !! i suggest when doing cheese start at the beginning of day unless you want to stay up all night changing paper towells, js.. lol i did use H2O packet in my jars when i was done. i made a jar of plain shredded and one of powdered. Thank you for the amazing video, my cheese has been turning out perfect after first lesson learned !!

[@sheilarogers3448]

Made cotton cloths to fit trays, just change them out till dry.

[@lisabibby6274]

I thought that you could just freeze cheese, I had no idea that you could dehydrate it. Thank you so much for sharing ♥️

[@somebodycomelistentothispo7217]

And u can turn it into a powder to make Mac and cheese or scalloped potatoes or add to powdered eggs

[@sandijammes7761]

@lisabibby6274 - I've frozen cheese in the freezer for years, but to have space for other things & avoid problems when there is a freezer failure or power outage, I've been dehydrating it instead. I powder some, but the rest I leave as shreds. God bless!🙏

[@NaS94612]

I just made some dehydrated jalapeño powder. Now I can dehydrate cheese and make a jalapeño cheese powder!

[@carolynmoody9460]

I did a search on dehy cheese an yours was the first to pop up..soooo glad

[@starfire8221]

Some wonderful ideas here. Another way is to freeze blocks of cheese, defrost and it crumblesup ( no need to shred as I won’t buy shredded cheese). Use muslin sheets I made for my trays (washable). Thanks for the video.

[@litaknowes7294]

Ooo muslin sheets .Good idea TY washable reusable

[@lindaertel7558]

The issue is that is you are saving cheese for emergencies, block cheese takes lots of room in the freezer.

[@starfire8221]

@@lindaertel7558 dehydrating after crumbling from frozen is easy and only in freezer for about 2 hrs…

[@VirginiaAlexander-tj8ez]

save those paper towels in baggie as fire starters for bbq and camping

[@pbar8439]

Got this idea from Heidi at Rain Country. Place the underside of the handle against your work surface. Instead of squeezing, use the heel of your hand to push down against the opposite side of the handle. This way your pushing down against the handle instead of squeezing. Hope this makes sense.

[@arcticcat7142]

I’ve also used my dried cheese powder in my sourdough crackers for cheese crackers

[@litaknowes7294]

Yummm Great Idea!

[@MrsCynfuller]

Thank you for sharing. My first dehydrator will be here tomorrow. My freezer is full of cheese, thanks to you, I know what the first thing I’ll be doing……cheese. Thank you and wish me luck.

[@lindavanord5606]

I did this last year when it received 5 lbs of cheese free . love the video

[@nancymweasel6561]

Going through your videos and love them. I air dry my grated cheese for 24 hours and then dehydrate on low for 24 hours. It dries better here in my climate better. Oh and I use clean dish towels. I go through several towels before they are at storage quality. I can rewash dish towels instead of paper towels which I only use once it is ground up. Then I use a moisture absorbers whether I vacumn seal or freeze.

[@janehaley9548]

When using the brake pump you do not have to use squeezing pressure by just using your hand. Place the handle farthest away from you against the counter and just press down using your forearm pressure and it will you can Pump It That Way. I like to put my hand underneath the brass part where the hoses connected so it doesn't bounce off of the counter when you pump it. This really helps Not to cause problems with your hand cramping

[@WinkTartanBelle]

Recipes or instructions on how to use this? Please? I think I got a similar deal on cheese at my Walmart and I froze it all. I need to clear out that freezer space, as well as be prepared if the power lapses. Great video, as usual. Thank you!

[@sassyherbgardener7154]

It's a lot less work on your hands if you set the brake bleeder on your table (or cabinet surface) and just press on the top of that handle. You are only using your arm muscle, and it's much easier and less stress on hands, wrists, etc. You can watch one of the Rain Country videos to see her doing it. Thanks for sharing!

[@debo9905]

Thank you. This is great!.I was worried bout having cheese. We are a cheesy family. Especially mexican food.😀

[@BigD9176]

Brake bleeder is genius - learning new things is so exciting! Have you thought about waxing cheeses? Ive been able to store cheese for a few years that way and so far all the experiments have worked well. The cheese does get sharper with age, so keep that in mind. Such a great idea on another way to use the dehydrator.

[@vonsquirrel8378]

You need to do a viedo on how to wax cheese. I'm going to try this that she did with my new dehydrator

[@canninggramma5846]

Alaska Pepper did a video on waxing cheese a while back!

[@starfire8221]

Heidi at Rain Country waxes cheese too. To messy for me🥰

[@debbyplank2189]

How do you store your cheese after waxing? I'm new to this? .THANKS!

