I brought back a portion of a wheel of Gouda, about 2 lbs. I know I can freeze this but I was wondering if instead of freezing it would be o.k. to vacuum pack in my Food Saver machine. And if so how long it would keep in the fridge?

annie--I don't know the answer to your question, per se, but we have often brought back a large whole wheel (3 1/2 kilo) and divided it up in 4ths, which would make each section about 1 kilo, thus close to 2 pounds. We unthaw them in the fridge and have often kept a section in the fridge, just in a ziplock baggie, for a month or more with no ill effects to the cheese. It stands to reason it would probably keep longer in a food saver package. But truthfully, I thought I have read here that it never really goes bad anyway in the fridge--just cut off any moldy parts! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Thanks Carol. I don't really eat that much cheese to begin with so I did not want to freeze this piece whole. I think I'll cut it in half, vacuum pack both halves and then freeze one of them. I can't believe that in all the years I have been going to SXM this was the first year I even tasted Gouda...and I liked it! Paul was a big cheese fan and I've always turned my nose up at cheese. My loss! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

That sounds like a plan--freeze half of it. Gouda really is a lovely cheese!

Not sure if it still is, but in the past bringing home Gouda was more of a cost savings than bringing home booze...
It was dirt cheap on SXM (I think we were paying about $18 for a really large wheel) and around $12 a pound here in NJ...

annie, gouda makes an excellent cheese burger and is also great cubed as a topping for a chef's salad...
makes a good cheese, onion & mushroom omelette too!
I think you have the storage solution down pat...

Brian, the cost of Gouda has gone up in SXM. I paid about $10.00 for this 1/4 of a wheel...about 2 lbs. Still a lot cheaper than around here.

I've already cut it in half, vacuum packed each half and put one in the freezer and other in the fridge.

annie, in the future, get a couple of small wheels, completely covered in the wax...
It lasts forever that way... until you break the wax seal...
It really is tasty cheese isn't it?
try it sliced on slices of apple, peaches, melons or apricots... yummmm....

Edammer (or Edam in the US) is another Dutch Cheese that is also very tasty! similar to gouda, but lighter in flavor...

Thanks for that info Brian. I think I just might have an apple with a few slices of Gouda for a mid-night snack tonight!

It is also fantastic melted under a broiler on croutons over a good French onion soup!