Patrick Oconnell
Gouda is a hard, sweet cheese that pairs well with a variety of foods and drinks. It can be eaten with fruit and bread on a cheese platter, or enjoyed with a glass of wine. Gouda is also great in sandwiches, vegetable dishes, and other cooked recipes. Cutting a wedge of Gouda can seem daunting, but it's actually one of the easiest types of cheese to cut. To start, you'll want to let your cheese wheel come to room temperature, which will make it easier to cut. Then, you can cut the Gouda into wedges, or thin, long triangles. If you're looking for a different shape, you can cut the Gouda into rectangular slices, and then cut those diagonally to create triangles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cheese preparation | Let the cheese reach room temperature before cutting. |
| Cutting equipment | Use a sharp knife, cheese wire, or cheese planer. |
| Safety | Wear a protective cutting glove. |
| Cutting surface | Use a cutting board. |
| Cutting motion | Apply a gentle sawing motion for thin slices. |
| Rind | Remove the top and bottom rind, but leave the back edge. |
| Cutting style | Cut into wedges, triangles, or blocks. |
| Presentation | Fan out the slices or reassemble into the original wedge shape. |
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What You'll Learn
Let the cheese reach room temperature
Allowing your Gouda cheese to reach room temperature before cutting is a crucial step in the preparation process. This step ensures that the cheese's texture is optimised for cutting and serving. Cheese that is too cold from the refrigerator will be too firm, making it difficult to cut cleanly. Therefore, it is recommended to remove the Gouda cheese from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for approximately one to two hours before cutting.
During this acclimation period, you can take the time to inspect the cheese for any packaging or rind that needs to be removed. Some Gouda cheese wheels come wrapped in wax or cloth, which should be carefully peeled away. However, if the rind is thin and edible, you may choose to leave it on based on personal preference or presentation style. For example, the rind on the cheese can be included when cutting up the cheese into wedges, providing a decent-sized base for the triangles.
If your Gouda cheese has a thick wax coating, you can begin by peeling back the wax with your fingers or a knife. This process should be done gently to ensure that the cheese underneath remains intact. Once the wax is removed, discard the pieces, and proceed to the next step of cutting the cheese.
As your Gouda cheese reaches room temperature, it will become softer and easier to cut. This temperature change will allow you to create cleaner and more precise cuts, enhancing the overall presentation of the cheese. It is important to note that the room temperature should not be too high, as this may cause the cheese to become too soft and lose its shape.
By letting the Gouda cheese reach the ideal temperature and preparing it for cutting, you will be able to create beautiful and evenly sliced triangles or wedges that your guests can easily pick up and enjoy. Remember, the key to a perfect cut begins with proper preparation, ensuring that your Gouda cheese not only tastes delicious but also looks aesthetically pleasing on your cheese board.
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Remove packaging and rind
When preparing to cut a wheel of Gouda cheese, it is important to remove the cheese from its packaging and let it reach room temperature. This will make it easier to cut and optimise the cheese's texture and flavour. Gouda cheese is often packaged in plastic wrap or wax, which should be carefully peeled away. If the cheese has a rind, it is edible, and you may choose to leave it on, depending on your preference and presentation style. If you would like to remove the rind, you can cut it off with a knife, leaving a small base of rind intact. This works well with thicker wedges of cheese, allowing you to cut long, thin triangles with a decent-sized base.
If you are serving the cheese the same day, you can ask your cheesemonger to cut it for you. However, if you are not serving it for a few days, it is best to keep the cheese intact and cut it yourself closer to the date of serving.
Before cutting the cheese, you should wash your hands thoroughly and consider using a cutting glove to protect your hand and improve your grip on the cheese. It is also important to use a sharp knife and to prioritise control over speed when cutting to avoid accidents.
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Plan your cuts
Gouda is a hard, sweet cheese that pairs well with a variety of foods and drinks. Cutting a Gouda cheese wheel can be tricky, but with the right techniques, you can master the art of slicing like a pro. Here are some tips to help you plan your cuts and achieve the perfect presentation:
Before you begin slicing, it's essential to let your Gouda cheese wheel reach room temperature. Cheese straight from the refrigerator can be too firm, making it challenging to cut cleanly. Allow the cheese to sit out for approximately one to two hours before cutting. This step ensures the cheese's texture and flavour are optimized.
Once the cheese has reached room temperature, carefully inspect it for any packaging or rind that needs to be removed. Some Gouda cheese wheels come wrapped in wax, cloth, or plastic that should be gently peeled away. If the rind is thin and edible, you may choose to leave it on based on personal preference or presentation style.
