Andrew Dwyer Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 As the title suggests I will bring in some cheese from the UK next month and would like some recommendations on how to pack it . Vacuum packed ?, polystyrene ( styrofoam) box ? , should I freeze it ? ( probably not a good idea or necessary ) etc. Thanks in advance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackdd Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 (edited) I always take it vaccum packed, if it gets too warm it will be liquid and i don't want it in my suitcase. If you freeze it you will have condensation water in your suitcase, and it won't last the whole way anyway If it get's warm for a while that's no big deal. It might look a bit strange after this (and maybe some of the fat is then outside of the cheese (it's fat reduced then ), but taste wise i never had a problem with it. Edited February 8, 2018 by jackdd 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post JAFO Posted February 8, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 8, 2018 I have brought various aged Cheddar cheese from the US on numerous occasions. What has worked (and was recommended by a deli owner friend of mine) exceptionally well is right before you close up your suitcase pull them out of the refrigerator and wrap in either butcher paper or newspaper tight. Then pack in your suitcase. Do not carry on. The reason being in your checked luggage it is stowed where temperatures is much much lower then the cabin. Every time I have picked up my luggage at claims and got home the cheese was still very cold. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChidlomDweller Posted February 8, 2018 Share Posted February 8, 2018 I usually bring about 10 packs of 200 gram (slices, vacuum packed) from the supermarket in Schiphol airport. It stays cold enough and stays good in my fridge for 3 months afterwards, no problem. If you want to make extra sure you could wrap some thermal bag around it. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jacko45k Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I had a soft sided small 'coolbox' and packed it with some of those ice substitute blue plastic blocks you pre-freeze. You have to worry if your bag might be left in the sun on the tarmac in Dubai or other ME transit, but for direct flights it will spend most of the time cool at 35,000 ft. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic Ray Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I just pack it straight from the supermarket in the UK in its vacuum pack and it always stays cool until I arrive in Thailand, no ill effects. I usually transit in the Middle East but often its the same plane for the onward journey so it always stays cool in the hold. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post faraday Posted February 9, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2018 Don't forget to bring some Branston Pickle. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Classic Ray Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 6 minutes ago, faraday said: Don't forget to bring some Branston Pickle. Good suggestion, although obtainable here, like cheese it is wickedly expensive. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nurseynutcase Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 23 minutes ago, faraday said: Don't forget to bring some Branston Pickle. I bought some Branston pickle in Macro. UK friends stunned that I got it here!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VocalNeal Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 ^ At Schiphol airport the best place to buy is in duty free. That way it is not included in the weight of your luggage or carry on. I have a friend who brings tens of kilos that way every trip. All in bags from duty free. Branston pickle is easy. Even on Sukhumvit 71, sub soi 2 next to Rovers Bar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phkauf Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Brought same some aged Parmesan from the US. Vacuum packed and put in a freezer bag with some ice packs, along with frozen steaks and some maple cured bacon. Checked bag so in the cargo hold at probably less than 10C for most of the trip. Everything was in great shape when i got home. Don't freeze the cheese though just keep it cold. The key is to pack the bag tight so everything acts as it's own ice pack. My Italian Cheese guys frowns upon keeping the Parmesan vacuum packed, since it doesn't allow the cheese to age naturally - but he's a perfectionist. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Laycock1 Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Why bother when there is a perfectly good cheese shop within Central Hall Bangkok. Anything from fine Cheddar to Stilton etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post VBF Posted February 9, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted February 9, 2018 I brought some Mature Cheddar from UK some years ago for a friend and as suggested above, kept it in my fridge until leaving, then wrapped it, (still in its original packing) in silver foil, then in a plastic bag, then then packed it in my checked baggage. Arrived intact and reportedly was delicious. By the way, I did exactly the same with some bars of chocolate. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VBF Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 1 minute ago, Paul Laycock1 said: Why bother when there is a perfectly good cheese shop within Central Hall Bangkok. Anything from fine Cheddar to Stilton etc. Apparently, it is (or was at the time) much more expensive in Thailand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pest Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 I have a mate bring it up from AUS he freezes it then wraps it in bubble wrap Once it arrived still hard it thaws out fine just plain old Coles farmhouse cheddar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
