Final answer:
Gouda cheese preserved by sealing with wax has an extended shelf life due to the wax acting as a barrier against air, moisture, and microbes. The practice combines traditional fermentation with an established method of food preservation using food-safe waxes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Dutch Gouda, preserved by sealing its entire surface with wax, can most reasonably be inferred to have a longer shelf life. The wax coating acts as a barrier to prevent exposure to air, moisture, and external microbes, reducing the likelihood of spoilage and contamination. Given the perishable nature of milk, fermentation is a traditional method used to extend its usable life, converting it into more stable products such as cheese. Combined with wax sealing, this method of preservation implies that Gouda cheese can be stored for longer periods without deteriorating.
Various food-safe waxes, such as paraffin or beeswax, have a history of being used to preserve different types of food, suggesting that the practice is an established method of extending the life of perishable goods. Just like cultured milk products have utilized fermentation for preservation over millennia, the additional step of wax sealing in cheese-making enhances this effect for hard cheeses like Gouda.