Shredded cheese exposed to outside air molds quickly
If you are doing a science experiment on which cheeses mold the fastest or what causes cheese to mold, you will need to consider the temperature, environment and moisture of cheese. Cheese mold grows fastest in warm, humid and dark environments. Before you begin your experiment, be sure to consider the ingredients in each type of cheese, how it was made and storage suggestions.
Factors Deterring Cheese Mold
Before experimenting with how fast cheese molds, it is important to understand variables that deter the molding of cheese. If cheese is sharp, or more acidic, it will deter the molding process, while mild, base cheeses, if under the same conditions, will mold more quickly. Hard cheeses, which have less moisture, will mold less quickly than soft cheese, which naturally has more moisture. Cheeses with higher amounts of preservatives, such as salt, will generally mold less quickly than cheeses without preservatives. Cheeses left in a warm environment will generally mold more quickly than cheeses left in a cool environment. Finally, shredded and sliced cheeses have more surface area. More surface area means more places for mold spores to attach onto. Generally, shredded or sliced cheeses mold more quickly than block cheeses.
Moisture
If you are looking for ways to make cheese mold more quickly, the first step is to moisten the cheese. Some soft cheeses, such as brie or cream cheese, contain an adequate amount of moisture for a fast growth of mold already. Hard cheese stored properly has a small amount of moisture, deterring many types of mold from growing. Adding moisture to cheese will add the possibility for more types of mold to grow, because different types of mold require different amounts of moisture. Cheese can be exposed to moisture naturally if it is not properly covered and stored in a humid environment.
Temperature
The temperature of stored cheese also affects how quickly it will mold. Naturally, leaving cheese out of the refrigerator for a couple hours exposes it to a warmer climate, which promotes the growth of mold. If you want mold to grow quickly on cheese, do not store it in the refrigerator, which deters the growth of mold. Store it in a cupboard or cabinet, or place it outside, which is warmer and more humid. Mold grows best in dark, humid, warm environments.
Storage
How cheese is stored also greatly affects how quickly it will mold. Covered cheese is exposed to open air less, which deters the growth of mold. If cheese is not covered, it is exposed to open air which often contains mold spores. Mold spores can live in anything that is damp, such as a kitchen sponge or an outside pond. The spores travel with the movement of air. Storage-wise, cheese will mold the fastest is left uncovered in a warm, dark and humid environment.
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