What is the place called where cheese is aged?
When cheddar cheese is made, it is kept on shelves in a climate controlled place and each wheel is turned over once per week. What is the place called where the cheese is kept during this aging process?
Best Answer
I don't think there's a specific name for it.
I found a book that simply refers to it as an "aging space/room".
The Aging Room: The "Big Three" Design Issues
When designing an aging space, there are three main factors to consider: temperature, humidity, and air (both air exchange and movement). Each of these factors will be influenced by the volume and type of cheese being aged; your area's native influences (weather and soil/earth stability and properties; also if your building is underground); and the building structure and size.
The Small-Scale Cheese Business: The Complete Guide to Running a Successful Farmstead Creamery p. 126
Around the web, I've seen it referred to as a "cheese cave", which refers to the historical habit of using caves for aging cheese.
- How to Make a Cheese “Cave” - This is a guide on aging cheese in a refrigerator.
- Crown Finish Caves - A cheese aging facility in Brooklyn, NY.
- Wegman's Food Market opened a "cheese cave" in 2014.
For a similar reason, I've seen a smaller number of references to "cheese cellar".
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Inside the Cheese-Aging Caves 30 Feet Under Brooklyn | I Got a Guy | Bon Appétit
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