[@catherina2611]

@@debbyplank2189 Depends on the type of cheese, you can't wax soft or fresh cheeses but generally hard cheeses like cheddar, you want to store at around 13C (55F) and turn them over at least once a month. For long term storage you should use cheese wax and not bees wax which get's too hard and frequently cracks. A much easier and quicker method is to vacc pack cheese which gives all the protection and humidity control that waxing does without the mess and fuss and difficulty sourcing cheese wax... it's just not as aesthetically pleasing to see a vacc packed cheese as it is to see a waxed one.

[@sandygrubb203]

Just researched this, you definitely have the best video out for cheese. My concern is does it have a grainy texture when rehydrated?

[@sandygrubb203]

@Jayce Kaiden that is great, thank you

[@vernonbowling5310]

We use a brake bleeder for all our dry canning in jars to save on our vacuum sealer.

[@saphirediamondspearlzsdpje3127]

Hmmmm I'm trying this next week. Such a good idea. Putting this video on my public play list if you don't mind

[@jenericstewart]

just an idea: the alaska prepper dehydrated shredded mozzarella without powdering it. he checked his at 5 years and it was still good.

[@dondiego124]

The powder part is unnecessary but saves on space it also makes blending into the sauce easier.

[@simplisticthings]

I know he freeze dried some didn't know he dehydrated some too. I'm gunna have to go back and check it out

[@docsusun3667]

I think this is brilliant! Great job Jinni!❤

[@CCAnne]

I thought he freeze dried it? I haven’t been able to get it longer then 9 months once we thought it was 11 months but when making it again tonight I realized it popped up in my memories on my phone lol 😂 from last year so it didn’t last a year.. I’ve been trying to see if fresh hard parm will last longer since it’s so much dryer an has no additives like the pre packed ..

[@pattieaguilar]

Funny I just got done watching the Alaska pepper and yea he put the cheese in a food dehydrater then mylar bags with h2o pck.

[@sth.777]

Thank you for a thorough, informative video showing the steps to doing this! I have a flat-tray dehydrator now (I tried Parmesan once with a center-holed dehydrator and had a bigger mess that it was worth!), so I will definitely be following your tutorial!

[@HomesteadCorner]

With the center hole dehydrators, I just cover the whole with a small cup or cupcake liner while filling the trays, works perfect to keep everything out of there. 😁

[@pattieaguilar]

@@HomesteadCorner when i had my mess with the melted cheese the next batches i turned on my little kitchen fan towards my dehydrater and that helped a lot ! i have a very OLD (35 yrs or older ) dehydrater, no temp.setting no fan so i have to compromise at times and i believe it helped..

[@edklenotich5232]

Can you simply dehydrate it without grinding it up? I would like to use mozzarella on a pizza or lasagna in shredded form.

[@debihagerman556]

did you ever get an answer? ; i have been hunting everywhere for the answer to your question.

[@edklenotich5232]

@@debihagerman556 No

[@pricer39]

@@edklenotich5232 I think in the comments someone said that the point of grinding was to take up less space. Implying that if you have plenty of space, you CAN leave it in shredded form. Cheers!

[@susieramick7202]

Does Walmart identify the 'missed shipment" sales? I never heard of them. Really impressed with your dehydrating skills . Thank you.

[@laurajean1855]

This is fantastic. Not just the tip but the excellent & clear explanation, leaving nothing left to guess about, etc. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I do have a question: Since the excess the fat is mostly removed via paper towels, etc, does it still melt nicely? I read that you don't eat pizza, but have you tried melting it on top of anything, a hamburger, etc? Also, let's say this goes bad (if I didn't seal it well enough or too much time passes, etc). Will the spoilage be obvious? ie mold, bad smell/taste etc? I want to rely on the reliable "smell/sight/taste test" rather than guessing with things I preserve.

[@jenbear8652]

I’m guessing it doesn’t go bad, as much as the oils can turn rancid. You can eat rancid oils, they just taste bad & can give indigestion.

[@janeababe]

Thank you for these great tips. I’m still learning, so I found your video very informative. (Mind you, I’m here because I failed my first attempt….and did it beautifully well 😫😂) I now have my second attempt in my electric dehydrator right now…. Laying on *paper towel* 🙏🙏🙏

[@janehaley9548]

Check out rain country vacuum chamber works great, you use the break bleeder with it.

[@elocin8200]

I love this. Will vacuum seal into bags. Thanks for the great tips!

[@pattylcravatta]

Can I use the powdered cheese in casseroles and tacos? Nachos! Yes! Thank-you! ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@vinlago]

Could you place a folded up paper towel on top of the cheese in the jar, then vac seal? It would prevent suctioning up little bits of cheese, especially if ground to a fine powder.

