Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Reasons To Buy Wisconsin Cheese

By Sheree Mendoza

If looking to buy some of the highest quality and best rated cheeses in the country and possibly even the world, then try to buy Wisconsin cheese. They people there have spent more than one hundred years perfecting the art of creating high quality dairy products. They have made over six hundred different varieties of cheeses and all are superb and flavorful.

When shopping for the best and freshest cheese, check the packaging. Be sure to inspect it for rips or tears. Don't buy any that is damaged, dented, or expired. The cheese itself should have a smooth appearance with no visible cracking. Surface mold and dryness are a sign of exposure and should be avoided as well.

Shopping at local markets is a good idea. Smaller retailers tend to have fresher stock that moves in and out faster. Mass retailers often only put the oldest items out first to encourage them being sold first. Look for the Wisconsin seal to be sure you are purchasing only the finest quality of cheeses.

There are three things that must be done to store cheese properly. Keep it in a clean refrigerator. If the refrigerator is dirty or has a lot of strong smelling foods in it like onion, the cheese can actually absorb the odor and take on that taste. Be sure it's kept cold between 34 and 38 degrees. Ensure the cheese is covered tightly. When it's exposed to air it hardens and loses it's flavor.

It's a good idea to have a sharp bladed knife or slicer when cutting cheese. All varieties other than hard are best served cold. Hard cheese like Parmesan can be grated at room temperature for best results.

There are many popular and flavorful cheeses to choose from. Blue cheese is robust and gets it's strong flavor from a mold that causes no harm but changes the flavor. Pasta filata cheeses like mozzarella are great on pizza because they stretch and melt nicely. Salads and pastas are complemented by grated Parmesan cheese which is considered a hard cheese.

When you go to buy Wisconsin cheese consider the popular semi hard or semi soft kinds. These are cheddar, Colby, Monterrey Jack, muenster, to name a few. They are delicious when sliced and served fresh with crackers or bread, but are also great for melting and cooking with. Macaroni is a classic dish made out of a blend of them. Elegant tastes will enjoy soft ripened varieties like Brie. Serve it with melba toast and grapes. Soft fresh kinds like cream cheese go great on a bagel or use it to thicken pasta sauce. Cottage cheese is delicious on it's own or served with fruit.

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