What is a washed-rind?

What’s In a Rind? Technically, “washed rind” is a phrase that can be used to describe any cheese with a brine-washed (or moistened) rind. Adding mildly salted water to a cheese’s exterior fosters an environment hospitable to a variety of bacteria, often (though not always) including b. linens (brevibacterium linens).

Can you eat washed-rind?

In a word: yes. Cheese rinds are food safe and edible. However, only some are meant to be eaten. You should feel free to enjoy flavored rinds, washed rinds, and bloomy rinds as part of your cheese eating experience.

What type of cheese is washed-rind?

Famous washed-rind cheeses that exhibit the classic characteristics include Ami du Chambertin, Epoisses, Gubbeen, Herve, Langres, Limburger, Livarot, Maroilles, Munster, Pont l’Eveque, Reblochon, Stinking Bishop, Taleggio and Vacherin.

Is Brie a washed rind cheese?

Bloomy rinds (such as a Brie or Camembert) have a growth of soft, white mold on the surface of the cheese. Washed rind cheeses (like an Epoisses or a Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk) have a unique orange hue and firmer outer rind.

What is the rind on cheese made of?

Cheesemakers spray a solution containing edible mold spores (Penicillium candidum, camemberti or glaucum) on the cheese. Humidity in the room where the cheese is ripened encourages this mold to grow, or bloom, and form a rind.

How do you eat washed rinds?

Like bloomy rind cheeses, we enjoy washed rind cheeses best when ripened to room temperature or melted. On a board, their flavors pair beautifully with dark breads, cured meats, and fruits (fresh and dried). Feta, and Swiss, and Brie – oh my!

Why is cheese rind washed?

Washed-rind or smear-ripened cheeses are cheeses which are periodically treated with brine or mold-bearing agents. This encourages the growth of certain bacteria on their surface which give them distinctive flavors. Washed-rind cheeses can be hard or soft. The softer ones are sometimes distinguished as “smear-ripened”.

How do you eat washed rind cheese?

What goes with washed rind cheese?

How long does washed rind cheese last?

seven to 14 days
Washed rind (orange exterior): seven to 14 days. Blue: It really depends on moisture, Thorpe says. Soft, creamy blues like Gorgonzola Dolce last five to 10 days; drier, fudgy blues like Stilton last two to three weeks.

Is Babybel cheese?

Babybels are essentially tiny versions of Edam cheese. Edam, which is of Dutch origin, is a semi-hard cheese that has gentle notes of sweet grassiness and a bit of mild nutiness.