Mobile Cheese Directory, Wine Pairing, Deals, and More iOS app

WHAT THE CHEESE MOBILE APP

Need some more info about that cheese you've never heard of? Want a good wine with that cheese, or a good cheese with that wine? Need some answers to many frequently asked cheesy questions? Need some cheesy recipe ideas? Interested in saving money on cheese and wine online?  Introducing What the Cheese? mobile application. If you like cheese, you'll love this - It's a must have for any cheese connoisseur. Download it today and we promise you'll think it's far from cheesy!
Click HERE to download What the Cheese? today!

Features

• Database of over 400 types of cheeses from around the world - Loaded with information about each one!
   
• Over 100 Recipes that are centered around using cheese as the main ingredient - surely something in there for everyone to enjoy!
  
• Wine Pairing Guru. Each Cheese has a suggested wine and or beer, but with Wine Pairing Guru, you can search for a cheese by your favorite wine!
  
• Ever wonder what cheese is the most healthy, or how Cheddar cheese is made from fresh cheese curds? Find the answers to these questions and many more with the Cheesy Frequently Asked Questions.
  
• Save some serious Cheddar! Featuring exclusive coupons and specials from cheese and wine stores from all over the web! This part of the app makes the whole thing worth more than the cost of the app! 

Click Here to download What the Cheese? mobile iPhone application today

Can You Freeze Mozzarella Cheese?

There are many people that are fans of this delicious, semi-soft or soft cheese and for good reason. It’s ideal on pizzas, delicious melted over just about everything and tasty on crackers. Often we love it so much we want to get it in bulk. This can raise the question on storage and if freezing is appropriate.

Fresh Mozzarella From Sheep Or Buffalo’s Milk

If you haven’t tried delicious and true, fresh Mozzarella you are missing out on the one of the creamiest textures in the cheese world. It is a delicious way to enjoy a low-fat, high protein snack. If you’re considering freezing your fresh Mozzarella you might want to know what you can expect afterward. There will be a definite texture change with this variety. You’ll often end up with some excess liquid that will need draining. This is usually the whey. Loss of this liquid can cause a small loss in flavor. You will also notice that the cheese will crumble or fall apart much easier. If your plans are using the cheese for baking then this is an excellent way to store it. If you want to use it for a tasting party then perhaps you’d be better off storing it in the fridge and chancing the mold you can scrape off.

Shredded Mozzarella

Pre-packaged or home-shredded Mozzarella is the best for freezing. You can place the pre-packaged cheese in a strong freezer bag, squeeze all the air out and plop directly into freezer. You can also use it directly from the freezer in dishes such as; pizza, lasagna and pasta. If you’re shredding it yourself then it’s good to toss a bit of cornstarch through to keep it from sticking together. When storing it, wrap in foil or plastic wrap and then place in a freezer bag. Make sure all the air is out as any air will damage the cheese and cause freezer burn.

Bricks Of Mozzarella

You can easily store bricks of Mozzarella for 3-6 months in your freezer. You won’t lose too much in the taste but it will become mealier and crumble more easily. When using it on top of pizzas, melted over veggies or mixed into soups and sauces this is just fine. You are best to store it in sizes that you will use for cooking these dishes so you don’t have to refreeze or try to use it all up. It is also a great idea to thaw in your fridge overnight before using. If you’re going to store in slices then separate the slices with wax paper to prevent them sticking together.

What’s The Best Cheese For Macaroni And Cheese?

If you’re like many people you love warm and gooey mac and cheese. Many of us enjoy nothing better than making this lovely dish at home so that we can enjoy it fresh out of the oven. If you’re considering making this favored pasta then you’ll surely want to know what the best cheese to use is.  You’ll want to consider a few things, first of all and most importantly, the melting factor.

Melted Cheese For Your Macaroni

You will want to consider that your cheese needs to melt into the delicious form we’ve come to know and love. Some cheeses don’t lend themselves very well to melting. Mozzarella, for one, is certainly well loved because of the way it melts and the beautiful golden brown color it gets when baked just right. It isn’t often a first choice for mac and cheese though. Instead you should consider using something that already lends itself to the traditional dish. Cheddar cheese curds are one of the best varieties to use with your macaroni. These will melt how you like and give you the brightly colored noodles that are so loved.

Consider A Unique Flavor

While it is true that there are some standard cheeses to create this well-loved dish, you don’t have to make it just like your mother did. There are many other cheeses you can use that will enhance the flavor and put a new spin on a classic.  If you haven’t tried maple smoked Cheddar cheese in your mac you might be surprised. This is a flavor that can go lovely with added veggies or chicken as well. In addition to trying smoked cheddar you can also try a variety of cheeses that have flavors rolled into them. One favorite is cheese curds with garlic or jalapenos. Both of these flavors will enhance your mac and cheese. Also, cheese curds are great for melting because they are already soft and crumbled up.

