How to Eat Cheese

Reviewed by Ashley Crawford

Last Updated: May 14, 2024 References

There is an incredible variety of cheese available worldwide and the different flavors, textures and styles all come with their own methods for eating and enjoying the flavor at its best. This article will give you tips on how to eat cheese so that you can fully experience its flavor. It will also give you possibilities for pairing cheese with different wines and foods, as well as some etiquette tips for formal and informal occasions.

Method 1

Method 1 of 4:

Knowing the Basics

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1
Eat cheese from mildest to strongest if it is served on a platter. In general, soft, creamy cheeses are milder than hard ones. If you are unsure which cheese is mild and which cheese is sharp, ask the host.^{[1]
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- If you start out with a sharp cheese, your taste buds will be overwhelmed, and you might miss out on the underlying flavors of any mild cheese you eat afterwards.
- Make sure that you use a different knife for different types of cheese so that you don't mix flavors.^{[2]
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Eat cheese at room temperature to help bring out the flavors and textures.^{[3]
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Research source} About an hour before you plan on serving or eating the cheese, take it out of the fridge, but keep it in its wrapper so that it doesn't dry out.^{[4]
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Research source} Keep in mind that in warmer climates, the cheese will reach room temperature sooner. You don't want the cheese to become so warm that it starts to melt and "sweat."^{[5]
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- Take hard cheeses, such as Cheddar, out of the fridge an hour to an hour and a half before serving/eating.
- Take soft, creamy cheeses, such as Brie, out of the fridge two to three hours before serving/eating.
- Take fresh cheeses, such as cottage cheese, out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving/eating.
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The rind is usually hard and waxy. Examples of cheeses where you should peel/cut the rind off include Edam, Gruyere, and Romano.
This rind is usually soft and white. Examples of cheeses where you can eat the rind include Camembert and Brie.
Just don't make a huge show of it. Smelling is a big part of tasting. It can actually help intensify the taste of the cheese.
When you smoosh cheese onto bread or crackers, you tamper with the unique flavor of the cheese. If you really want to appreciate the taste of the cheese, eat it alone.^{[6]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 4:

Pairing Cheese with Wine

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Wine makes a perfect accompaniment to cheese. It can help bring out its flavors. There are certain types of wines, however, that work better with certain types of cheese. This section will give you some tips and ideas on how to most effectively pair wine with cheese.^{[7]
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Pair soft and fresh cheeses with crisp white wines. You can also pair them with dry aperitif wines, dry Rosé wines, sparkling wines, and light-bodied reds that have low tannins. Avoid tannic red wines, such as Bordeaux, Bordeaux blends, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Malbec.
- Examples of soft and fresh cheeses include Brie, Brillat-Savarin, Bûcheron, Burrata, Camembert, Chèvre, Crottin, Feta, Halloumi, Mozzarella, and Ricotta.
- Wines that go will with soft and fresh cheeses include Albariño, Beaujolais, Cava, Chablis, Chardonnay (unoaked), Champagne, Chenin Blanc, Fino sherry, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner,Lambrusco, Moscato, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Gris, Provençal rosé, Riesling (dry to sweet), Sauvignon Blanc, and White Port.
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Pair semi-hard and medium-aged cheeses with medium-bodied wines. You can also pair them with fruity red wines and vintage sparkling wines. Aperitif wines that have a mixture of acidity, fruity undertones, and tannins also work.
- Examples of semi-hard and medium-aged cheeses include Edam, Emmental, Gruyère, Havarti, Jarlsberg, Manchego, Monterey Jack, Tomme d'Alsace, and young Cheddar.
- Wines that go well with semi-hard and medium-aged cheeses include Amontillado sherry, Barbera, Beaujolais, Champagne, Chardonnay, Dolcetto, Gewürztraminer, Merlot, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, red Burgundy, Riesling (off-dry), Tawny Port (young), white Bordeaux, white Burgundy, white Rhône blends, Viognier, vintage Port, and Zinfandel.
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Pair hard, aged cheeses with full-bodied white wines. Tannic red wines and oxidative wines also work. These wines help off-set the cheese's strong, often nutty flavors.
- Examples of hard, aged cheeses include Aged/mature Cheddar, Asiago, Cheshire, Comté, aged Gouda, aged Gruyère, Manchego, Parmigiano Reggiano, and Pecorino.
- Wines that go well with of hard, ages cheeses include Aged white Burgundy or Bordeaux, Barbaresco, Barolo, Cabernet Sauvignon, California red blends, Madeira, Nebbiolo, Oloroso sherry, Petite Sirah, red Burgundy, red Bordeaux, red Port, red Rhône blends, Sauternes, sweet Riesling, Tawny Port, white Rhône blends, Viognier, Vin Jaune, vintage Champagne, and Zinfandel.
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Pair salty, blue cheeses with sweet wines. This helps create a delightful contrast that brings out the best flavors of both the wine and the cheese. Blue cheeses are instantly recognizable for their blue-veined texture and salty taste.
- Examples of blue cheeses include Bleu d'Auvergne, Cambozola, Gorgonzola, Roquefort, and Stilton.
- Wines that go well with blue cheese include Banyuls, Oloroso sherry, red Port, Recioto, Sauternes, Tawny Port, and Tokaji.
Because of their strong odor, stinky cheeses such as Époisses, Morbier, and Taleggio need an aromatic wine to help balance them out. Consider pairing such cheeses with any of the following wines: Gewürztraminer, Pinot Noir, Riesling, red Burgundy, or Sauternes.
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Know how to pair wines with cheese platters. When you have a platter filled with different types of cheese, it might be difficult to pick out a wine that works with all the different flavors. Any of the following wines work well with cheese platters. They also pair well with most types of cheeses:
- Alsatian Gewürztraminer
- Champagne
- Riesling, especially off-dry
- Sparkling wines, from dry to sweet

