Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to wash my cheese?

289 replies

SENcatsandfish · 21/04/2026 22:57

I buy pre grated cheese, but it always has that starch coating on and when it melts it goes a bit funny, and the texture and what it looks like put me off. So I chuck it in a sieve, rinse it, pat it dry and then use it as I normally would.

Someone looked at me as if id grown 2 heads when I was doing this so is it not a done thing? Am I the only person washing my cheese?

So, unreasonable = what on earth are you doing?
You are being reasonable = melted starchy cheese is gross

  • [Note from MNHQ: Please read OP's subsequent posts before responding, especially the very next post in which she explains that she has a condition that affects her joints, including her wrists, which can easily be dislocated by grating cheese...]
OP posts:
Thread gallery
8
marylou25 · 22/04/2026 10:47

I kind of see your point, I don't buy grated cheese because it is coated with stuff and is more expensive anyway. I have a pretty basic food processor, I buy block of cheddar/mozarella, usually both, cut them into big enough bits that will fit in processor chute tightly as works better that way, freeze them until half frozen then pop into processor and put the grated cheese in a container and back in the freezer. That does me for a while and then I repeat it. Using it in the processor while almost frozen makes it grate easier and it remains separate too when you put it back in freezer. There are always some chunks where the last bit of cheese doesn't get grated and flies around the processor blade, I freeze this bits separately for throwing into sauces.

I hate grating cheese by hand!

CoffeeDreamer · 22/04/2026 10:45

😂to washing cheese lol

However we have had a conversation here this morning about how the starch added to grated cheese is hidden carbs and low carb relative would therefor not eat it!

So that’s me now buying block cheese only and some sort of easy grating gadget. Off to search Amazon for such a thing.

Pherian · 22/04/2026 10:43

SENcatsandfish · 21/04/2026 22:57

I buy pre grated cheese, but it always has that starch coating on and when it melts it goes a bit funny, and the texture and what it looks like put me off. So I chuck it in a sieve, rinse it, pat it dry and then use it as I normally would.

Someone looked at me as if id grown 2 heads when I was doing this so is it not a done thing? Am I the only person washing my cheese?

So, unreasonable = what on earth are you doing?
You are being reasonable = melted starchy cheese is gross

  • [Note from MNHQ: Please read OP's subsequent posts before responding, especially the very next post in which she explains that she has a condition that affects her joints, including her wrists, which can easily be dislocated by grating cheese...]

You know you can just negate this whole thing by buying a block of cheese and grating it yourself.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 22/04/2026 10:41

I’ve had this one for years and use it a lot. I hate box graters!

AIBU to wash my cheese?
ihatecoffee · 22/04/2026 10:39

I’ve done this before and yes it works

I've got very bad tendonitis and cannot use a cheese grater all the time so I did buy some ready grated cheese a few
weeks ago and washed it!

JudgeJ · 22/04/2026 10:37

Is this a hangover from Covid when people washed their food?

I thought I'd missed a new call for lockdown when I read this title!
I buy grated mozzarella, I will confess, to have on my omelettes.

Sheeppig · 22/04/2026 10:35

Was really hoping this was some kind of innuendo...

Mumandcarer80 · 22/04/2026 10:34

Never have I washed cheese in my life. But if you don’t like the coating on grated cheese just buy a block and put it through a food processor. I don’t like the coating on grated cheese either it doesn’t melt the same. Just get a block instead it takes a couple of minutes. I usually get my DD to do it. She’s severely disabled but loves doing little jobs like that to help. Could you get someone else to grate it for you?

Idontneedanotherhero · 22/04/2026 10:29

bumptybum · 21/04/2026 23:04

Cheese is a very odd word when you read it enough times

I can’t unthink this now

Bourbondunker · 22/04/2026 10:25

Ive seen a lot of Americans wash their shredded cheese as they get weird chemical coatings not just corn flour !! So youre not crazy x

BunnyLake · 22/04/2026 10:19

If it works for you then why not. I rinse kimchi because it’s too spicy/tangy for me otherwise.

TelevisualArseGravy · 22/04/2026 10:15

DreamyScroller · 22/04/2026 08:52

This is the easiest AIBU ever.

