Can you eat the rind on brie cheese?
In this brief article, it has been discussed whether we can eat the rind on brie cheese or not?. What is the taste of the rind? Apart from this, we will discuss the white stuff on brie, the nutritional content of the rind on brie cheese, the production of brie cheese, the health benefits of the brie cheese, and some disadvantages of eating rind on brie cheese have been mentioned.
Can you eat the rind on brie cheese?
Yes, we can eat the rind on brie cheese. It is completely a safe option.
One of the main purposes of rind on brie is to protect and encase the cheese. Moreover, it also enhances the flavour of the cheese. The rind is edible and can be eaten along with the melted cheese.
Taste of the rind
If we talk about the taste of rind brie, it has an umami taste with hints of mushroom sauteed in brown butter. If we combine rind brie with super creamy paste, we will obtain a combination that does a faint impersonation of cream of mushroom soup. No doubt, the cream is great and the mushrooms are also great.
The white stuff on brie
The rind is a white mould that is also known as Penicillium candidum. Cheesemakers inculcate the cheese with this white mould. The rind is formed by patting down this edible white mould which blooms outside of the paste. Brie gets its distinctive taste after going through this process.
The nutritional content of the rind on brie cheese
The rind which is present in brie cheese is composed of many nutrients. Following is the list of some nutrients that are present on the rind of brie cheese
- Protein
- Fat
- Fibre
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin B12
- Sodium
- Magnesium
- Potassium
- Carbs
Production of brie cheese
The production of brie cheese is a time-consuming process and also it requires a lot of skills. Following are some steps that should be followed while making brie cheese
In the very first step milk is curdled. Two gallons of milk are heated over high heat. One by eight teaspoons of Penicillium candidum and one packet of direct set mesophilic starter culture is sprinkled.
Culture starts doing its work within sixty minutes. lactose is converted into lactic acid during this period. After about 60 minutes, add liquid rennet to milk, stirring thoroughly.
The curd is slowly transferred into moulds with the help of a large spoon from the curd mass. This transfer is carried out in thin layers.
Mould is filled slowly and in a layer-to-layer fashion so that curd is settled briefly.
Curds are settled into a solid mass and draining is continued. Maintain the draining space temperature at 68 to 74 Fahrenheit to obtain a fine end product.
Turn the cheese in the moulds several times during the first 24 hours to ensure its complete dryness.
All sides of the cheese are salted at the rate of 20 per cent after removing it from moulds.
Cheese is ripened in a container at 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
At 2 weeks, wrap in cheese paper/wax paper and age at 50 degrees for another 2 to 4 more weeks depending on the size of the wheel and the ripeness you want. Then store in a regular refrigerator. It will continue to ripen in the refrigerator but more slowly due to the colder temperature.
Health benefits of eating the brie cheese
Brie cheese has some health benefits. Following are some of the health benefits that can be availed by eating the rind on brie cheese
Prevention from osteoporosis: Brie cheese contains calcium and vitamin D so it helps to protect us from osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a disease that is caused by the lack of calcium and vitamin D. It can be characterized by fragile, porous bones and it affects particularly older people and women.
Weight gain but healthily: Cheese helps actors and athletes to gain weight healthily without ruining their physique. As it contains protein and is rich in nutrients, that is why it is advised to eat cheese for a better body physique.
Rich source of calcium: Brie cheese is rich in calcium and complements all the requirements of calcium in our body
Disadvantages of eating brie cheese
Following are some of the disadvantages of eating brie cheese
An excessive quantity of brie cheese leads to some uncomfortable situations like bloating and constipation.
Cheese is also not good for patients suffering from heart diseases.
Other FAQs about Brie cheese that you may be interested in.
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Conclusion
In this brief article, it has been discussed whether we can eat the rind on brie cheese or not?. What is the taste of the rind? Apart from this white stuff on brie, the nutritional content of the rind on brie cheese, production of brie cheese, health benefits of the rind, and some disadvantages of eating rind on brie cheese has been mentioned.