Parmesan Delivery or Pickup

Parmesan cheese originates from the Parma-Reggio region of Northern Italy. Benedictine monks first created it in an effort to use up a surplus of milk back in the middle ages. The Monks began exporting the creation to different regions of Italy and eventually to the rest of Europe. Since then, the popularity of the cheese has spread worldwide, and more people have begun to reproduce similar versions. The original Benedictine creation is now known exclusively as Parmigiano Reggiano, while similar reproductions are called parmesan.

Parmesan is a hard and dry cheese made from cow's milk, salt, and an enzyme called rennet. It is typically aged for a minimum of 10 months which helps create a rich, slightly salty flavor. The flavor of the parmesan can be different depending on how long it has matured.  A younger cheese will be smooth in texture and slightly acidic, whereas a more mature cheese will have a crumbly texture with a nutty and spicy aroma and a more complex flavor.

Parmesan cheese can be purchased as a fresh block, grated, shaved, or shredded for use in a variety of different ways, such as: 

To find the perfect parmesan for your dish, save yourself time and use the Instacart app to browse and select which parmesan you would like to try. After checkout, an Instacart shopper will shop your order. You can get your parmesan in as little as 2 hours when you order via Instacart!

Parmesan is a hard cheese that lasts longer than other types of cheese. An unopened block of parmesan should last about seven to nine months. Once opened, the block should be used within two months for best quality.

Shredded or shaved parmesan degrades faster once opened and should be consumed within the week. Whereas freshly grated parmesan should be consumed within two to three days after opening, whereas grated parmesan in a canister can usually last a couple of months once opened and refrigerated. In all circumstances, make sure that you make note of the best before date on the packaging and consume within that time frame. 

You need to store parmesan cheese properly in order to preserve it. To keep parmesan edible, wrap it tightly in plastic and place it on the top shelf of your refrigerator. Take care not to expose the cheese to air, this will dry it out and cause the rind to crack. If you find that your cheese is already drying out, wrap it in a damp piece of cheesecloth, then cover it tightly with a piece of plastic wrap.