Cheese is extremely versatile and can be used in numerous dishes. This is probably one of the reasons why cheese baskets are such popular gifts. There are several dishes that taste great with cheese, as well as those that include cheese as the main ingredient. Knowing how and when to use cheese in your food will determine how good the dish is. Here are some tips for cooking with cheese.

When to add your cheese

When using cooking with cheese in any recipe, it’s important to add it last. The cheese doesn’t need to be cooked, but it will need to be melted and mixed with the rest of the ingredients when making a sauce, soup or risotto. As for oven dishes and casseroles, you will need to bake the dish in the oven, adding the cheese last. Leave the dish to bake or grill for another ten minutes so that the cheese forms a delicious crust on top. Remember to grate cheese when you want to use it as a topping or add it to a sauce or other foods. Grated cheese melts faster and is easier to spread over a saucepan.

Chill before grating

When you grate the cheese, make sure it’s cold but not frozen. If cheese is left out of the refrigerator and warmed to room temperature, it becomes soft and difficult to work with. If you need a cup of shredded cheese, you’ll need a four-ounce block. If you plan on cooking with cheese on a regular basis, you could also grate larger quantities, portion them into bags and place in the freezer to help make the process that much quicker.

Cook it slowly

When cooking cheese on the stove, you should cook it on medium to low heat. Avoid cooking at high temperatures or the cheese will separate and you’ll have to throw it away. There is no way to recover that desirable texture. The same goes for cooking in the microwave.

Stronger flavours

If you are looking for a stronger flavour, you should use a mature cheese. They are much more concentrated and you will generally need less seasoning than with a younger cheese.

Top your salad

If you want to turn an ordinary garden salad into something deliciously special, just add a few blocks of goat cheese, feta or blue cheese. Alternatively, you can grate some hard cheese on top of the salad. You can also add some cranberries and toasted walnuts for colour and texture. Serve with a light vinaigrette and voila! Prepare your croutons and top them with cheese. Add them to your soup for extra flavour. When you make your croutons, make it with light spices, herbs, and olive oil. Add the cheeses last, after they’ve cooked through properly. Cooking with cheese does not always mean that you need to cook or melt the cheese. You can always top your meals off with some fresh cheese.

With these tips in mind, you will find cooking with cheese to be really simple and you will never end up with lumpy or burned dishes again! Remember to use the right type of cheese for each recipe since there are so many varieties with highly distinct flavours. For instance, mozzarella is perfect for pizza while you may prefer feta on your salad.