Monday, September 6, 2010

Types of cheese used on a cheese platter

Different varieties of cheese can decorate your cheese platter. But before that it is important to learn the various types of cheese found in the market. Cheese has become part of our culture and almost an indispensable food item. Depending on the moisture content cheese can be classified into four major types, soft cheese include cream cheese, cottage cheese, ricotta, brie, mozzarella, menuster, bleu, Roquefort and the like. While displaying soft cheese variety on a platter it can be complemented with pasta and fruits. They can form a great accompaniment with breakfast. Semi soft cheeses are American cheese, co-jack and Colby. They are strong flavors and are used commonly with grilled sandwich. The third type of cheese is semi hard cheese variety that consists of provolone, Jarlsberg, Gouda, cheddar among others. They are eaten with crackers or fruits. They melt well and hence can be used for stuffing too. Finally comes the hard cheeses like asiago, Swiss, romano, Gruyere, Parmesan. These varieties can be grated and used as toppings. They also go well with wine, soup, fruits, et al.

Cheese can also be categorized based on the milk. French brie, mozzarella, Asiago, Gouda are all made of cow’s milk. They range from soft creamy to hard varieties of cheese. Cheeses made of sheep’s milk are Manchego, Roquefortblue. The former has a mild taste and the latter has a tangy flavor. Feta is made from goat’s milk. While buying cheese made of goat’s milk check out the label for words like ‘chevre’ which means goat in French.

While decorating a cheese platter ensure that the cheese is cut just on the day the platter is prepared. The earlier you slice them they tend to lose moisture and aroma. Always store the cheese in a cool, dry place. Usage of paper bags to store cheese is advisable as they remove the moisture content. Arranging cheese in a tasteful manner is welcome. Just a handful of varieties will do while designing the platter. The cheese should come to room temperature before serving. Before starting the assembly of cheese on a platter find out how many guests will be arriving for the party. Cheese boards are set to form great appetizer before starting the main course. You can arrange cheese from different countries on a plate and place them on a cheese board. Labeling the cheese and providing a brief description could be informative to the guests. Provide separate knifes for each cheese variety so that the flavors do not mix.

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