[@HomesteadCorner]

You cure can!

[@vinlago]

@@HomesteadCorner great, thanks! I can hardly wait for the 2 lbs of Monterey Jack in the dehydrator to finish.

[@danniemcdonald7675]

I use cupcake liners when vacuum sealing jars 🫙 of powdered foods.

[@UndecisiveAngel]

You have such a lovely caretaker voice 🤗 I'm sure your cooking is top-notch 👌

[@jomiller4397]

could you use cheese cloth or non terry towel for a more reuseable solution to paper towel?

[@HomesteadCorner]

Yes, muslin or a tea towel work great!

[@22ERICSHELLY]

Good evening! Just found your channel. How much dehydrated cheese is equal to a cup of shredded cheese? Have you dehydrated cream cheese? Thanks! May Jesus continue to bless you and your family!

[@ultramagapatriot5874]

Love this video! I was wondering how to make cheese powder

[@karenlightfoot-betts8193]

I love the funnel! Where did you get it? Also you have given me inspiration to do my own cheese. I also re use my old lids!

[@debilonginetti3676]

Are the paper towels food grade quality? My concern is that chemicals in the paper towel will leech into the cheese due to the heat. Could 100% cotton cheese cloth or flour sack towels be used?

[@samikruse01]

Coffee filters?

[@robinshellenberger9581]

Can the mozzarella be used on homemade pizza? would it be best not to powder first? What about on taco?

[@GreatGrannyFreeBird]

I like your presentation. Great idea to preserve cheese.

[@laurievoelker9005]

THANKS 😊

[@nannygeorginasmith3938]

Ohh interesting, love your tutorials. Thanks for sharing 👍😎

[@wanderinghome9979]

wow...break bleeder....I had no idea. I'm getting one today!

[@randomsaltyperson1148]

FYI...I use only a break bleeder. I have failures with the vacuum sealer and never with the break bleeder. PrepSteaders has a good video on this. Also Rain Country sells a vacuum chamber so you can reuse and reseal jars like sauce jars etc. look into Rain Country's channel too. She only will use break breeders too.

[@katehouser3683]

Great idea. I didn't know you could dehydrate cheese.

[@kmiller6002]

PHENOMENAL video!!!! Thank You for sharing your knowledge. God Bless you and your family from middle GA 🙏

[@wlware9040]

Hi Miss Ginny. I loved this video. How do you rehydrate the powdered cheese. I'm assuming you just add milk for your Marc and cheese. Do you cook it with milk then add in noodles or just throw it all in together. I'd love your recipe for mac and cheese. Thank you so much

[@HomesteadCorner]

Yes I do! I make a rue with butter and flour, add my milk and then the cheese powder... then simmer till it starts to thicken, then add to the cooked noodles, I like to add some bread crumbs & seasoning then bake till bubbly, & golden brown...

[@vonsquirrel8378]

@@HomesteadCorner oh GOODNESS, you just made me hungry lol. Im going to try this with my new dehydrator and use your recipe. Thanks a bunch

[@sallywall4385]

Thank you sooooo much. I will put this in my to-do list. We love cheese and as it is my fridge drawer if packed with all kinds and I still want more!

[@HouseOfOurLord]

Love this. Something new for me to try. Thanks for the video hon. God Bless.....

[@HomesteadCorner]

Happy to share! 😊☀️🌱🌻

[@loriejoy4931]

I make cheese chips in my pizelle cookie maker and it cools them to a crisp in about 60 seconds and removes ALL the oil !!! Could I then just place in the ninja and proceeded from there ???

[@litaknowes7294]

Ive been freezing cheeses my waxing turned into leaky disaster I've been looking for Dehydrating tutorials ..THANK YOU i will now be doing several dehydrating batches on my back porch cuz its already Hot in N Fl keepin the house cooler Again TY Just what i needed!

[@pricer39]

That's good to know! I had been planning to wax my extra cheese. So maybe I should plan to do this instead. Cheers!

[@duckyday1099]

Thank you for your efforts to share and teach us. Can you sprinkle the powered cheese on top of casseroles if there is some liquid that the cheese touches. Do you alway need to powder in order to use ? Thank you again and may Father continue to bless you and your family.

[@vikkivoxx5403]

I'm making powered cheese today after watching your video. TY Mucho ✌️❤️🧀

[@gailreese4699]

If I wanted to use some in my scrambled eggs do I just toss some in after my eggs are cooked or can I mix some in my eggs before scrambling them?

