6 Reasons Fruit & Cheese Go Well Together

When most people think of classic items to serve with cheese, they picture wine, beer, crackers, or bread. In reality, however, fruit is an excellent companion for cheese. To find the perfect pairing for your favorite cheese or fruit, you simply have to ask a cheesemonger or do a quick search online. Many times, cheese retailers will even tell you the ideal fruit pairing for a cheese. But many people wonder why these two items work so well together.

Add Variety Of Flavors

The very first thing to realize about putting fruit and cheese together is that it gives you a wider range of flavors. There are at least dozens of options for both fruits and cheeses, and as such, you can truly create any combination of flavors that you want. That means that you can select your favorite cheese or fruit and work from there. Apples, for example, do well with flavors ranging from Gouda to Asiago or Parmesan.

Neither Overpowers

The sign of a good pairing, such as cheese and fruit, is that neither flavor overpowers the other. They should ideally complement one another, increasing the features of each flavor and that is exactly what happens with cheese and fruit. Some fruits will balance out the sharpness of certain cheeses, while others work to cancel out the strength of blue cheese.

Various Textures

Another reason that cheese and fruit do so well together is the combination of textures that they create. When, for example, you choose to combine a soft cheese such as mascarpone with melons, mangos, pears, or apples, you will be taking the soft texture of the cheese and putting it together with the harder texture of the fruit for variety.

Limitless Pairings

A great thing about fruit and cheese is that there are almost limitless pairings. Although you will find some suggested pairings, such as those already mentioned or combining mozzarella with pineapple, peaches, or berries, the possibilities are truly limitless. That is because everyone has a personal preference. You can easily put together a tray with five cheeses and just as many fruits and have dozens of combinations available depending on the tastes of your guests.

Balance Out Acidity

In some cases, fruits work to balance out the acidity of cheese. When working with soft-ripened cheeses, like camembert or brie, for example, sun-dried tomatoes are an excellent pairing. This is because the acidity of the tomatoes will help balance the cheese’s richness, letting the two items work in harmony.

Add Color

A final reason that fruit and cheese go so well together is the simple ability to add color to your tray or plate. Cheeses typically range in color from white to yellow, with the occasional blue cheese. Adding fruit, however, lets you add any color you want to your serving platter, making it more aesthetically pleasing.