Kamil Perry
A cheese lyre is a type of wire cheese slicer used to cut slices of cheese from a block. Cheese lyres are particularly useful for soft cheeses, although some can be used for harder cheeses, too. They are easy to use and clean, and can produce smooth and even cuts. The thickness of the slice can be controlled by adjusting the angle of the wrist. When using a cheese lyre, it is important to hold the wire at the same angle to the cheese, and to ensure that the slicer is securely installed and cannot slip.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use | Used to cut slices of cheese |
| Types of Cheese | Can be used on soft and hard cheeses |
| Ease of Use | Easy to use, but some users report it being too fragile and difficult to handle |
| Cutting Ability | Can cut thin slices and large chunks |
| Ease of Cleaning | Easy to clean, dishwasher-safe |
| Durability | Mixed reviews, some say it's durable while others report it breaking after first use |
| Design | Mixed reviews, some customers give negative reviews |
| Angle | The angle of the wrist can be adjusted to control slice thickness |
| Blade | The blade should be securely installed and precisely positioned |
| Grating | Cheese should be placed in the freezer for 30 minutes before grating |
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What You'll Learn
Cutting soft cheese
A cheese lyre, also known as a blue-cheese cutter, can be used to cut soft cheese into precise pieces. The cheese wire of the lyre is used to slice crumbly, moist cheeses cleanly and without breaking them. Here are some tips for cutting soft cheese with a cheese lyre:
- Use a thin-bladed soft cheese knife or cheese wire to cut soft cheese. This will help prevent the cheese from sticking to the knife blade and becoming crumbly or misshapen.
- Cut the cheese into uniform pieces. This ensures that each piece has a similar ratio of rind to paste, providing a consistent eating experience.
- Cut the cheese into thin, wide slices to increase the surface area and maximize flavour.
- If you are serving a log of very soft cheese, you may choose to leave it whole with a spreader or soft cheese knife and allow guests to cut their own portions.
- If you don't have a cheese lyre, you can use unflavoured, unwaxed dental floss to cut soft cheese. Simply lay the floss on top of the cheese at the desired cutting point and quickly draw the ends towards each other.
- For small, whole wheels of soft cheese, cut them like a birthday cake. Cut equal-sized wedges from the centre outwards to ensure each piece includes a variety of textures and flavours.
- For larger wheels that have been pre-cut into wedges, simply lay the wedge on its cut side and trim off the top and bottom rinds. Then, cut through the wedge to create even, triangle-shaped slices.
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Cutting hard cheese
A cheese lyre is a great tool for cutting hard cheese. It is a handheld device with a stainless steel wire that cuts through hard and soft cheese blocks with ease. It is also perfect for cutting butter and foie gras.
When cutting hard cheese, it is recommended to cut the cheese last minute, as cutting it too far in advance will cause it to dry out. It is also easier to cut hard cheeses when they are cold, so be sure to take them out of the fridge a minimum of thirty minutes before serving.
To use a cheese lyre, place your thumb against the part located at the end of the blade and press against it while you cut. This will ensure a smooth and clean cut. The tension of the handle's design ensures the wire remains taut, allowing for even cuts.
When cutting a hard cheese block, it is important to cut it into slices or wedges to ensure that each piece has a good cross-section of the cheese. Start by cutting the cheese from the centre and dragging the knife towards the outside. Cut even wedge slices from the centre to the outer edge, similar to how you would slice a cake. You can also cut the cheese into thin, long portions, going from the top of the cheese to the bottom, ensuring that each slice has part of the centre and part of the rind.
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Adjusting the angle of the wrist
When using a cheese lyre, adjusting the angle of your wrist is a key step in achieving the desired thickness of cheese slices. Here are some detailed instructions to guide you through the process:
To begin, hold the cheese lyre at a comfortable angle in your dominant hand. The angle at which you hold the lyre will determine the thickness of the cheese slices. For thinner slices, position the lyre almost parallel to the surface of the cheese block, with a slight downward angle. For thicker slices, hold the lyre at a steeper angle, lowering it more towards the cheese.
Once you have found the desired angle, it is important to maintain a consistent wrist position throughout the cutting motion. This ensures that each slice is of uniform thickness. Keep your wrist firm and steady, but also relaxed to allow for a smooth, controlled movement.