[@HomesteadCorner]

I mix it in before I cook.

[@gailreese4699]

@@HomesteadCorner THANK YOU FOR THE REPLY.

[@HomesteadMercantile]

Where did you find that funnel with the red bottom? I have looked and can't find one. I prefer the tin one like you have.

[@MommabearOfThree]

Omg I'm so glad I found this video. Thank you so much

[@HomesteadCorner]

Happy to share! 😊☀️🌱🌻

[@artemisiaabsinthium271]

What is that contraption you used to seal the jar? I need that in my life. 👍😍

[@lisaalbarras3029]

Break bleeder. I got mine on Amazon for $30, and a Foodsaver lid, I think it was $15.

[@Texg1rl_]

It would be great to see what it looks like after wards.

[@susankarnes2100]

I've seen people use 100% cotton material, cut a tad bigger than ur tray, throw in washer when used. Smiles

[@elizabethcope1502]

Rain Country started using cotton cloth. I made several sets for my round & square dehydrators. Cloths absorb lots of water & items seem to dry fast.

[@rcgkreations]

Great info, I hope to find great deals like this at grocery stores!

[@sportcardcollector9599]

Another great video my friend this looks really good thanks for sharing have a great day 👍👍

[@HomesteadCorner]

Thank You! Always happy to share! 😊🌱☀️🌻

[@phaedraschwartz7024]

You shouldn't add an oxygen absorber to any food product that is not entirely dry.The cheese still has some level of moisture in it, so the chance of it spoiling is high.

[@starfire8221]

Yes your right about that! Nothing that is not totally dried out.

[@dondiego124]

"entirely dry" is really a difficult end result, some times impossible. That's why everclearn is only 95% alcohol at some point it starts to absorb water right out of the air. Or if you ever have seen cotton candy melt on a humid day that is it absorbing the water out of the air. Everything we add O² absorbers to has water in there. The O² absorber's needs moisture and already has water salt and raw iron, it will start to oxidize, in the presence of oxygen, burning up all the oxygen in the container and stop the food from oxidizing. If you ever had a mostly finished "hot hands" you might have gotten it wet and it gets hot again for a little bit longer also hard as a rock.

[@phaedraschwartz7024]

@@dondiego124 Dairy products are not considered to be safe to dehydrate at home, but that doesn't mean that people haven't done it and not died or gotten ill from it. Your kitchen do what you will, but I will stick with government guidelines on dehydrating, canning, etc. It should be stated though that this is not deemed a safe practice.

[@winkfinkerstien1957]

@@phaedraschwartz7024 Bear in mind that parmesan cheese is sold as dry in a plastic shaker container right off the shelf. And, if I'm not mistaken, I think it was a moisture absorber that she added to the jar, rather than an oxygen absorber. Peace.

[@CCAnne]

She didn’t she added a moisturizer pack you do know she is just sharing information right? It’s short term why bother watch it if you think it’s not acceptable or deemed fit?

[@jhill4874]

Is there a "best" cheese for dehydrating? Also, would oxygen absorbers help extend the shelf life?

[@vernonbowling5310]

I learn something new every time I watch your videos. Thank you so much for this one.

[@janetfarrell2408]

Lol

[@janetfarrell2408]

Thank you for the info

[@Brisbanesdaddy]

Can you vacuum seal it (dried but not ground) into mason jars with a food saver jar attachment?

[@lisaboone369]

Yes

[@goodoz9942]

Awesome! I'm left wondering about reconstitution. Water, obviously...do you add a little oil too?

[@kitty9392]

Thanks for doing this! Can you use parchment paper instead of paper towels?

[@dizzyfingers7180]

My guess is that you cannot use parchment paper instead of paper towels. Parchment paper doesn’t absorb oil the white paper towels do.

[@lizbrown3021]

Jinni, how do you make a cheese sauce using it? Thanks for always giving us great info.

[@HomesteadCorner]

I make a rue with flour & butter, then add milk and the cheese powder just like with fresh cheese. 😋 the cheese sucks up a bit more of the liquid because it's dried, so I just adjust to the right consistency. 💕🇺🇸

[@debbyplank2189]

Can you put it in the jars leaving it shredded? Vacuum sealed of course. Thank you!

[@homesteadgamer1257]

This is a video I needed! Brilliant!

[@dianafurney5820]

Is moisture pack the same as oxygen absorber? Where can you get moisture packs?

