Cheese crust: when to eat it and when not?

Let’s find out when the cheese crust is edible and when, on the other hand, it is not designed to be ingested.

Do you eat or not eat cheese crust? The many fans of this food have asked it several times. Tastes aside, let’s try to clarify the topic. Also because cheese is a food that, despite there being those who hate it or those who are intolerant, are passionate about the whole world .

Many love to eat all of the cheese, even the crust. Normally, this delicious food is tasted in small bites until it hardens. The last external part or the plastic edges should remain in the plate; instead, there are those who ingest them .

The cheese rind is not, at least at first glance, the tastiest part of the product. First you need to know that this is divided into natural and artificial .

Natural cheese crust

It is the one that has the same composition as the cheese, but is more difficult . This hardening is essentially due to the loss of water in the outermost part where microorganisms develop.

If you take a cheese from the cheese maker and wrap it in a cloth, you can also eat it all with the crust. But if you buy it from the supermarket, or it has been exposed where anyone can touch it, it is better to eliminate the outside or wash it well .

Parmigiano Reggiano

The typical example of edible rind is that of Parmigiano Reggiano. Which is washed and well grated, so as to become a valid ingredient to create appetizing recipes and to flavor soups .

Then there are the cheeses with a soft , soft and whitish crust , such as goat cheeses. Their surface is essentially composed of molds that are only partially brushed . So, however, we recommend not to consume them.

Mold

They are not to be confused with the molds present on the surface or inside some cheeses such as Roquefort , Gorgonzola or Camembert which, on the contrary, can be eaten perfectly. They are healthy because they are the result of the fermentation and production of the same cheese. However, if mold also appears in the crust, it means that the food has been polluted or altered, and therefore should not be eaten.

And finally, there are those without a rind , usually they are soft cheeses, such as mozzarella which, of course, can be eaten entirely.

Artificial cheese crust

There are also other cheeses whose rind is added artificially. And it is made up of materials such as waxes, paraffins or plastics . In the case of wax covers, it is clear that these are not edible. And they are mainly present in round cheeses , such as Babybel. The semi-hard ones have a bright colored crust which serves to protect the humidity levels inside the food. In this case the crust is not toxic, and there are those who eat it habitually, but it does not provide any type of nourishment. So in reality, there is no reason to eat it.

Under the cheese crust

The really interesting thing about cheese is what lies just below its crust. It is a product that derives from lactic fermentation , therefore it contains many important microorganisms for intestinal health. They are the so-called probiotics , excellent foods that are consumed much less than what should be. In fact, a healthy intestinal flora has very positive effects on general health.

But to obtain these benefits, the cheese must be in good condition . If you suffer from treatments or temperature changes , the microorganisms present die and with them the nutritional properties. It is therefore recommended to consume it raw.

Photo source: https://pixabay.com/it/photos/vaggi-di-formaggi-formaggi-1433504/