American Cheese

It is true that the most popular cheese for this dish is American and that’s because it has added emulsifiers. This means that it will melt much faster and be creamier than other cheeses. It also means it is generally more processed. If you’re looking to get the creaminess of American but without the artificial ingredients of processing, then here’s a simple trick.  Make your own cheese sauce. To do this you’ll use either béchamel or if you’re truly starting on your own, heavy cream or milk. You can add a little butter if you’d like a creamier texture. The idea is to get a sauce pan and warm your liquids (any combo of béchamel, milk, cream or butter) and add your favorite cheese (or cheeses) in cubes. You want it to be hot enough to melt the cheese but not too hot to curdle the milk. Stir until you have a smooth consistency and then poor over your noodles and bake.

What’s The Difference Between Cold And Liquid Smoked Cheese?

Cheese is delicious in many flavors. People enjoy it on trays with fruit, crackers or veggies. They enjoy putting it on sandwiches, melting it over casseroles or making dips out of it. There are varieties that have been blended with herbs like chives and garlic, flavors that are seasoned with Cajun spices, or laced with peppers. Regardless of what your favored taste is there is something out there for you. Many enjoy the flavor of smooth, smoked Gouda, Swiss or Cheddar. You can still love this fantastic flavor without knowing how it’s been prepared but here’s a little background on your favorite cheese.

Liquid Smoked

If you’re nibbling at some smoked cheese curds and marveling at the flavor you’re likely to wonder how it got there. You read the label and see that it was made with liquid smoke but don’t have a clue what this means. It’s good to know that the smoke liquid is produced from actual smoke. There is a tube it is passed through from a chamber made for combustion and then it’s condensed. It is in this condenser that the liquid is formed. This is done through a cooling process with added water. It can be used for both flavoring and preserving food. 

When cheese is smoked this way it is often added directly to the milk before it is made. You can also get liquid smoked cheese from adding this to the brine, or salt solution. In some cases, the liquid will be added to the cheese after the entire process is done. It can be used as a rub over the cheese and then lightly warmed to bring out the flavor.  In smaller cheese operations the cheese is generally dipped into the liquid and in larger operations it is sprayed over it.

Cold Smoking Your Cheese

In regards to smoking cheese more traditionally there are several things you should keep in mind. First of all, remember the term is ‘cold.’ You will need to keep the temp of your smoker below 100 degrees so that you don’t ruin the food. Most of them are smoked at 85 degrees or below. There are two ways to reach the cooler temperature and still create the smoke. Some will devise the smoke being filtered through ice (only advised if it has to be done this way). Generally speaking most cheese makers set up smoke houses and pipes to run the smoke some distance to the cheese. They may use fans or billows to speed the process but the idea is to keep the cheese cool so it doesn't start to run off oil or lose shape. During this process hard woods such as apple and maple are used in fine chips or even sawdust. It is the flavor of the wood and it’s smoke that lends itself to delicious maple smoked Cheddar, gouda or swiss.

What Types Of Milk Make The Best Tasting Cheese?

When it comes to cheese most fans will tell you there aren’t many they don’t like. The truth is the creamy texture is enjoyed by many and in quite a few different dishes. If you’re looking to learn more about cheese and wondering what goes into making the final product you surely have found it’s made of milk.  But what kind of milk and how does it affect the flavor?  There are many different kinds of milk that can be used to create cheese all lending their own flavor.

Buffalo Milk Mozzarella

Some of the creamiest Mozzarella comes from the milk of domesticated water buffalo. The birthplace of Mozzarella from buffalo is Italy, although there are many producers outside of the country now. You can find it made in Spain, Egypt, the U.S., Mexico and Australia among many other countries. Water buffalo milk has a higher fat content and therefore generally produces a creamier cheese. Milk from cows is also used for Mozzarella with extremely tasty results.

Goat Or Sheep Milk

Not many people will drink milk from sheep because it is so high in lactose. It does, however work well for making delicious cheese. You can find Roquefort, Feta and even Pecorino Romano made from sheep’s milk. Most cheeses made from sheep’s milk are described as rich, buttery in flavor and said to have a nutty taste.

Goat’s milk cheese is more well-known and creates some of the most popular cheeses out there. In fact, goat’s milk is the most similar to human milk (because of its low potassium) and therefore is often consumed by people who have ulcers or kidney problems. In addition, it is good for those who don’t tolerate cow’s milk very well. Some cheeses you’d expect to find made from goat milk are Feta, Chevre, Chabris, Halloumi and Castelo Branco.  Both Halloumi and Feta are sometimes made from a combination of sheep and goat milk. Quite often goat cheese is made in areas where refrigeration isn’t as easy to come by and so a heavy salt bath is used to preserve it longer. This has created a notion that goat cheese is very salty.

The All Important Cow’s Milk

Most of our favored cheese comes from cow’s milk. You can find all your favorite varieties like, Gouda, Cheddar, Swiss, Mozzarella, Provolone, Munster, cheese curds and more from this delicious milk. The best milk for cheese really comes down to your taste and since many people favor these popular types you might consider cow’s milk as the best. If you are watching your figure you can even find cheese made from skim milk.

Little Known Milks

Many other countries make cheese from milk other than from the four animals above. There are those who create golden bricks from camel or llama milk. Others ferment mare’s milk and make cheese from this as well. There are even some who use yak’s milk and reindeer milk for cheese. These are specialty cheeses and nearly impossible to find outside of the region they are made in.