How Long Does Cheese Last in the Fridge?
This blog answers the all-important question, 'How long does cheese last in the fridge?'. Read on to keep your cheese the right side of ripe! We'll demystify 'best before' dates for cheese and explain how to spot tell-tale signs of cheese going bad.
Best Chutney for Cheese
Fish and chips, strawberries and cream, chutney and cheese - we all love the classic gastronomic duos. We don't believe there is one best chutney for cheese - we love them all! We have done the hard work for you and compiled a list of our favourite cheese and chutney pairings.
Did you know you can freeze cheese?
The Cheshire Cheese Company has compiled these tips for how to store cheese, including our range of Cheshire Cheese Company truckles and other festive favourites to save them from landfill.
Best Crackers for Cheese
A cheese board is a mouth-watering sight, especially when it includes an array of the best crackers for cheese. The nation's favourite crackers include the Ritz cracker, wheat crackers and plain water crackers. But which is the best for your favourite cheese, and what is the key to a great cracker?
How to Open a Waxed Cheese Truckle
How to open a Waxed Cheese Truckle Allow the cheese to reach room temperature for at least one hour before opening. This will give a cleaner and easier cut through the wax and give the cheese a better flavour profile. Use a sharp knife and cut around the top of the truckle. Once you have cut all around the top of the truckle, remove the lid. Score down the sides of the truckle with your knife three times and peel off the remaining wax. In order to identify the cheese, use the lid and place it back on top of the cheese.
A Brief History of Cheddar Cheese in the UK
The first cheesemakers were farmers who used the cheesemaking process to preserve raw milk when there was too much to drink. The process was as simple as separating the liquid and solid parts of the excess milk, the curds and whey.
What is a Truckle?
If you’re thinking of giving cheese as a gift or creating a cheese board for a special occasion, you may come across the term ‘truckles’. But, what is a truckle of cheese and what makes it different from other types of cheese? This post takes an in-depth look at the world of cheese truckles: what they are, how they’re made and what makes them special.
What Cheese goes with Christmas Cake?
What Cheese goes with Christmas Cake? As food debates go, ‘Do you eat Christmas cake with cheese’ is right up there with the great cream tea controversy (cream or jam first?) and what’s the right way to cut toast (diagonally or straight across?). In Yorkshire, people don’t bat an eyelid about adding a slice of cheese to their Christmas cake, while in other parts of the country, it might raise a quizzical eyebrow. This blog looks at the tradition of enjoying cheese with cake at Christmas, what cheese goes with Christmas cake, and how to add cheeky new twists to the traditional pairing. At the Cheshire Cheese Company we have every type of Christmas cheese to make the festive season extra special – but let’s focus on the cheeses that go best with Christmas cake. Which cheese to eat with Christmas cake? As we’ve already established, cheese and Christmas cake are commonly eaten together in Yorkshire. People there even have an endearing saying: “Christmas cake without the cheese is like a kiss without the squeeze.” In Yorkshire, Christmas cake is usually eaten with Wensleydale, a type of cheese produced in North Yorkshire. It’s a tradition that dates back at least to Victorian times, according to food historian Peter Brears from Leeds. “My grandparents were born in the 1890s and it was very much part of their Christmas celebrations,” he says. “It’s one of those things that is perfectly normal in Yorkshire, yet when you go anywhere else you get a horrified look and I think it would be good to spread its appeal.” Well, we couldn’t agree more, Peter. As a local food producer from Cheshire, we believe our Cheshire cheese, made to a time-honoured recipe that’s been refined over generations, makes the perfect partner to a piece of Christmas cake on a plate. Why Cheshire cheese with Christmas cake? The Cheshire family of cheeses is a distinct group that includes other crumbly cheeses from the north of England, including Wensleydale and crumbly Lancashire. Our flagship Cheshire cheese is known for its smooth, creamy texture with its distinctive Cheshire tang. The perfect balance of flavour is achieved through our traditional cheesemaking process, and our Cheshire cheese is a gold winner at the International Cheese and Dairy Awards in 2023. This Christmas, we’ve also introduced two brand new Cheshire cheese truckles with festive twists, adding a burst of extra