Washing cheese is monstrous.

If you don't like the starchiness of pregrated, buy a block and grate it yourself.

Not if you have bothered to read the OPs posts. She can't grate cheese so your comment is monstrously unhelpful.

CaptainMyCaptain · 22/04/2026 10:13

agatamum · 21/04/2026 22:58

Could you not just buy a block of cheese and grate it?

That's what I do then I freeze it in a ziplock bag.

Topseyt123 · 22/04/2026 10:06

IneedAniffler · 22/04/2026 09:09

What is WRONG with you. RTFT

Show quote history

Nothing wrong with me thanks. I have totally read the thread. I think you have quoted the wrong post.

Hankunamatata · 22/04/2026 10:02

SENcatsandfish · 21/04/2026 22:57

I buy pre grated cheese, but it always has that starch coating on and when it melts it goes a bit funny, and the texture and what it looks like put me off. So I chuck it in a sieve, rinse it, pat it dry and then use it as I normally would.

Someone looked at me as if id grown 2 heads when I was doing this so is it not a done thing? Am I the only person washing my cheese?

So, unreasonable = what on earth are you doing?
You are being reasonable = melted starchy cheese is gross

  • [Note from MNHQ: Please read OP's subsequent posts before responding, especially the very next post in which she explains that she has a condition that affects her joints, including her wrists, which can easily be dislocated by grating cheese...]

Im intrigued. Does it make it melt better?

Ohnobackagain · 22/04/2026 10:00

This one’s a bit cheaper @SENcatsandfish and there are other designs, even cordless/USB for about £35

amzn.eu/d/06HtqakH

LostThestral · 22/04/2026 10:00

I had no idea grated cheese was covered in stuff - I'll be buying blocks from now on & grating myself

starfishmummy · 22/04/2026 09:58

SENcatsandfish · 21/04/2026 23:09

I should have added, I have a condition that effects my joints, and for me, especially the wrists, I could easily dislocate my wrist from grating cheese 🤣. Ive done similar for stupid reasons. Im a walking disaster, except when I fell down the stairs then I was a falling disaster. Apologies for the drip feed.

I cant seem to find an alternative that works. If I makes a difference I obviously use very cold water, be a right mess if I rinsed it with hot water 🤣

OK, I understand the need for pre grated; but do you have a food processor or stand mixer with grater attachments? In which case use it to grate a block and then freeze it. Or ask a friend round and get them to do it.

DonnyDoris · 22/04/2026 09:51

I have heard of washing feta cheese - either in water or milk - especially if the brine is very salty, but never pre-grated cheese - surely that just becomes a soggy mess?

LakieLady · 22/04/2026 09:46

BeanQuisine · 22/04/2026 03:09

I think you'll find that "starch" is anti-caking agent. If they didn't add it, when you open the cheese packet you'd find it was full of cake.

Does this mean that you can turn cheese into cake simply by grating it and popping it in the fridge?

That would be truly fabulous...

Beachtastic · 22/04/2026 09:42

At least you're not spraying it with Cif!

LakieLady · 22/04/2026 09:32

bumptybum · 21/04/2026 23:04

Cheese is a very odd word when you read it enough times

Indeed!

It's also a very odd thread title. I only looked at the thread to see if perhaps "cheese" was a euphemism for something.

Delphiniumandlupins · 22/04/2026 09:30

When I read the thread title I thought it was going to be a typo for "shoes"!

I see others have suggested a rotary grater and I find that easy to use but sometimes cutting a chunk off the big block is tricky. As I write this I've just thought that the nice man at the supermarket cheese counter would probably cut my block of cheese into smaller pieces if I asked.

usedtobeaylis · 22/04/2026 09:26

If it works and doesn't affect what you're making then what's the problem? No need to go to all the extra effort and expense of finding something else that works.

IneedAniffler · 22/04/2026 09:09

Topseyt123 · 22/04/2026 09:06

I take it you have no problems with your joints that make grating cheese yourself a problem? My mother does as I said in an earlier post.

The question is why anyone would wash cheese, not why they would buy pre-grated.

Show quote history

What is WRONG with you. RTFT

Swipe left for the next trending thread