What Kind of Cheese Am I?
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kira Jan. Kira Jan earned her B.A. in English from Stanford University in 2021. She has published work in a variety of literary magazines and edited for bestselling authors. Kira now writes and edits for the content team at wikiHow with the goal of reaching audiences of all backgrounds, skillsets, and interests. She enjoys continually learning alongside wikiHow readers and working to create connection through the written word.
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Are you more of a cheddar, a pepperjack, or a brie? From the bold and adventurous to the comforting and classic, every cheese has a personality. Answer a few fun questions about your preferences, and we'll reveal which delicious dairy delight truly embodies YOU. Get ready to find your cheesy personality match!
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The Wonderful World of Cheese
Each type of cheese has its own unique character, aging process, and flavor profile, much like people. Understanding these nuances can help you appreciate the vast, delicious world of dairy products. For instance, if you're looking to craft the perfect cheese platter, wikiHow expert chef Ollie George Cigliano says you need "ideally at least three cheeses to make it interesting and inspire the other accoutrements. Minimally, you want a soft cheese (like brie) a hard cheese (like aged gouda), and a blue."[1]
Want to expand your cheese knowledge? Here's a crash course on everything you need to know to be a sharp cheese expert (get the pun?).
Key Categories of Cheese:
- Fresh: Unaged and mild (Burrata, Ricotta, Cottage Cheese).
- Soft-Ripened: Creamy with a "bloomy" rind (Camembert).
- Semi-Hard: All-purpose slicing cheeses (Havarti, Monterey Jack).
- Hard: Long-aged and intensely flavored (Pecorino Romano).
Some of the Most Popular Cheeses:
- Blue Cheese: Pungent and salty with distinct blue mold veins; pairs well with steak.
- Brie: Soft-ripened and buttery with an edible white rind; great for appetizers.
- Cheddar: Semi-hard and versatile; ranges from mild to sharp and nutty.
- Feta: Tangy, crumbly, and salty; a staple for Greek salads and Mediterranean food.
- Gouda: A semi-hard cheese with a mild, sweet, and occasionally caramelly profile.
- Mozzarella: Fresh, milky, and elastic; the most popular choice for melting on pizza.
- Parmesan: Hard, granular, and aged; provides a deep, salty flavor when grated.
- Swiss: Recognized by its holes; it has a mild, nutty taste and melts smoothly. Fun fact, "Swiss Cheese" is an American term for any kind of cheese resembling Emmental/Emmentaler, which comes from the Emmental region.
Fun Facts About Cheese:
- Cheese is the most stolen food on earth, with 4% of cheese getting stolen![2]
- Queen Victoria received a 1,000-pound cheddar wheel as a wedding gift. A normal Cheddar wheel weighs 60-75 pounds.[3]
- Roughly one-third of milk produced in the US each year goes into cheese-making.[4]
- Fresh parmesan cheese is more flavorful than the popular pre-grated or powdered varieties, according to wikiHow expert Chef Jeff Woodward.[5]
References
- ↑ Ollie George Cigliano. Private Chef & Food Educator. Expert Interview
- ↑ https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/21/cheese-is-the-most-stolen-food-on-earth/
- ↑ https://www.idfa.org/cheese-facts
- ↑ https://www.wadairy.org/five-facts-about-cheese/
- ↑ Chef Jeff Woodward. Private Chef. Expert Interview
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