flavour to compliment your cake. What cheese with Christmas cake? Try our festive specials Because we know that Christmas goes hand-in-hand with the iconic taste of cranberry, we’re incredibly proud of our new world exclusive for 2023: Cranberry, a deliciously sweet crumbly Cheshire cheese bursting with the more-ish flavours of real cranberry pieces. Clementine, our other brand-new festive special, is an exquisite combination of orange, Cognac and dried fruit, expertly blended with our renowned creamy Cheshire cheese. Both of these cheeses are appealing companions alongside rich and fruity Christmas cake. We’ve got limited availability of both our festive specials, so don’t hang about if you want to tuck into this tasty twosome when December comes. With their distinctive red and green wax coverings, they look suitably seasonal on any Christmas table. Serving cheese with Christmas cake Traditionally, Yorkshire folks found that the sharp and crumbly Wensleydale cheese worked perfectly either perched on top or eaten alongside a moist, rich slice of Christmas cake. Every good tradition deserves an update from time to time, so you could try your cake with two or more slices of different cheeses alongside it. We suggest trying one of the delicious Cheshire cheeses we’ve described above, perhaps with a slice of our legendary, award-winning Vintage Cheddar. You could also try our Hartington Dovedale Blue Cheese, which is softer and less dense than Stilton, with a wonderful blue tangy taste. Take a look at all of our range of cheese truckles, which are sold individually or in a variety of Christmas cheese hampers and gifts. Summary: What cheese to eat with Christmas cake If you’re looking for a traditional take on Christmas treats, combining rich, moist Christmas cake with a creamy, expertly crafted cheese like our Cheshire or Cheddar will transport you back to Victorian times. And after all, it is the Victorians who showed us how to do Christmas properly. The tradition can be traced back to Yorkshire in the late 19th century, and it’s one that’s caught on in different parts of the UK as well as further afield. If the practice of pairing cheese with sweet fruit cake sounds a bit nuts, then we’d encourage you to give it a try. Most of our dearest traditions have local roots somewhere, and at the Cheshire Cheese Company, we’re all for anything that adds some cheese into the mix. If, like many of the good people of Yorkshire, you wouldn’t dream of serving a piece of Christmas cake without a slice of delicious cheese nestled next to or on top of it, then our cheese truckles are a must for your home this Christmas. Why not join the Cheshire Cheese Club for discounts on our cheeses as well as special offers all year round - it’s totally free. Browse all our Christmas cheese, which are all available for pre-order or express delivery, with 2024 best-before dates on pre-orders. And take a look at our Christmas hampers and gifts which are sure to delight the cheese lovers in your life.
Can you Freeze Cheddar Cheese?
Even cheesaholics sometimes find that they have a glut of cheese. Perhaps you bought Cheddar cheese for a recipe and didn't use it all, or you had friends around for a meal, and they foolishly ate too much to do the cheese course justice. Here are a few tips and tricks to make the most of your Cheddar cheese from the freezer.
What Wine Goes Best With Brie Cheese?
The sumptuous taste and velvety texture of Brie make this soft cheese an international favourite. Whilst a simple meal of Brie and French bread is delightful, this soft cheese is so versatile that its complex flavours work well in sweet and savoury dishes. Read on to discover ways to make the most of this iconic cheese.
Aged Cheddar: How Aging Impacts Taste and Texture
A cursory glance at your local supermarket shelves will show that Cheddar cheese comes in several varieties. From the rich orange hue of extra mature cheeses to the buttery glow of a mild Cheddar, this most beloved cheese offers a spectrum of taste and texture. The darker colours of the more mature cheeses result from the cheese maker's tradition of adding annatto, a plant-based food colouring, but the flavour and texture of a fine Cheddar cheese are dependent on the ageing process.
How To Choose The Right Cheese For Your Charcuterie Board
Charcuterie boards took over Instagram feeds and restaurant menus a couple of years ago and show no signs of going away. Charcuterie platters typically feature cured meats arranged on a slate or board, along with mouth-watering accompaniments. Think of a cheese board but with meat. And in just the same way that cheese boards can feature charcuterie, charcuterie boards usually include a star turn of delicious cheeses to accompany the meat.