Frederic Melton
Cheese is a delicious and versatile ingredient, but it can be tricky to know what to do with those odds and ends that are left at the end of a block. Fortunately, there are many ways to use up those bits of cheese before they go bad. Whether it's a hard cheese like Parmesan or a softer variety like Brie, there are plenty of creative ways to incorporate them into your cooking. From savoury dishes like quiches, frittatas, grilled cheese sandwiches, and risottos, to sweet treats like cream cheese frosting for cakes and cupcakes, a little bit of cheese can go a long way in adding flavour and texture to your meals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Use in | Quiche, frittata, grilled cheese sandwiches, mac and cheese, risotto, toasties, bakes, scones, biscuits, cakes, cupcakes, brownies, fritters, crostini, fondue, soups, stews, sauces, dips, deviled eggs, egg salad, sandwiches, pasta |
| Preparation | Grated, crumbled, blended, melted, fried, toasted, baked, mixed, blended, coated, whipped, mashed |
| Storage | Trim the cheese of any hard rinds or mold. Blend all the ingredients in a food processor until creamy. Store in the fridge for 3-5 days or freeze for up to two months |
| Combinations | Blue cheese with something sweet like figs or balsamic vinegar; mild and strong cheese together; Camembert, Brie, Swiss, blue cheese, goat cheese, leek broth, white wine, crushed garlic; Parmigiano-Reggiano, mushroom sauce; Parmesan, turkey, lima beans; Italian Fontina, young Gouda; Swiss, Gruyère; Cheddar, Parmesan, mustard; mozzarella, white bread, milk, flour, egg; cheddar, butter, flour, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, pepper; cream cheese, garlic, ham, olive oil, rosemary, tuna |
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What You'll Learn
Make a quiche or frittata
Quiche and frittata are excellent ways to use up bits of cheese. They are versatile dishes that can be adapted to use whatever cheese you have available, and they are perfect for a quick, easy, and delicious breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
For a quiche, you can use any variety of cheese, from Swiss to cheddar to goat cheese, and pair it with other ingredients such as ham, broccoli, or sweet additions like figs or balsamic vinegar. Simply load up your pie with cheese and your chosen fillings. You can even blend multiple cheeses for added depth of flavor.
To make a frittata, you can swap in any kind of grated leftover cheese or vegetable you have on hand. This dish is highly adaptable, and cheeses like Parmesan, Manchego, or any other leftover cheese in your fridge will work perfectly.
In addition to cheese, you can include various ingredients in your quiche or frittata, such as vegetables, meats, or herbs. For a basic quiche, you can combine eggs, milk, and cheese, and pour the mixture into a pie crust before baking. For a frittata, you can follow a similar process, omitting the pie crust and baking the egg, cheese, and vegetable mixture in a skillet or baking dish.
Both quiche and frittata are excellent options for using up bits of cheese, and they can be tailored to your personal preferences and the ingredients you have on hand.
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Create a cheese spread
If you have bits of leftover cheese in your fridge, a great way to use them up is to create a cheese spread. Here is a guide on how to do it:
Step 1: Choose your cheese
Almost any type of cheese can be used to make a cheese spread, including hard cheeses like Parmesan, semi-hard cheeses like aged Gouda, and soft cheeses like Brie. You can use a single type of cheese or combine multiple varieties to create a unique flavour profile.
Step 2: Prepare the cheese
If your leftover cheese has developed a hard rind or some mould, trim these parts away. For very dry cheese, you can try trimming off the dry outer parts to reveal a softer interior. You can also add a small amount of butter or cream cheese to improve the texture of hard cheese scraps.
Step 3: Mix and match
To elevate your cheese spread, consider adding complementary ingredients. You can experiment with various liquids such as leek broth or white wine, as suggested by Jacques Pépin's family recipe for Fromage fort. Other possibilities include garlic, crushed olives, artichoke hearts, roasted tomatoes, or caramelized onions. You can also add fresh or dried herbs like rosemary or thyme.
Step 4: Blend and season
Place your cheese and chosen ingredients into a food processor and blend until you achieve a creamy consistency. Taste the mixture and adjust the seasoning as needed. You can add salt, pepper, and other spices to enhance the flavour profile.
Step 5: Serve or store
Your cheese spread is now ready to serve! It can be enjoyed immediately as a dip with bread, crackers, or vegetables. Alternatively, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-5 days or freeze it for up to two months.
Creating a cheese spread is a versatile and delicious way to use up leftover cheese bits, so feel free to experiment and find your favourite combinations!
