Range of Rinds

Hello! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! One of my major goals is to make this blog a priority. This means disciplining myself, not over thinking and just start DOING. I hope you enjoy the first blog post of the year.

The rind is the outer surface of a cheese. It's flavorful and  protects the cheese during ripening. When exposed to air in the correct temperature and humidity, the air interacts with the bacteria and molds used in the cheesemaking process. And....VOILÀ a rind forms (this does not apply to bandage wrapped, herbaceous rinds and waxed rinds). If you take a look at the cheese case in your local cheese shop or grocery store, you'll notice an abundance of cheeses, all with distinct rinds. Below are a few rinds that you've most likely encountered in your cheese travels.

Bloomy Rind

Soft cheeses like Brie have a white, bloomy rind that ripens the cheese from the outside in.
"Bloomy" refers to the fluffy, soft white mold.

Can I eat it? Yes! Bloomy rinds have a pronounced mushroomy flavor.
My favorites- Brie de Meaux and Marin Cheese Company's Camembert.


Washed Rind
Washed rind cheeses are known to be the stinkiest of cheeses due to the brine, brandy, or beer  that it's "washed" in. This results in the formation of  a bacteria called  B.linens forms, which gives the product a  stinky, sticky red orange rind. Believe it or not, the interior is less foul and typically meaty in flavor.

Can I eat it? Yes! However, the scent can be strong for some. Remove the rind to cut the smell.
My favorites- Chaumes and Cowgirl Creamery's Red Hawk. Chaumes is actually very mild and nutty!


Bandage Wrapped
Bandage Wrapped cheeses are wrapped in linen to hold its shape and protects the cheese, discouraging molds from developing on the rind. You'll see this in cheddars.

Can I eat it? No! Remove the bandage wrapping and enjoy.
My favorites- Fiscalini Farms bandaged wrapped cheddar


Waxed-Coated
You've seen this in Gouda and Babybel cheese. The flavor is not affected by the wax. Like linen, the wax is used simply as protection. The wax prevents the cheese from cracking.

Can I eat it? No! The wax is non-edible but food-safe.
My favorites- Edam
True Fact- As a kid, I ate the wax because I thought it was edible. :-)

image credits: bloomy rind via di bruno brothers, washed rind via pastoral cheese, bandage wrapped via tastings gourmet market, waxed-coated via murrays cheese