[@aleksandramesquita1949]

Have just started exploring ways of preserving cheese. I normally just freeze it (still have quite some speciality cheeses like smoked provolone or asiago in my freezer) but with the electricity prices soaring and possible looming power cuts, it may not be the best option... I've had some experience with canning stuff (but i can only waterbath, pressure canners are pricey af here in the UK), so canning cheese is defo an option to try out. Haven't ever tried waxing, and I'm not even sure i have right conditions to store waxed cheese. A person in a cheese making group i'm in suggested dehydrating - so here I am, learning... What should i know?

[@quietmadness1768]

I want a dehydrator *SO BAD!* 😩 I could be putting it outside for jerky (smelly) and inside for fruits. Oh, I really want one, and this shows a perfect reason! ~~QM ❤️

[@richardmoorer2668]

Dehydrators are only about $30 up.. whatever u like.. A vacuum sealer is indispensable also.. preserve lots of different foods for yrs.. hard times are coming...

[@mikeseymore2548]

Definitely would use it to coat and deep fry stuff lol

[@williamperry3108]

Thank you for your help.

[@karenlightfoot-betts8193]

I also love your "brake bleeder" vacume seal! Where did you get that??

[@jenbear8652]

The lid part is an accessory you can get for Food Saver brand machines. She used a brake bleeder to such the air out instead of using the food saver.

[@jchai1343]

Wow what a deal on cheese we are lucky in Canada if we get it on sale 4.95 in Canada!

[@tracymiller833]

4.95...Damn...

[@goshwhat]

Thank you so much. Best video by far! I learned a lot from it and I’m ready to try it today. Thanks again

[@jonicabeird4657]

I love this!!! I did not know cheese can be dehydrated. Any risk of botulism or anything, esp with the O2 removed? Or does that not matter because it will be cooked anyway??

[@jazzylyn5857]

We all probably eat a dozen items of food a year riddled with botulism, but as our stomaches have hydrochloric acid, they obliterate most bad stuff. There's usually about 16 documented cases of botulism a year in USA, none of them from home food preservation. Of course, we're all gonna have occasional bouts of food poisoning, so it's important to keep our gut health in top notch condition so that mother nature can keep doing her job on any bugs we chow down on.

[@amandae.5906]

Wondering, can you do this with freshly grated cheese? TIA

[@sandraburke1590]

Excellent idea, I will be doing this.

[@LaceyHayward]

Could you freeze it though, to make it last longer?

[@cindyebner5556]

Thank you for this video. God bless you for sharing!

[@pennyisenberg614]

Since it has been 3 months now, do like it in your cooking?

[@danniemcdonald7675]

What a great idea! Where did you get the moisture packets?

[@suzieblair8089]

how do you keep the powdered cheese from flying all over the dehydrator? Loved this video, thank you for the heads up with cheese.

[@jazzylyn5857]

Clip the cheese's wings.

[@senaloudermilk4662]

Can you do this with block cheese just shreed it yourself?

[@shelleylard2399]

Yes, or dry it in very thin slices.

[@gypsygg4102]

Freeze your block cheese then thaw…slice thin, the cheese just crumbles, no Shredding involved.

[@bluejean4444]

I get the moisture absorber but they always say you're not supposed to use oxygen absorbers in oily foods because it causes botulism. What's up with that?

[@patsternburg8737]

Do you need to add butter and milk to make the cheese sauce? What’s the ratio?

[@bengali481]

Rain Country balances her break bleeder on the counter and pushes on the handle instead of squeezing. Less tiring.

[@inyayardhomestead5693]

G'day Jinne, this is awesome I've learnt something new I'm going to have to try this next time I get a lot of cheese, thanks for sharing and God bless you. 🦘👍

[@HomesteadCorner]

Always happy to share, hope you are doing well! 😊🌻🌱☀️

[@PeggyAndAndyPaige]

:-D great video. Enjoyed. thanks for posting.

[@HomesteadCorner]

Thank you! Always happy to share. 😊☀️🌱🌻

[@abigailhumes4608]

Thank you.

[@jackdavis4491]

Vacuum at sea level about 29 lbs. As you go up in elevation you can't pull 29 vacuum

[@roki5337]

Never thought about dehydrating the cheese... Hmmm you got me thinking. It could be great for cheese bread or mashed potatoes.

[@notwrkn2mch]

I'm new to this..... when finished did you dry store this or refrigerate or freeze it?

[@ultramagapatriot5874]

Where did you get your break bleeder and how much was it please?

[@zooperdooper4223]

My hubby loves fried cheese and now your vid has got me wondering if I could make cheese powder from it.

[@susandorry6149]

Great idea who would have of thought drying cheese, could I use it for nachos? I didn't even know it could be froze, I'm to old not to know this, lol.