How To Store Feta Cheese (In Brine)

We often use feta cheese to make yogurt dip haydari, which is one of our favorite meze dishes. And there is always some leftover feta cheese crumbles afterwards. So what do we do with it? Well, we either eat it at breakfast the next morning or store it in the fridge for later use.

We do love this soft cheese in the simplest way: Combined with tomatoes, cucumbers, olives, onion and with spices like oregano and sometimes red pepper flakes. It is also a great snack with a little bread to suppress hunger. And it won't last very long in our home. 

No idea what feta cheese is? It is a Greek aged cheese that is traditionally made from sheep's milk only or a combination of sheep and goat's milk. It is healthy and packed  with nutrients. Outside Greece, there are white cheeses made with cow's milk. Their tangy taste and crumbly texture is very similar to feta's as they are made with the same aging process. 

How Long Does Feta Cheese Last?

Greek feta cheese is matured in brine, a solution of water and salt, and preserved in large barrels. At supermarkets, it is often sold in sealed packages. And an unopened package of feta lasts for several months in the refrigerator, but always check the expiration date before consuming it.

Feta comes with very little brine in its package. Similar to other fermented foods like pickles, feta is likely to dry out and lose flavor when the package is opened and it is removed from brine and exposed to air. So you might wonder how to keep feta fresh and extend its shelf life.

The best way to keep it fresh in the fridge for 3-4 days is wrapping it with a dampened paper towel and then keep it in a container. It is definitely not a good idea to simply keep it in plastic wrap or in a plastic bag.  

And if you are not planning to use it in a few days and want to keep it longer, you need a simple solution: Make your own brine! This keeps the feta fresh for a few weeks.

Ingredients For Feta Cheese Brine

Just like when preserving green olives, we only need 2 ingredients to make the brine: Water and kosher salt. 

Water should be at room temperature.  If you find it difficult to dissolve salt in it, heat half of the water, dissolve salt in it and then combine it with cold water. If it is still warm, bring it to room temperature and then use. Never store feta cheese in warm water.

We recommend kosher salt when making brine. It is not just a flavoring agent, but it also helps the cheese to keep firm. Table salt doesn't have the same effect. And just plain water doesn't work. 

How To Make Brine 

Making brine is really easy and it is the method cheese makers use to store feta. The brine keeps the feta cheese a salty punch.

Dissolve 2 teaspoons of kosher salt in 1 cup of water. Cut the leftover feta cheese in cubes and place them in this simple brine. Make sure all pieces of cheese are covered well with the brine. Double or triple the amount of water and salt if needed.

You don't have to slice the cheese before adding it into the brine, you can store a whole or half block of feta cheese in this brine if you want. But we find it easier to take the cheese cubes out of the container as needed. 

After placing the feta cheese in the brine, seal the container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 weeks. 

Storing In Olive Oil

If you are after a low-sodium option to store feta cheese, the best way is marinating it in olive oil. Cut the cheese block into cubes, put them in a storage container. Pour olive oil (extra virgin if possible) over them making sure they are all well covered with olive oil. Seal the container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks.

You can add more flavors in the oil if you want. Herbs like oregano or thyme and garlic could be nice additions. 

When you use up all the cheese in the marinade, you can use the remaining olive oil in salads. 

Freezing Feta Cheese

Freezing is another option to store feta cheese, but we recommend it for crumbled feta as it is easier to thaw. Also, eating frozen feta as it is may not be as good as eating fresh cheese.

So you won't want to eat it with crackers as an appetizer. Instead, use thawed crumbled cheese in recipes like pasta, spanakopita (Greek cheese pie), quiche or pizza.

You can freeze feta crumbles in resealable bags for up to 3 months.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our Favorite Recipes With Feta

• Spinach and Feta Cheese Borek
• Feta Cheese Sandwich
• Feta Stuffed Peppers
• Feta Zucchini Fritters
• Gozleme Recipe
• Su Boregi

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