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Add to soup
Adding bits of leftover cheese to soup is a great way to use up scraps and elevate your dish. Here are some tips and ideas to get you started:
Choose Your Cheese
Almost any type of cheese can be added to soup, but harder cheeses like Parmesan, Manchego, or Parmigiano-Reggiano are especially good choices. Their strong, savoury flavour can add depth to thin, water-based soups. If you're using softer cheeses, try stirring them into your soup towards the end of cooking to prevent them from curdling.
Cheese Rinds
Don't throw away the rinds from hard cheeses! Simmer them in your soup to infuse it with flavour. You can also make a rind stock by simmering rinds in water and freezing it for later use. This stock can be added to soups and other dishes for extra flavour.
Grate or Crumble
Grating or crumbling your leftover cheese is a simple way to prepare it for soup. You can add grated or soft cheese to your favourite soup, or try one of the many cheese soup recipes available.
Fondue
If you have leftover Swiss cheese or Gruyère, consider making a fondue. Fondue is essentially a type of cheese soup, and it's a delicious way to enjoy your leftovers.
Get Creative
Leftover cheese can be added to just about any soup recipe. Experiment with different combinations of cheese and soup to find your favourite pairings. You can also try adding other ingredients, such as vegetables or herbs, to create a heartier dish.
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Make cheese fondue
Fondue is a Swiss dish that gained popularity in the US in the 1960s and remains popular today. It is made by melting cheese and serving it in a pot over a portable stove. People dip bread into the communal pot using long-stemmed forks.
To make cheese fondue at home, you will need a fondue pot or a regular pan, and some combination of cheeses—a good fondue typically includes at least two types of cheese. For a classic fondue, choose Swiss cheeses like Emmental for its melting properties, Gruyère for its nutty flavour, and Reblochon for its creaminess. You can also use leftover Swiss cheese or Gruyère to make fondue. Other cheese options include Mimolette, aged Dutch Gouda, and American Vella dry Jack.
To make the fondue, start by bringing a dry, high-acid white wine like Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, or an unoaked Chardonnay to a simmer in your pot. The acid in the wine will help keep the cheese mixture smooth and gives it an even texture. You can also add a tablespoon of lemon juice to the wine for extra acidity. Next, mix in flour, followed by the grated cheese. You can also rub the inside of the pot with a garlic clove or add the garlic to the cheese mixture. Season with nutmeg and salt to taste. Finally, serve the fondue with cubed French bread, meat, potatoes, sliced fruit (like apples or pears), vegetables (like cauliflower, broccoli, or sliced bell peppers), croutons, breadsticks, or pretzels.
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Bake with it
Baked goods are a great way to use up leftover cheese. Here are some ideas:
Savoury Bakes
If you're looking for a savoury bake to use up your cheese, why not try a quiche? You can add almost any type of cheese to a quiche, and it's a great way to use up leftover bits. Try combining a mild and a strong cheese for contrast, such as Swiss and cheddar, or goat cheese and blue cheese. You can also add in some ham, broccoli, or even figs or balsamic vinegar for a sweet and savoury twist.
Another option is to make cheese scones or biscuits. Simply add grated or crumbled cheese to your favourite scone or biscuit dough recipe, along with a pinch of pepper or some herbs. You can also brush the tops of the scones or biscuits with butter or cream and sprinkle with extra cheese before baking for an extra cheesy treat.
Sweet Bakes
If you're looking for a sweeter option to use up your cheese, cream cheese bakes are a great choice. Cream cheese frosting is a delicious topping for cakes, cupcakes, and brownies, and it's a perfect foil for desserts that might otherwise be too sweet. To make a classic cream cheese frosting, simply combine softened cream cheese, unsalted butter, vanilla, and powdered sugar. You can also add a pinch of salt to taste.
You can also use cream cheese as a base for a fruit dip or cheesecake. For a simple fruit dip, mix cream cheese with marshmallow fluff, vanilla yogurt, and caramel sauce. Serve with your choice of fruit slices, pretzels, or other dippables.
So, there you have it! Plenty of ways to use up those bits of cheese in bakes, whether you're in the mood for something savoury or sweet.
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Frequently asked questions
Bits of cheese can be used in a variety of recipes, including quiches, grilled cheese sandwiches, frittatas, and baked goods such as biscuits and scones.
Hard cheese rinds can be tossed into soups or simmered in water to make a rind stock that can be frozen and added to other dishes for extra flavour.
Dried-out cheese can be trimmed to remove the dry outer layer, then blended and stored in the fridge for topping rice, roasted vegetables, beans, or salads. Alternatively, multiple sources of dried-out cheese can be combined to make Fromage fort, a French dip or spread.
