Fabrication and characterization of thymol-loaded nanofiber mats as a novel antimould surface material for coating cheese surface

•Thymol-loaded nanofibers were used as an antimould coating material for kashar.•The nanofibers had good dispersion good thermal stability properties.•Molecular, thermal and morphological analyses confirmed good encapsulation.•Antimould effectiveness of thymol could be increased by encapsulation by 56%.•In situ activity tests revealed remarkable prevention of mould growth on cheese.