Useful Cooking Tip with Cheese

23 February, 2021 Cheese
Halloumi cheese in salad
Halloumi cheese in salad. Credit: Pixabay

There is something unexplainable when it comes to cheese. There are many ways to use cheese, including adding it in a comfort meal as well as serving it up on a cheeseboard while hosting a party. ​​​​​​

Cheese works well with chocolate, wine and even beer, but certain kinds of cheese require careful handling, especially when using it while cooking a meal. Check out our simple kitchen tips for cooking with different types of cheese!

  • Pay attention to the kinds of cheese you use in a particular recipe. Types of cheese like halloumi or feta have high melting points which don’t work well on the grill or in a casserole. Instead, use them in salads!

  • Ricotta cheese works well as a base for any dip or spread of your choice because of its mild flavour. It can be grainy, especially while crumbling by hand. Use a blender or a food processor to get the smooth texture that will make the food super creamy.

  • Instead of throwing away your cheese rinds, pack them in a bag and store them in the freezer. You can use these leftovers while cooking homemade broth or even infuse flavours in sauces and into stocks.
Parmesan cheese pasta
Parmesan cheese pasta. Credit: Piqsels
  • Grating cheese, especially blocks of it becomes easier when it is done cold. Try using shredded parmesan, or mix it up with cheddar and throw mounds of it on parchment paper to make perfect cheese crisps. They are a hit among children and adults!

  • Spray your grater with nonstick spray to doubly make sure that the cold cheese won’t stick while shredding and make a mess later on. Take precautions and the cheese will last longer!

  • Know your cheese and make sure you cook anything, especially cheese sauces on low heat. Creating a creamy, cheesy sauce requires patience and a low flame so that the cheese doesn’t burn or break.

  • Sometimes cheese is left out in the open and can become soft for cutting. One of the ingenious hacks is to use dental floss on a log of chevre or feta cheese to get easy cuts without crumbling or smashing down the soft cheese.

  • Like cheesy sauces, dishes that require cheese to be cooked in an oven also have to be monitored. Keep an eye on dishes like casseroles, to make sure the cheese doesn’t break or create an oily mess. Never go above the mentioned oven temperature!