biplanebluey Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 What the hell do you want to bring cheese into Thailand for--------- The best cheese in the world is Mainland cheese from New Zealand and available from Big C, Makro, everywhere and not expensive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pest Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Just now, biplanebluey said: What the hell do you want to bring cheese into Thailand for--------- The best cheese in the world is Mainland cheese from New Zealand and available from Big C, Makro, everywhere and not expensive $6 a kg in Coles that's why 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pest Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Just now, pest said: $6 a kg in Coles that's why https://shop.coles.com.au/a/a-national/product/coles-smart-buy-tasty-cheddar-cheese-block Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldhippy Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 1 minute ago, biplanebluey said: What the hell do you want to bring cheese into Thailand for--------- The best cheese in the world is Mainland cheese from New Zealand and available from Big C, Makro, everywhere and not expensive Some excellent cheese from the South Island yes, but sure expensive..... And weird: the vintage cheese sells at about the same price as the very young rubbery stuff. If I recall correctly, it is about 800 bath, 20 euro per kilo? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 9 minutes ago, biplanebluey said: What the hell do you want to bring cheese into Thailand for--------- The best cheese in the world is Mainland cheese from New Zealand and available from Big C, Makro, everywhere and not expensive Not seen that, i did buy some mature cheddar in Lotus one time, it was expensive and the only other option was Edam (no thanks !). England has a great variety of cheeses , all very cheap. Wensleydale springs instantly to mind. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 59 minutes ago, VocalNeal said: ^ At Schiphol airport the best place to buy is in duty free. That way it is not included in the weight of your luggage or carry on. I have a friend who brings tens of kilos that way every trip. All in bags from duty free. Branston pickle is easy. Even on Sukhumvit 71, sub soi 2 next to Rovers Bar. Coming thru Doha this time so not an option. I love cheese but i think tens of kilos might be a bit much even for me ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornishcarlos Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 30 minutes ago, Paul Laycock1 said: Why bother when there is a perfectly good cheese shop within Central Hall Bangkok. Anything from fine Cheddar to Stilton etc. Because I don't live in BKK !! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ballpoint Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 The king of cheddar. Readily available in Thailand. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Dwyer Posted February 9, 2018 Author Share Posted February 9, 2018 31 minutes ago, Paul Laycock1 said: Why bother when there is a perfectly good cheese shop within Central Hall Bangkok. Anything from fine Cheddar to Stilton etc. It's no bother to chuck 3 or 4 packs into my suitcase. I'm not in Bangkok and i'm sure it will be a lot cheaper in the uk ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anon537687643 Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Freezing and in checked bags is ok for a hard cheese! Anything better than paying crazy prices for cheese in Thailand which has 100% import tariff , protecting Thai Cheese producers? Haha Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
natway09 Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 Just pack in newspaper & pack in your check in baggage. Do not freeze cheese. The planes hold is pressurized but not heated so keeps really cold anyway. Just remember that you are breaking the law bringing in any undeclared foodstuffs although they don't seem to care or check 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oyster Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 1 hour ago, Nurseynutcase said: I bought some Branston pickle in Macro. UK friends stunned that I got it here!!! There are Macros and Macros, busiest and best on Samui, Nakon Phanom and Sakon Phanom not quite so adventurous, but then it's a business and they have to stock what sells. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GroveHillWanderer Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 25 minutes ago, oldhippy said: Some excellent cheese from the South Island yes, but sure expensive..... And weird: the vintage cheese sells at about the same price as the very young rubbery stuff. If I recall correctly, it is about 800 bath, 20 euro per kilo? Depends where you buy it. The cheapest I've found it in Hua Hin is 680 Baht a kilo. So that's about £15 a kilo or approx 50% more than a 'name brand' mature cheddar cheese at a UK Tesco supermarket. Admittedly, you can get the cheapest Tesco own brand cheddar for £6 a kilo but I don't think it's as good as the Vintage Mainland cheddar. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UKJASE Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 i freeze cheese and butter, all contained within a big shoe box, and pack any gaps with newspaper. then parcel tape the lid shut and into my suitcase. as the box ends up weighing a few kg's, everything is kept cold until i get to my home in hua hin. Lurpak Butter about 20 quid a kilo here - but 6 quid back home, so worth the effort. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panadadad Posted February 9, 2018 Share Posted February 9, 2018 3 hours ago, jacko45k said: I had a soft sided small 'coolbox' and packed it with some of those ice substitute blue plastic blocks you pre-freeze. You have to worry if your bag might be left in the sun on the tarmac in Dubai or other ME transit, but for direct flights it will spend most of the time cool at 35,000 ft. This is how I do it from the states Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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