AIBU to wash my cheese?

[SENcatsandfish]

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...]

For info. I'll let you into a little secret. Grated cheese is often made from the "offcuts" to prevent food waste in cheese factories. So when you make cheddar, it's normally made in c. 20kg blocks. To then produce your individual 200g or 350g packs, it's cut into bars then into the smaller pieces and wrapped. Depending on how clever the cutter is, you then always have a bit left which might vary in size but is perhaps around 100g per bar. So possibly about four to six of these per block depending on what pack you were making.

For "mature" grated cheese, they will combine several of these offcuts, possibly even several different maturities (even having some extra mature or vintage in there) and grate it up, depending on who it's for it might contain cheese destined for Tesco or M&S (some retailers will demand only their own specific recipe or maturity, some will not). While maintaining hygiene and traceability of course. If there's not enough offcuts then they may grate some whole blocks but they wouldn't want to as it will make it more expensive to produce.

Basically what I'm saying is what you get in those grated packs is often a bit variable in maturity and the source of the original block. That will give far more variability in the overall quality of that product pack to pack than the potato starch presence. If you can't detect those changes, I think your concerns on the potato starch are more perception than reality (as to me having done taste panels on these things, they stick out like a sore thumb).

If you always cook the cheese in the end, I can't see a problem. I say, go for it. If you see Gordon Ramsay approaching just tell him to do one..With a few expletives in there just so he understands you.

It is absolutely a thing and I'm surprised so many haven't heard of it. They say to do it if you need to add it to a meal where it needs to melt through.
I have come across a lot of recipes that call for example a cup of grated cheese which then suggests you wash it if pregrated.

Sure grating your own you avoid this but that's not the point here. For those who do use pregrated cheese in recipes, this has always been the suggestion. People know they can grate their own but choose not to for whatever reason we have no business judging.

Keep washing your grated cheese if you like op.

Thank you for this. It made me smile 😁

I live alone and find pre-grated cheese useful. A block tends to go off before I've used it all, whereas an open can bag go in the freezer and can then be used whenever I am cooking something that needs it.

I am really glad that these days the starch used is potato based because I have a wheat allergy, and find it okay 'raw' if I want a basic old-fashioned mixed salad.

And cannot imagine ever washing grated cheese, though I have on occasion rinsed a block that had gone manky and needed its exterior pared off. As I said, that's partly why I now often buy pre-grated stuff. And the mixed cheddar and mozzarella makes excellent scones.

Grated cheese is great stuff!

Electric cheese grater?
https://amzn.eu/d/0cwiGa0k

Why are you buying pre-grated cheese then? Surely, if you are so put off by whatever it is you think is in grated cheese, you'd just buy blocks of it and grate it yourself? That's not going to take you more time than your washing and drying ritual would.

Get a have a food processor, you can grate loads of cheese then bag it into portions and freeze it. Way cheaper than buying pregrated cheese.

What???? Doesn’t it go all soggy?!

RTFT

Why not read the OP's update before posting this unhelpful response?

Why not buy a block and grate it as and when you need it? It ain’t rocket science…….cheese graters can be found on the household goods aisle at most leading supermarkets nationwide.

Omg... RYFT

I have arthritis in my hands/wrists and find grating hard cheese like parmesan painful (and I really like parmesan). Until reading this thread I'd never considered using the food processor to create large quantities of grated parmesan and then freezing it. Every day is a school day!

It isn't rocket science to select See All and read the OP's updates either 🤔

Another one who has an electric cheese grater and loves it. Like others, it can slice things really thinly (like potatoes for dauphinois) or shred stuff for coleslaw etc.

It’s the one kitchen gadget that actually gets used several times a week.

And now I want to buy one of those electric graters. I have a food processor but it is heavy and a faff to wash.

Which one to you have @CissOff

At first read I thought you were crackers, but reading more I see your point. I'd definitely be looking into electric graters or food processors.

I really don't think you're even getting that coating off by washing and patting it dry, OP.

Cheese is pretty sticky especially when wet! You are probably just less able to see it when it's wet. You're basically just wetting and drying your cheese.

What do you think that starch is going to do to you if you eat it? It's nothing.

The coating is potatoe starch to stop the grated cheese from sticking together. You’re a massive weirdo and I mean that kindly - stop washing that cheese 😂😂

Buy a block and grate it yourself.

Please read the OP's updates before posting. She has a very good reason to find grating it herself difficult.

No that's really rude- read the full thread before you insult OP

Is it possible you have a relative or friend who would grate a quantity at a time for you, it would then last a good while.

😂

Me too!