Method 3

Method 3 of 4:

Pairing Cheese with Other Food

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1
Try adding some fruit, but stay away from citrus. Most cheeses actually go well with sweet items, such as fruit. The next time you are eating or serving cheese, consider choosing two to three types of fruit to go with it.^{[8]
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- Try dried fruit with hard cheeses, such as apricots, cherries, and figs.
- Try fresh fruit with fresh cheeses, such as apples, dates, figs, apricots, grapes, and plums.
They help bring out the sweet notes in cheese. Almost any type of nut pairs well with cheese, but many people seem to enjoy almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts and toasted pecans.^{[9]
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Consider eating or serving a variety of cheeses. Cheese does not have to be paired with just fruit, nuts, or wine. You can also pair different types of cheese together. The next time you are eating or serving cheese, consider pairing three to five different types of cheese, all with different textures and flavors. Just remember to start eating the mildest cheeses first, and work your way towards the sharper ones. For example, you could try:^{[10]
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- A soft, creamy cheese, such as Brie.
- A nutty, textured cheese, such as Comté.
- A dry, hard, aged goat cheese.
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Try baking Brie with honey. Preheat your oven to 350°F (176.7°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a wedge or wheel of Brie on top of the parchment paper. Drizzle the cheese with some honey. If you want, you can top the cheese with other goodies, such as dried cranberries, figs, rosemary, thyme, or walnuts/pecans. Bake the cheese until it is soft, then serve immediately with crackers.
- Bake wedges for 5 to 7 minutes.^{[11]
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- Bake wheels for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Be aware that some ovens are more powerful then others, and can over or under bake your cheese^{[12]
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Experiment with adding grated or shredded cheese to your meals to make them more savory. Adding a handful of grated or shredded cheese to your meals can give them extra texture and a hint of flavor. Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Scrambled eggs and omelets
- Baked potatoes and mashed potatoes
- French fries (with Cheddar and bacon bits)
- Tortilla chips (Mexican cheese blend with sour cream and salsa)
- Salads (Caesar salad pairs well with Parmesan)

Method 4

Method 4 of 4:

Eating Cheese at Formal and Informal Events

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Depending on how formal or informal the event is, there will be different etiquette expectations. How the cheese is served will also make a difference. This section will give you a few tips to help you prevent committing any faux pas.
Most formal events will supply small plates for guests. These plates are there for a reason. When you decide to go and sample some cheeses, take one of the plates with you. You will be loading the cheese onto your plate first.^{[13]
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Eat the cracker with your fingers, but take care to avoid touching the cheese. This is vital at formal events.
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Use a toothpick to transfer hard cheeses from the serving platter to your plate. You can use a fork to eat the cheese directly, or you can place the cheese on a cracker first, then eat the cracker with your fingers. This is very important for formal events.
- If you see any crackers or fruit served alongside the cheeses, don't hesitate to pluck a few up and drop them onto your plate.
If you are at an informal event, you might find cheese served alongside the rest of your meal. Simply eat it with a fork, and not your fingers.^{[14]
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If a cheese is cut into cubes and speared with toothpicks, eat the cheese with your fingers. If the cheese is cut into slices, transfer it to a cracker, and eat the cracker with your fingers.^{[15]
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Cheese Flavor Profiles, Wine and Cheese Pairings, and Food and Cheese Pairings

Cheese Flavor Profiles

Recommended Wine and Cheese Pairings

Great Food and Cheese Pairings

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What is the best cheese?

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That's entirely subjective. Everyone has different taste. You need to try different cheeses for yourself and figure out which one you like best!

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Why doesn't cheese taste like milk or butter?

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Cheese can be processed or aged for a certain length of time, both of which can affect the consistency, taste, and smell due to the presence and activity of bacteria. The taste of cheese is primarily going to depend on the ingredients used and how the cheese was made.

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Can I eat cheese with milk?

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Yes, you can.

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Tips

Buy cheese from a cheese store or good quality dairy section. Shops that specialize in cheese types are often able to let you taste different types of cheese before you purchase them, which can be helpful in avoiding flavors that don't please you.

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Even though cheese should be eaten at room temperature, it's best to keep cheese refrigerated to keep it from going rancid. When you are ready to eat it, take it out of the fridge, and let it reach room temperature first.

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Plan ahead when buying cheese. If you are going to serve cheese at a party, buy a variety of flavors and textures.

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Stay away from citrus when pairing cheese with fruit. Citrus has a pretty powerful flavor palette and can overwhelm the cheese's flavors.

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Warnings

Different types of cheese contain different amounts of milk. If you are lactose intolerant, keep this in mind. You can also try cheese made from goat or sheep milk instead of cow milk, as they tend to have smaller amounts of lactose.

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Don't store cheese wrapped in plastic.^{[16]
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Research source} Cheese needs to breathe and sweat. Instead, opt for wax paper or, even better, a specially-designed cheese storage bag. You can buy those online, or in specialized cooking supply stores.

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