Frederic Melton
Whole Foods Market sells Parmigiano Reggiano, also known as Parmesan cheese, in blocks, wedges, and grated form. The cheese is sourced from Italy and is selected based on its flavor profile, which is typically intense and complex, with nutty, sweet, grassy, creamy, and fruity notes. Whole Foods also provides recommendations for serving Parmesan cheese, such as on a cheese plate with prosciutto and dried fruit or as a topping for salads and soups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Parmesan Cheese Availability | Yes, Whole Foods sells Parmesan Cheese |
| Parmesan Cheese Types | Parmigiano Reggiano, Grated Parmesan Cheese |
| Parmesan Cheese Weight | 24 lbs. blocks, 5 OZ, 8 OZ |
| Parmesan Cheese Price | $550 for 24 lbs. |
| Parmesan Cheese Serving Suggestions | Salads, Roasted Vegetables, Saffron Risotto, Pizza, Kale Caesar Salad, Warm Parmigiano Reggiano Dressing |
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What You'll Learn
Whole Foods sells 24-pound blocks of Parmesan cheese
At Whole Foods, the 24-pound blocks of Parmesan cheese are priced at $550. The cheese is hand-selected and hand-cracked in stores, allowing customers to purchase fresh wedges. Parmigiano Reggiano is the number one selling cheese at Whole Foods, and for good reason. Its intense and complex flavour profile, featuring nutty, sweet, grassy, creamy, and fruity notes, makes it a versatile ingredient that enhances the taste of various dishes.
To store Parmigiano Reggiano, it is recommended to wrap wedges tightly in wax paper or store them in airtight containers in the refrigerator at around 40°F. Grated Parmesan cheese from Whole Foods is also available in 5-ounce and 8-ounce portions. The smaller, grated option is ideal for those who wish to buy smaller quantities that will last just a week or two.
Parmigiano Reggiano is a versatile cheese that can be used in a variety of dishes. It can be grated over pizza, stirred into risotto, or added to Caesar salad for a crunchy texture. Baking grated Parmigiano Reggiano until golden brown can add a crispy element to dishes like Caesar salad or creamy tomato soup. It can also be served on a cheese plate alongside prosciutto, olives, dried fruit, or fig jam.
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Parmigiano Reggiano is the #1 selling cheese at Whole Foods
Parmigiano Reggiano, also known as the "King of Cheese", is the #1 selling cheese at Whole Foods Market. This variety of cheese is one of Italy's most respected cheeses and is traditionally made with raw cow's milk. Each year, Whole Foods hand-selects the wheels from Italy and hand-cracks them in their stores. The salty-sweet, nutty, and crumbly cheese is a great source of umami, which is the "fifth" taste of savoury deliciousness. Due to its concentrated flavour, a small amount of Parmigiano Reggiano goes a long way in enhancing the flavour of almost any dish.
Whole Foods recommends trying out different ways to incorporate Parmigiano Reggiano into meals. For instance, adding grated Parmigiano Reggiano to a classic Italian dish, such as saffron risotto, or sprinkling it on pizza just before serving. It can also be melted onto the edges of pizza crusts for crispy, cheesy goodness. Another suggestion is to bake grated Parmigiano Reggiano until golden-brown and crispy, adding crunch to a Caesar salad or creamy tomato soup.
Whole Foods also provides storage tips for Parmigiano Reggiano. It is recommended to buy pieces that will last for just one to two weeks. For storage, wedges should be wrapped tightly in wax paper or stored in airtight containers and kept in the refrigerator at around 40°F. Grated Parmigiano Reggiano should be stored in the refrigerator in a zip-close bag with all the air squeezed out.
Parmigiano Reggiano is a protected designation of origin (PDO) product, which means it can only be made in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy, composed of Reggio Emilia, Parma, Modena, and portions of Bologna and Mantua. The wheels are not allowed to be sold as Parmigiano Reggiano without specific rind markings and pindots that signify approval from the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano, the governing body that oversees all things related to this variety of cheese.