Before cutting, take a moment to visualize and plan your cuts based on how you intend to serve the cheese. If you're aiming for wedges, consider marking the top of the cheese wheel with shallow cuts to guide your slicing. For a classic wedge shape, start by slicing the wheel directly down the centre to create two halves. Then, further divide each half into smaller wedges, ensuring each piece is appropriately portioned for your guests.
If you prefer blocks or slices, envision the size and quantity you'll need and how you'll achieve that from the wheel. Slice the wheel into quarters first, then cut each quarter into smaller, evenly sized blocks. These blocks are versatile and can be grated or sliced into thinner strips for different uses.
For a unique presentation, you can cut the rectangular blocks diagonally through the centre, creating two triangles of cheese. This approach adds visual appeal to your cheeseboard, especially if you have multiple blocks of cheese.
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Cut into wedges
Gouda is a hard, sweet cheese that pairs well with a variety of foods and drinks. Cutting a wedge of Gouda cheese may seem daunting, but it is actually one of the easiest ways to cut cheese.
First, let the cheese reach room temperature. Cheese straight from the refrigerator can be too firm, making it difficult to cut cleanly. Remove the cheese from the fridge and let it sit out for approximately one to two hours before cutting. Next, remove any packaging or rind that needs to be peeled away. Some Gouda cheese wheels come wrapped in wax or cloth. However, if the rind is thin and edible, you may leave it on based on personal preference or presentation style.
Now, you are ready to cut the Gouda into wedges. Place the tip of your knife at the center of the wheel and make a straight cut from the center to the outside edge of the cheese wheel. Then, place the tip of the knife back in the center and move the blade so it’s at about a 45-degree angle from the first cut you made. You can also cut the wheel directly down the center to create two halves and then further divide each half into smaller wedges. If you are serving the cheese, you can cut the wedges into thin, long triangles running the length of the original wedge. If you want to cut the cheese into blocks, slice the wheel into quarters first and then cut each quarter into smaller, evenly-sized blocks.
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Slice the wedges
Gouda cheese is a hard, sweet cheese that pairs well with a variety of foods and drinks. Cutting a wedge of Gouda cheese may seem daunting, but it is actually one of the easiest types of cheese to cut.
To begin, you should let the cheese reach room temperature. Cheese straight from the refrigerator can be too firm, making it difficult to cut cleanly. Remove the cheese from the fridge and let it sit for approximately one to two hours. Once it has reached room temperature, inspect it for any packaging or rind that needs to be removed. Some Gouda cheese wheels come wrapped in wax or cloth that should be carefully peeled away. If the rind is thin and edible, you may leave it on based on your personal preference or presentation style.
Now, you are ready to slice the wedge. Place the wedge on its flat side and begin slicing from top to bottom. This will result in beautiful triangles of cheese, perfect for dipping into mustards or jams. If the cheese is especially hard and crumbly, it may be prone to crumbling under the knife. In this case, you may need to cut slightly thicker wedges to mitigate the risk of crumbling. With a younger, softer Gouda, you can cut the triangles as thin as you like, using a sharp knife and a gentle sawing motion. For presentation, you can reassemble the pieces to look like the original wedge, or you can fan them out creatively.
If you are looking for a different style of wedge, you can cut the Gouda as you would a pizza. Imagine you are cutting a pizza into triangles, with all the cuts pointing towards the centre. Each piece will have a bit of the rind, and the pieces won't be the same shape due to the oblong shape of the cheese, but that is okay. You can piece the wedge back together for presentation. This approach works well with thinner wedges, but if your wedge is long, you can always cut a few servings from the nose (the thin, pointy end) and then cut the rest radially.
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Frequently asked questions
Before cutting, let the cheese wheel come to room temperature by removing it from the fridge and letting it sit for about one to two hours. This will make it easier to cut. Then, remove any packaging or wax coating, and decide on the size and quantity of the slices you need.
Place the tip of a sharp knife at the centre of the wheel and make a straight cut outwards to the edge. Then, place the knife back at the centre and cut at a 45-degree angle from the first cut. This will give you a wedge, which you can then slice into long, thin triangles.
If your Gouda cheese is hard and crumbly, use thinner wedges and cut them a bit thicker to prevent crumbling. You can still serve it if it crumbles, as it doesn't lose any flavour.
Cut the wheel in half and then use a cheese planer or slicer to make thin triangular slices. Alternatively, cut the wheel into quarters and then cut each quarter into smaller, even blocks.
Always wash your hands thoroughly before handling cheese. Use a cutting glove to protect your hand and improve grip. Keep a clean towel nearby to wipe down your knife and prevent cross-contamination.
