Bushra Griffith
Cheddar cheese is a unique type of cheese that comes in a variety of flavours, ranging from mild to sharp to extra sharp. The sharpness of cheddar cheese indicates how its flavour and texture change as it ages. While mild cheddars are aged for 2 to 3 months, sharp cheddars are aged for 6 to 9 months, and extra-sharp cheddars are aged for 1 to 2 years. As cheddar ages, its flavour becomes tangier and more complex, and its texture goes from smooth and creamy to hard and crystalized. If you find yourself with a block of sharp cheddar that is too tangy for your taste, there are several ways to mellow its flavour. Melting sharp cheddar cheese is one way to automatically tame its sharpness. You can also try slicing it thinly and pairing it with fruits, crackers, or bread. For cooking, you can blend sharp cheddar with milder cheeses or other ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, or mustard to balance its strong flavour.
Ways to Mild the Taste of Sharp Cheddar Cheese
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Aging | Milder cheddars are aged for 2-3 months, while sharper cheddars are aged for 6-9 months |
| Melting | Melting sharp cheddar cheese can help to tame its sharpness |
| Thickness of slices | When eating sharp cheddar with bread or crackers, slice it thinly to reduce the sharpness |
| Pairing | Sharp cheddar pairs well with fruits like apples and pears, meats, and other cheeses |
| Addition to dishes | Add sharp cheddar to dishes like potatoes, tacos, broccoli, cauliflower, casseroles, and soups in small quantities to avoid overpowering the dish |
| Blending | Blend sharp cheddar with other cheeses like Swiss, Jack, or Pepper Jack to reduce its sharpness |
| Additives | Add lemon juice, salt, or mustard to enhance the flavor of mild cheddar |
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What You'll Learn
- Thin slices of sharp cheddar with fruits like apples or pears
- Melting sharp cheddar, for example, in mac and cheese
- Blending sharp cheddar with other cheeses like Swiss or Jack
- Adding lemon juice or salt to mild cheddar to make it taste sharper
- Using sharp cheddar as a topping on potatoes, tacos, or broccoli/cauliflower
Thin slices of sharp cheddar with fruits like apples or pears
Sharp cheddar cheese is a unique variety of cheese that has a distinct flavour and texture that changes as it ages. The sharpness of cheddar cheese comes from the acidity produced by the bacteria during the ageing process. The longer the cheese is aged, the sharper and tangier the flavour, and the harder the texture.
If you want to enjoy sharp cheddar cheese but find its flavour too intense, try slicing it thinly and pairing it with fruits like apples or pears. The thin slices will ensure that you get a hint of the cheese's flavour without it being overwhelming. The natural sweetness of the fruit will also help to balance out the sharpness of the cheese.
You can also try melting thin slices of sharp cheddar to tame its sharpness. This is a great option for grilled cheese sandwiches or macaroni and cheese. The thin slices will melt easily and evenly, and the melted cheese will have a milder flavour that blends well with other ingredients.
Additionally, when eating sharp cheddar cheese with bread or crackers, consider pairing it with cured meats. A meat and cheese plate can be a delicious way to enjoy the cheese, as the meat will provide a savoury contrast to the sharpness of the cheese. Thin slices of sharp cheddar also pair well with other cheeses, such as pepper jack, which can add a nice kick to your dish without being too overpowering.
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Melting sharp cheddar, for example, in mac and cheese
Cheddar cheese is a unique type of cheese that comes in several varieties, including mild, sharp, and extra sharp. The sharpness of cheddar cheese indicates how its flavour and texture change as it ages. Mild cheddars are typically aged for 2 to 3 months, sharp cheddars for 6 to 9 months, and extra-sharp cheddars for 1 to 2 years. As cheddar ages, its flavour becomes tangier and more complex, and its texture goes from smooth and creamy to hard and crystalized.
When cooking with cheddar cheese, it is important to consider its melting properties. Mild or sharp cheddars generally melt better than aged cheddars, which can behave more like Parmesan cheese when heated. Melting sharp cheddar cheese is an effective way to tame its sharpness and make it milder. For example, when making mac and cheese, melting sharp cheddar can help to balance its strong flavour.
To make mac and cheese with sharp cheddar, start by shredding or grating the cheese. The amount of cheese you need will depend on the recipe and your desired level of cheesiness. You can follow John Legend's mac and cheese recipe or any other recipe of your choice. Here are some additional tips to consider when using sharp cheddar in your mac and cheese:
- Combine with other cheeses: You can blend sharp cheddar with milder cheeses, such as Swiss or Jack cheese, to balance the sharpness and create a more complex flavour profile.
- Add complementary ingredients: Try adding ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, or half-and-half to your mac and cheese to enhance creaminess and mildness. A touch of onion or smooth French mustard can also add depth of flavour without increasing sharpness.
- Thinly slice the cheese: Before adding the sharp cheddar to your mac and cheese, try slicing it into thin pieces. This can help distribute the cheese more evenly and prevent any overpowering chunks.
