The Best Cheeses to Cook
Anyone who loves good food and cooking knows the importance of cheese as the main and supportive ingredient for basically all the best recipes you can get your hands on. But sometimes it feels impossible to pick the right type of cheese for different kinds of meals. We worked hard to put together this guide for the best cheeses you can use to cook.
Gorgonzola Cheese
This cheese is also known as the Italian Blue Cheese. When bought young, Gorgonzola cheese has a creamy texture that resembles a Brie cheese. When eating ageing Gorgonzola cheese, it has a crumbly and dry texture. No cheese is better than the other, it’s a matter of preference. To cook, Gorgonzola cheese is perfect for pears, pastas, figs and fresh salads.
Fresh Mozzarella
Fresh Mozzarella cheese has a buttery and milky flavor that always feels fresh in your mouth. This type of cheese can be bought in a variety of sizes and shapes like rounded pearls, balls or logs. Mozzarella cheese is PERFECT for caprese salads, pizza Margherita and even plain on charcuterie boards. An important tip to preserve your Mozzarella fresh is to store the leftovers in the package liquid.
Provolone Cheese
This type of cheese comes from the family of Mozzarella. Provolone is a kind of cheese that, when aged, takes on a sharper flavor that might not appeal to anyone. In its normal state, Provolone cheese has a mild taste that melts amazingly over meat, flatbread and basically anything. You can pair your cheese with sandwiches, paninis, pastas or even just as a quick snack.
Fontina Cheese
Fontina is an Italian-style cheese with an overall mild-tasting cheese with buttery and earthy flavors. Fontina cheese has a red wax coating and a pale gold interior, and it’s famous for its ability to melt easily. The absolute best way to eat Fontina cheese is to melt it over a focaccia bread along with a glass of wine.
Mascarpone
Mascarpone is a delicious fresh cheese that looks and feels more like thickened cream than cheese itself. Mascarpone is soft and spreadable such as cream cheese. One of the main ideas to use Mascarpone for cooking is for several Italian desserts such as tiramisu or paired with fresh fruit or crackers.
Parmigiano Cheese
By Italians and non-Italians, this type of cheese is considered the greatest on earth. Parmesa cheese, originally called Parmigiano Reggiano, has a complex salty, briney and nutty flavor. In the US you can find several kinds of Parmesan cheese, but in Europe the regulations for producing Parmigiano are very strict. Use Parmigiano cheese with red wines and on top of pasta or meat such as duck or chicken.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is a delicious and fresh cheese that can be used for both sweet and savory meals. It has a consistency similar to cottage cheese and a mild taste, although the texture is smoother and a bit grainy. Ricotta cheese can be paired with fresh fruit and a bit of honey, or used as the perfect lasagna and cannoli filling ever.
With this complete cheese guide you’ll be ready to prepare the most mouth watering stews, meals and even desserts.