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
Topseyt123 · 22/04/2026 09:06

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.

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.

PigletJohn · 22/04/2026 09:06

A mouli grater is very handy if your hands are poor.

DreamyScroller · 22/04/2026 09:01

CarsairsItReallyDoesHurtMeGirlNsoull · 22/04/2026 08:59

Further back poor op has a disability that prevents her from using a grater.

Show quote history

Yea, I just saw that. Still no excuse for washing cheese, I'm afraid.

CarsairsItReallyDoesHurtMeGirlNsoull · 22/04/2026 08:59

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.

Further back poor op has a disability that prevents her from using a grater.

CharityShopMensGlasses · 22/04/2026 08:58

This is absolutely hilarious as Ive never known anyone to wash cheese, but I can see grating is hard, is there another method you can use, I find the food slicers easier. Or is there such thing as an automatic grater?

CarsairsItReallyDoesHurtMeGirlNsoull · 22/04/2026 08:54

This is up there with Alan Partridge'smell my cheese'
Joking aside op it's not funny when disability affects doing everyday tasks.

Original poster
SENcatsandfish · 22/04/2026 08:54

HoppingPavlova · 22/04/2026 02:43

@SENcatsandfish 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

I take it EDS or similar? One of my (adult) kids has this, fun times.

Honestly though, has an electric grater never crossed your mind. An electric food processor that grates, slices and dices. That way everything for food prep is covered. They take no wrist strength at all (not the ones where you have to crank handles, but where you just pop in chute and apply absolute minimum pressure). Washing cheese because you can’t hand grate it is beyond nuts and these appliances are not mysterious items the public doesn’t know about, just look online or go to an electrical retailer and look at the shelves.

Are there other areas of your life you could be making easier also? My child has many things to make things easier and limit the chance of dislocations and injuries, extension hair scrubbers for hair washing for example. A good place to visit for ideas is arthritis sites, there are lots of online places selling things to people with arthritis to make their lives easier, and a lot of this is useful. Don’t buy from the sites, as always inflated prices but use them to get ideas and then just get the same/similar normal retail, you usually can.

Yes EDs. I spent my childhood putting dislocated joints back in because thats just what my body did. Its took until a few years ago when I was diagnosed then it all made sense. My wrists are so floppy with no strength, I struggle to put fuel in my car too.

Ill be looking at gadgets today, thanks so much for everyone help, and for those who haven't RTFT, dont worry I should have put it in my OP

OP posts:
likelysuspect · 22/04/2026 08:52

Pre grated cheese can be on a par with block cheese price wise, depending on what you buy, or special offers, I take a keen interest in the price per kilo and sometimes they're more or less equal

Not if you're comparing fancy blocks of course. i have some fancy red leciester and a fancy cheddar and fancy gouda in the fridge which I will have to chop and grate myself with great difficulty, you cant buy those ready grated in any case

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.

Busybeemumm · 22/04/2026 08:52

Sorry OP, you have 2 heads 😅Doesn't it make cheese on toast soggy?!

MissMoneyFairy · 22/04/2026 08:49

Have you looked at mobility kitchen utensils, would you manage the roller type grater. Pre grated cheese is really expensive. Would your supermarket cheese counter grate it for you.

FeministThrowingAPrincessParty · 22/04/2026 08:45

That’s insane!

AgnesMcDoo · 22/04/2026 08:45

Weird

likelysuspect · 22/04/2026 08:43

I also notice that pre grated cheese goes mouldy much quicker, worse if its the lower fat stuff

bythefire6 · 22/04/2026 08:43

ThisJadeBear · 22/04/2026 07:47

I am in a similar position but after looking at what grated cheese is coated in, I stopped using it.
The thing is, the crap it is coated is actually causes inflammation in the body so it’s not helping you if you eat it, even if it’s easier to access.
Have a look at some disability cooking and kitchen aids to help you.
And by the way I’m not fanatical about this stuff, I’m not the UFP police!

Show quote history

There is no crap, it’s potato starch

5to5 · 22/04/2026 08:42

Buy an electric grater

wishingonastar101 · 22/04/2026 08:36

When the kids were little and cheese monsters - I would buy a huge block of cheese and grate it through the food processor then pop it in a tupawear.

KatherineJ1775 · 22/04/2026 08:35

You are undoubtedly a psychopath

Boomer55 · 22/04/2026 08:28

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...]

I’ve never washed cheese if any sort. 😳

Just grate from a block.

likelysuspect · 22/04/2026 08:26

OwlBeThere · 22/04/2026 01:29

The casual ableism is alive and well in this thread. It’s a sad state of affairs when no one stops for 5 seconds to consider that it’s not easier to ‘just grate it yourself’ for a lot of us and a suggestion like this has to be made.

Show quote history

Rubbish

I suggested OP grate her own cheese because the majority of people can. I, like OP, are some of the minority who cant, but generally speaking most people can, so why not suggest that in the (original light) of OP not saying that she couldnt

And some of us might, or might not, have someone else i the house who can grate up a whole block and have that sitting in portions in the freezer. If that doesnt apply she could move past that suggestion.

No one needs a 'reason' to buy pre prepped stuff, its always assumed on these threads that someone has to have some reason to buy it and use it, you get the 'oh, thats ok then', as if its some moral failing to buy pre prepped stuff if you dont haev a disability.

Jane143 · 22/04/2026 08:25

From the title I honestly wondered if this was going to be a sexual post, knob cheese or something? The mind boggles!

Bimblesalong · 22/04/2026 08:11

Yanbu given your grating difficulty.

However, I thought you meant to wash your cheese, as in wipe it with an alcohol such as cider over the outside to imbue flavour. A real cheese technique. In that case yanbu also.

Kitt1 · 22/04/2026 08:08

DoloresDelEriba · 22/04/2026 08:00

This

Show quote history

Could you bother yourself to read all the OP’s posts before posting yet another pointless comment?

Fingeronthebutton · 22/04/2026 08:07

agatamum · 21/04/2026 22:58

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

Bit radical 😱

Swipe left for the next trending thread