When cutting, focus on using your wrist as the primary source of movement rather than your arm. Make slow and deliberate cuts, gently pushing the lyre forward with your wrist while maintaining the set angle. This helps prevent sudden movements that could affect the evenness of the slices.
If you need to adjust the thickness mid-cut, make slight adjustments to your wrist angle. Minor adjustments are key—only increase or decrease the angle by small increments to avoid unintended variations in slice thickness.
Finally, practice makes perfect. The more you use the cheese lyre, the more you will develop a feel for the appropriate wrist angle for your desired slice thickness. Experiment with different angles and cheeses to refine your technique and become a cheese lyre master.
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Cleaning the lyre
To clean a cheese lyre, start by rinsing the lyre under warm running water to loosen any remaining cheese. If you have a dishwasher, you can put the lyre in for a cycle, but make sure it is dishwasher-safe first. Skip the dry cycle, as this could bake on any residue. Instead, wipe the lyre dry with a microfiber cloth.
You can also soak the lyre in warm water with a mild dish detergent or a specialised food-grade cleaner. Let it soak for 10-15 minutes, then use a nylon brush or a dedicated grater cleaning brush to scrub the lyre, focusing on the grating surface to remove any stuck-on cheese. Avoid metal brushes or abrasive sponges, as these can damage the surface.
Another method is to use a pastry brush to run along the lyre in the direction of the blades to remove any leftover bits of cheese. Then, use dishwashing liquid and a microfiber cloth to clean the lyre, wiping in the direction of the blades.
Lemon can also be used to clean a cheese lyre. Dip the cut end of a lemon into salt, then scrub the lyre with the salted lemon. Let it sit for 3-5 minutes, then rinse the lyre under very hot water to remove any remaining lemon juice or residue.
Always refer to the manufacturer's cleaning and maintenance guidelines for any specific recommendations or warnings.
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Using a cheese lyre with other tools
A cheese lyre is a handy tool for slicing soft cheese, butter, eggs, fruits, and desserts. It is also suitable for semi-hard and hard cheeses. The tool is made of stainless steel and has a wire that passes through the cheese into a groove below, making it ideal for preparing party cheese plates.
When using a cheese lyre, it is important to ensure that the wire is taut to achieve smooth and even cuts. To maintain the durability of the cheese lyre, it is recommended to clean it timely after use and store it in a clean and dry place.
In addition to the cheese lyre, there are other tools that can be used for cutting and grating cheese:
- Cheese slicer: This tool is suitable for slicing extra-hard or hard cheeses, especially alpine cheese. It is important to securely install the slicer to prevent slipping and precisely position the blade for thin slices.
- Double-handle knife: This tool is commonly used by professionals to chop entire blocks of semi-hard cheese in half or cut wedges. It is designed to be used with one hand, but using both hands provides more stability when cutting hard cheeses.
- Mezzaluna knife: This knife is ideal for cutting hard and semi-hard cheeses. Using a back-and-forth rocking motion, you can efficiently cut through the cheese.
- Grater: To grate semi-hard cheese, briefly place it in the freezer to achieve the optimal consistency. Use a coarse grater and grate only in one direction to prevent smearing. Sbrinz AOP is a cheese that is well-suited for fine grating. You can choose between manual and electric graters, as well as graters with or without containers. Rotary cheese graters are useful for breaking down small and medium-sized pieces of cheese, ensuring that all parts are utilized.
By combining the use of a cheese lyre with these other tools, you can efficiently cut, slice, and grate cheeses of varying hardness, creating attractive presentations for your guests or preparing ingredients for recipes.
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Frequently asked questions
A cheese lyre is a type of wire cheese slicer used to cut slices of cheese from a block.
Cheese lyres can be used for soft and hard cheeses. However, some users have reported that it is not suitable for firm cheeses.
The trick to using a cheese lyre is to always hold it at the same angle to the cheese. The angle of the wrist can be adjusted to control the thickness of each slice.
The cheese lyre is easy to clean as the cutting wire is the only part that comes into contact with the cheese. It can be cleaned in the dishwasher.
Cheese lyres can be purchased online from retailers such as Amazon and Etsy.
