Cheese is not only a delicious ingredient in many meals, but it is also wonderfully versatile and nutritious. Different types of cheese contain various amounts of calcium as well as other nutrients. It is, however, important to know how to cook with cheese if you want your dishes to come out just right.
When you add cheese to any meal, it’s important to wait until the dish is almost ready. Cheese does not require cooking but you will want it to melt and blend with the other ingredients. This is especially true if you are making a creamy, cheesy soup, sauce, or similar recipes. If you want to give your lasagna a scrumptious cheesy crust, you should add the grated cheese once the dish is cooked all the way through and then grill to perfection. Remember, grating the cheese allows it to melt faster and it’s also easier to spread it evenly over the surface.
When grating cheese, you should make sure that it is chilled but not frozen. If your cheese warms to room temperature, it can be very difficult to grate. If the cheese is frozen, it will not grate easily either.
If cooking cheese on your stove, you should always keep the heat low or medium. High temperatures can cause the cheese to separate and it will be no good. The high heat alters the texture of the cheese and there is no way of reversing this. This is also true for microwave cooking.
If you would like a stronger flavour in your dish, you should opt for aged cheese. They are stronger in flavour because they are more concentrated. You will require less seasoning than you would if you use a younger cheese.
If you want to take an ordinary garden salad to the next level, consider adding some feta cheese, goat cheese, or blue cheese. You can even grate some hard cheese over the salad if you prefer. You can even add some cranberries and roasted nuts for texture and colour. Enjoy with some light dressing and you’ve got a delicious meal or first course.
For those who enjoy croutons, you can add even more flavour by topping them with some grated cheese. Add these homemade croutons to your soup for even more flavour and a more filling meal. Remember, you need to cook the croutons first and add the cheese once they are done. Add the cheese while the croutons are still hot. The cheese doesn’t need to be baked since it will melt all on its own.