Washing shredded cheese is a topic that has been making waves in the culinary world. Let’s dive into the details:
- Why Wash Shredded Cheese?
- Pre-shredded cheeses often contain anti-caking ingredients like cellulose, calcium sulfate, or potato/corn starch. These prevent the shreds from clumping together during storage.
- Rinsing off these ingredients can theoretically help the cheese melt more uniformly when cooked.
- Do You Need to Wash Your Shredded Cheese?
- Short answer: Not really, unless you have a food sensitivity to these anti-caking ingredients.
- If you’re sensitive, consider skipping prepackaged shredded cheese altogether, as rinsing won’t remove every trace of the starch.
- We tested washed shredded cheese against straight-from-the-bag and hand-shredded cheese. The difference in meltiness was minimal.
- How to Wash Shredded Cheese:
- Place the prepackaged shredded cheese in a colander or fine-holed strainer.
- Rinse the cheese under cool water for a few minutes.
- Shake out excess water and pat it dry.
- Use the rinsed cheese immediately; storing it afterward may lead to clumping and mold.
Remember, freshly shredded cheese melts better than bagged shreds, but washing isn’t a game-changer unless you have specific dietary concerns. Happy cooking! 🧀🍕
