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Lots of people eat brie with the rind intact, but many find its taste and texture unappetizing. The trouble is, the soft, gooey cheese sticks to the rind like glue, making it difficult to remove the rind without taking half the cheese with it. The solution? Freeze the brie before slicing off the top, bottom and sides with a serrated knife, then let it come to room temperature (or bake it) and serve.

How to Open Brie Cheese

Use a knife to cut the two flat ends off of the brie. Then, use your fingernail to try and pry up any part of the rind wherever it seems loosest. From there, just peel the rest of the rind off like you’re peeling an orange.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Removing the Whole Rind

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  1. This will protect it from freezer burn and keep the texture and flavor fresh. Use several pieces of plastic wrap and make sure the entire rind is covered.[1]
  2. During this time the brie will harden, which will make it easier to remove the rind.
    • 30 minutes is the minimum amount of time necessary to give the brie the chance to firm up. If you have more time, it's fine to freeze the brie for a few hours or even overnight.
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  3. Watermark wikiHow to Remove the Rind from Brie Cheese
    If the brie still feels soft, put it back in the freezer for another half hour. This method only works if the brie is completely firm. If it feels stiff to the touch, place the brie on a cutting board.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Remove the Rind from Brie Cheese
    Stand the brie on its side and use a serrated knife to slice both circular ends off of the brie. Once you've made the cut, use your fingers to pry off the rind. If the brie is sufficiently firm, the top and bottom should be easy to cut off.
    • If it's difficult to slice through the brie or remove the rind from the cheese, wrap the brie in plastic and place it in the freezer for an additional 30 minutes, then try again.
  5. Watermark wikiHow to Remove the Rind from Brie Cheese
    Lay the brie flat against the cutting board. Use the serrated knife to cut along the edge of the brie to slice off the sides. As you cut, start pulling the sides of the rind away from the brie, bit by bit. Continue until you've completely removed the rind from the brie.
    • In order to keep the brie from sticking to the cutting board, you might want to lay a piece of waxed paper or parchment paper on the board before setting down the wheel of cheese.
    • If the cheese seems to be sticking to the rind, wrap the wheel in plastic wrap and place it in the freezer to harden before trying again.
  6. Discard the rind and serve the cheese. Allow the cold cheese to come to room temperature before serving.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Making a Brie Bowl

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  1. This will protect it from freezer burn and keep the texture and flavor fresh. Use several pieces of plastic wrap and make sure the entire rind is covered.[2]
  2. During this time the brie will harden, which will make it easier to remove the rind.[3]
    • 30 minutes is the minimum amount of time necessary to give the brie the chance to firm up. If you have more time, it's fine to freeze the brie for a few hours or even overnight.
  3. If the brie still feels soft, put it back in the freezer for another half hour. This method only works if the brie is completely firm. If it feels stiff to the touch, place the brie on a cutting board.
  4. Watermark wikiHow to Remove the Rind from Brie Cheese
    Place the brie on a cutting board and use a serrated knife to slice the top off of the brie. Once you've made the cut, use your fingers to pry off the rind. If the brie is sufficiently firm, the top should be easy to cut off.[4]
    • Slicing off just the top leaves a "bowl" for the creamy cheese to be scooped from when eating or preparing to serve. This same method can be used for a pie slice of brie as well. If preferred all the rind can be removed before cooking or serving.
    • Use caution to remove as little of the creamy cheese as possible and only remove the white dry rind.
  5. Put the brie in a baking dish and bake it for 15 to 20 minutes at 300 degrees. It should be shiny and creamy when done.[5]
  6. Watermark wikiHow to Remove the Rind from Brie Cheese
    Tart, sweet berry or orange jam perfectly complements the creamy, salty brie.[6]
  7. Whole wheat or water crackers are both excellent with baked brie.[7]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Once the rind is removed, can I bake it in a pastry without it leaking all over?
    Jerry Cat
    Jerry Cat
    Community Answer
    If you want to bake your brie in a pastry, it doesn't matter if there is a rind on it or not. The most important thing is that you seal your pastries very tightly before baking, ensuring that the cheese will not leak out when it melts.
  • Question
    What is the white stuff on the cheese?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    A safe bacterium that's perfectly edible. It gives brie its distinctive flavor and scent.
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About This Article

Jennifer Levasseur
Reviewed by:
Personal Chef
This article was reviewed by Jennifer Levasseur. Chef Jennifer Levasseur is a Personal Chef and the Owner of The Happy Cuisiniere based in Breckenridge, Colorado. She has over 12 years of culinary experience and specializes in Mountain and Contemporary Rustic cuisine. Moreover, she can craft dishes and modify menus to accommodate dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and dairy-free diets. In addition to a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from the University of Houston, Chef Jennifer holds Associate’s degrees in Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts from Houston Community College. This article has been viewed 437,775 times.
20 votes - 90%
Co-authors: 15
Updated: October 23, 2024
Views: 437,775
Categories: Cheese
Article SummaryX

To remove the rind from brie cheese, wrap the brie tightly in plastic wrap, making sure the entire rind is covered. Place the brie in the freezer for at least 30 minutes so it can harden. Take the brie out of the freezer once it’s completely hardened and remove the plastic wrap. Using a serrated knife, carefully slice off both circular ends of the brie, then lay the brie flat on the cutting board and carefully slice the rind off the sides. Keep reading to learn how to make a brie bowl!

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Reader Success Stories

  • Betty Stephen

    Betty Stephen

    May 17, 2016

    "I've never dealt with brie cheese, but I just love eating it. I'm intimidated by using it in a recipe...." more
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