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Whole Foods sells grated Parmesan cheese
In addition to selling grated Parmesan cheese, Whole Foods also provides recipes that utilize the product. For example, they suggest making a warm Parmigiano Reggiano dressing by whisking together grated cheese, olive oil, garlic, anchovies, and red wine vinegar. This dressing can be used on roasted broccoli florets, broccoli rabe, or asparagus. Another recipe suggestion is to add grated Parmesan cheese to a kale Caesar salad or to sprinkle it on pizza just before serving.
Whole Foods also sells large blocks of Parmesan cheese, with some reports of a 24 lb block being sold for $550.
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Parmigiano Reggiano is a PDO (Protected Designation of Origin)
Parmigiano Reggiano, also known as the "King of Cheese", is the number one selling cheese at Whole Foods Market. Each year, Whole Foods hand-selects wheels of Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy and hand-cracks them in their stores.
The designation "Parmigiano Reggiano PDO" ensures that the cheese has been made respecting strict rules. Wheels cannot be sold as Parmigiano Reggiano without specific rind markings and pindots that signify approval from the Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano, the ruling body that governs all things Parmigiano Reggiano. Special seals identify the product as authentic, with the identification number of the dairy, the production month and year, a code identifying the individual wheel, and stamps regarding the length of aging.
The European Court of Justice ruled in 2008 that only cheeses bearing the PDO "Parmigiano Reggiano" can be sold under the denomination "parmesan". This ruling also applies to the use of the name "Parmesan" in Europe, which now exclusively refers to Parmigiano Reggiano and cannot be used for imitation Parmesan.
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Parmigiano Reggiano is traditionally made with raw cow's milk
Whole Foods sells Parmigiano Reggiano, which is traditionally made with raw cow's milk. This cheese is also known as the "King of Cheese" and is Whole Foods Market's #1 selling cheese.
Parmigiano Reggiano is produced according to a traditional and well-defined technology in a restricted area of the Pianura Padana. The cows' feed is regulated carefully, and the feeding of silage fodder is not allowed. This is to minimise the number of gas-producing bacteria in the milk. A mixture of milk from two consecutive milkings is used, and the milk from the evening milking is partially skimmed after overnight creaming. The natural whey cultures used as starters for Grana cheeses are obtained from the whey of a previous cheesemaking process.
Before the second-wave Industrial Revolution in the early 1900s, there were three main cow breeds used to make Parmigiano Reggiano: the Bruna Alpina brown cow, the Reggiana red cow, and the Bianca Modenese white cow. The red cow is often acknowledged as the "mother breed of Parmigiano Reggiano" and lends a sweetness to the cheese. The brown cow offers a harmoniously balanced milk with high nutritional benefits.
Today, the most common breed among Parmigiano Reggiano cheese makers is the Holstein Friesian cow, which was first imported from Holland in the 19th century. However, there has been a resurgence of traditional methods and ancient breeds for making Parmigiano Reggiano. Several dairies in the designated regions of Italy are making Parmigiano Reggiano exclusively with the milk of these ancient breeds.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Whole Foods sells Parmesan cheese.
Whole Foods sells grated Parmesan cheese in 5 oz and 8 oz quantities. They also sell large blocks of Parmesan cheese, weighing 24 lbs.
The 24 lbs block of Parmesan cheese at Whole Foods costs $550.
Parmigiano Reggiano is a type of Parmesan cheese that is traditionally made with raw cow's milk and is characterised by a salty-sweet, nutty and crumbly texture. It is Whole Foods' #1 selling cheese and is considered one of Italy's most respected cheeses.
To store Parmesan cheese, wrap wedges tightly in wax paper or store in airtight containers and keep in the refrigerator at around 40°F. For grated Parmesan cheese, store it in the refrigerator in a zip-close bag with all the air squeezed out.