- Taste as you go: When adding sharp cheddar to your mac and cheese, taste the dish at regular intervals to ensure the flavour is balanced. This will help you avoid making the dish too sharp for your taste.
- Experiment with additives: If you find the sharpness of the cheddar still overpowers the dish, you can try adding a small amount of lemon juice or salt to enhance the overall flavour. However, be cautious with the amount of salt you add, as too much can make the dish overly salty.
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Blending sharp cheddar with other cheeses like Swiss or Jack
When it comes to toning down the sharp taste of cheddar cheese, blending it with other cheeses is a great option. Two popular choices for blending with cheddar are Swiss cheese and Jack cheese.
Blending Sharp Cheddar with Swiss Cheese
Swiss cheese has a creamy and piquant taste that can add complexity to dishes like quiches or fondues. It has a semi-soft texture and is known for its excellent melting quality. When blended with sharp cheddar, Swiss cheese can help to tone down the sharpness while adding a unique twist to the dish.
Blending Sharp Cheddar with Jack Cheese
Jack cheese, specifically Monterey Jack, is a famous cheese that can be substituted for cheddar in many recipes. It has a mild, buttery flavour and a smooth and creamy texture. When blended with sharp cheddar, the resulting cheese is known as Cheddar Jack, a uniquely American creation. Cheddar Jack offers a delightful symphony of flavours, combining the sharpness of cheddar with the creaminess and mildness of Monterey Jack. It has a semi-soft texture and is highly versatile, making it a favourite for cheese lovers.
In addition to Swiss and Jack cheese, other cheeses that can be blended with sharp cheddar to milden its taste include Colby Jack, a blend of Colby and Monterey Jack, and Gruyere, a Swiss-style cheese with a creamy and rich, nutty flavour. These blends can add a unique flavour profile to dishes while toning down the sharpness of cheddar.
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Adding lemon juice or salt to mild cheddar to make it taste sharper
While it is not possible to make mild cheddar sharp, there are ways to enhance its flavour. One way to do this is by adding lemon juice or salt.
Lemon juice will add a tang that may be missing in mild cheddar. The citric acid in lemon juice will also reduce the pH of the cheese, allowing it to melt and meld into a gooey sauce. To make your own sodium citrate (a melting salt), simply add lemon juice and baking soda to a saucepan and stir until the fizzing stops. Then, add a liquid of your choice, such as water, milk, or beer, followed by the cheese, and stir until you have a creamy sauce.
Salt can also be added to bring out the flavour of the cheese. However, it is important to add it in small amounts to avoid making the dish too salty.
In addition to lemon juice and salt, there are other ingredients that can be added to enhance the flavour of mild cheddar. These include cream cheese, onion, sour cream, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, and jalapenos.
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Using sharp cheddar as a topping on potatoes, tacos, or broccoli/cauliflower
If you're looking to use sharp cheddar as a topping, there are several ways to go about it, and it pairs well with potatoes, tacos, and broccoli or cauliflower.
For potatoes, a scalloped potatoes recipe can be a great option. This involves layering sliced potatoes with onions and a sharp cheddar cheese sauce. The cheese sauce is made by heating butter, flour, salt, mustard, and pepper, then whisking in cream. The layered dish is baked until the potatoes are tender and the top is lightly browned.
For tacos, you can try making crispy cheese tacos. Start by grating sharp cheddar cheese and placing it in a cold nonstick skillet to form a rectangle. Turn the heat to medium-low and let the cheese melt. Once it's almost completely melted, place a tortilla on top so that half of the cheese is under the tortilla and half is not. This will give you a soft, melted cheese base with crispy, browned edges. You can fill these tacos with scrambled eggs, pico de gallo, hot sauce, ground beef, or any other filling of your choice.
For broccoli and cauliflower, you can make a cozy and cheesy soup. Simply cook the broccoli and cauliflower with garlic powder, salt, and pepper, then stir in heavy cream and grated sharp cheddar cheese until melted. You can top this soup with extra grated cheddar cheese, scallions, chives, or broccoli sprouts to add a sharp cheddar kick.
By using sharp cheddar as a topping on these dishes, you can control the amount of cheese added, ensuring you get the desired level of sharpness without overwhelming the other flavours.
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Frequently asked questions
Melting sharp cheddar cheese is a great way to automatically make it milder. You can also try slicing it thinly and pairing it with fruits, mild cheese, or cured meats.
You can try making mac and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, or casseroles, where the sharpness of the cheese is toned down by other ingredients.
Ingredients like cream cheese, sour cream, green or smoked bacon, and a touch of onion can help make sharp cheddar milder.
Lemon juice, salt, and mustard can add a tang to mild cheddar cheese.
Sharp cheddar cheese is aged between 6 to 9 months, while mild cheddar cheese is aged between 2 to 3 months. The aging process results in a tangier, bolder flavor and a harder texture.
