FAQ Topic: Buying and serving
Shopping for cheese, hosting, and putting together a cheese board.
- Can you bake Brie or Camembert? Yes. Both melt beautifully. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for about 15 to 20 minutes and serve hot with bread.
- Hosting: How much cheese should I buy?
- How do you build a cheese board? Pick a few cheeses that differ in milk and texture, serve them at room temperature, and give each its own knife.
- How do you cut different cheeses, and what knife do you need? Cut for equal portions and match the knife to the cheese's texture. A quick guide to cutting hard, soft and crumbly cheeses.
- Is pre-shredded cheese as good as block cheese? Fine for nachos and casseroles. For smooth sauces and melts, grate your own, because bagged cheese is coated to stop clumping.
- What cheese is best for fondue? Can you make it without wine? Classic fondue uses Gruyère and Emmental melted with dry white wine. Here is how to build it and what to do if you skip the wine.
- What is a cheesemonger? A cheesemonger is a cheese seller who knows their stuff: someone who buys, cuts, ages and recommends cheese.
- What wine or whiskey goes with cheese? Match the strength of the drink to the strength of the cheese. Some starting points for wine and whiskey.
- Why does melted cheese turn greasy or stringy? Too much heat, too fast. The proteins tighten and squeeze out the fat. Low heat, grated cheese and the right cheese help.