Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it "fluffy?"
My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my grass-fed cheddar
so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today, and put it in a gallon
zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is already not so "fluffy".

Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they use
in food processing?

Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
that's what I'm looking for.

Thanks in advance.

-S-

On Oct 18, 12:54*pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it "fluffy?"
> My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my grass-fed cheddar
> so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today, and put it in a gallon
> zip-top bag in the refrigerator. *Mine is already not so "fluffy".
>
> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they use
> in food processing?
>
> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
> that's what I'm looking for.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -S-

What made you grate the whole block?

Chemo wrote:
> On Oct 18, 12:54 pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
>> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
>> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
>> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
>> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is
>> already not so "fluffy".
>>
>> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
>> use in food processing?
>>
>> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
>> that's what I'm looking for.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> -S-
>
> What made you grate the whole block?

She said she wanted me to buy a bag of grated cheese - she wants it
there, grated, when she cooks. My wife does most of the cooking, I do
most of the shopping. I wanted _not_ to buy a pre-grated bag of
cheese - too expensive, and not the grass-fed cheddar I like, thus my
attempt to mimick packaged grated cheese. Mind you, she commutes to a
full-time job and I work from home most of the time - I really
appreciate that she's willing to do most of the cooking and want to
accomodate her request as best I'm able while still trying to keep the
better quality, less expensive food item if I can. It took my all of 5
minutes to grate that much cheese - might even be a way to do it in the
food processor for all I know.

-S-

On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:21:36 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
wrote:

>Chemo wrote:
>> On Oct 18, 12:54 pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
>>> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
>>> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
>>> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
>>> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is
>>> already not so "fluffy".
>>>
>>> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
>>> use in food processing?
>>>
>>> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
>>> that's what I'm looking for.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>>
>>> -S-
>>
>> What made you grate the whole block?
>
>She said she wanted me to buy a bag of grated cheese - she wants it
>there, grated, when she cooks. My wife does most of the cooking, I do
>most of the shopping. I wanted _not_ to buy a pre-grated bag of
>cheese - too expensive, and not the grass-fed cheddar I like, thus my
>attempt to mimick packaged grated cheese. Mind you, she commutes to a
>full-time job and I work from home most of the time - I really
>appreciate that she's willing to do most of the cooking and want to
>accomodate her request as best I'm able while still trying to keep the
>better quality, less expensive food item if I can. It took my all of 5
>minutes to grate that much cheese - might even be a way to do it in the
>food processor for all I know.

Where do you find grating cheddar cheese... I've never seen dried
cheddar in blocks, in fact I've never seen pre-grated cheddar, only
cheddar powder like comes with mac n' cheese. Perhaps you're talking
shredded cheddar... that's easy to find and freezes well, and that's
what normal folks use for cooking.

On Oct 18, 3:33*pm, Brooklyn1 <Gravesend1> wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 16:21:36 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> >Chemo wrote:
> >> On Oct 18, 12:54 pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
> >>> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
> >>> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
> >>> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
> >>> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is
> >>> already not so "fluffy".
>
> >>> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
> >>> use in food processing?
>
> >>> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
> >>> that's what I'm looking for.
>
> >>> Thanks in advance.
>
> >>> -S-
>
> >> What made you grate the whole block?
>
> >She said she wanted me to buy a bag of grated cheese - she wants it
> >there, grated, when she cooks. *My wife does most of the cooking, I do
> >most of the shopping. *I wanted _not_ to buy a pre-grated bag of
> >cheese - too expensive, and not the grass-fed cheddar I like, thus my
> >attempt to mimick packaged grated cheese. *Mind you, she commutes to a
> >full-time job and I work from home most of the time - I really
> >appreciate that she's willing to do most of the cooking and want to
> >accomodate her request as best I'm able while still trying to keep the
> >better quality, less expensive food item if I can. *It took my all of 5
> >minutes to grate that much cheese - might even be a way to do it in the
> >food processor for all I know.
>
> Where do you find grating cheddar cheese... I've never seen dried
> cheddar in blocks, in fact I've never seen pre-grated cheddar, only
> cheddar powder like comes with mac n' cheese. *Perhaps you're talking
> shredded cheddar... that's easy to find and freezes well, and that's
> what normal folks use for cooking.

Yes I have several bags of pre-grated cheddar n my deep-freeze in the
basement, I didn't know what the hell dried cheddar blocks were,
either.

On Oct 18, 1:21*pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
> Chemo wrote:
> > On Oct 18, 12:54 pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
> >> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
> >> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
> >> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
> >> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is
> >> already not so "fluffy".
>
> >> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
> >> use in food processing?
>
> >> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
> >> that's what I'm looking for.
>
> >> Thanks in advance.
>
> >> -S-
>
> > What made you grate the whole block?
>
> She said she wanted me to buy a bag of grated cheese - she wants it
> there, grated, when she cooks. *My wife does most of the cooking, I do
> most of the shopping. *I wanted _not_ to buy a pre-grated bag of
> cheese - too expensive, and not the grass-fed cheddar I like, thus my
> attempt to mimick packaged grated cheese. *Mind you, she commutes to a
> full-time job and I work from home most of the time - I really
> appreciate that she's willing to do most of the cooking and want to
> accomodate her request as best I'm able while still trying to keep the
> better quality, less expensive food item if I can. *It took my all of 5
> minutes to grate that much cheese - might even be a way to do it in the
> food processor for all I know.
>
> -S-

I've never had luck using the prosessor to grate cheese...always seems
to just gum it all up. you could always just grate however much she
want at the time she wants it.

Steve Freides wrote:

> > What made you grate the whole block?
>
> She said she wanted me to buy a bag of grated cheese - she wants it
> there, grated, when she cooks. My wife does most of the cooking, I do
> most of the shopping.

You chose the wrong solution, IMO. You should volunteer to grate the
cheese for her on demand.

Sometimes you can sub sliced cheese for grated. Whatever irrational
objection she has to grating may not impede her from slicing.

George M. Middius wrote:
> Steve Freides wrote:
>
>>> What made you grate the whole block?
>>
>> She said she wanted me to buy a bag of grated cheese - she wants it
>> there, grated, when she cooks. My wife does most of the cooking, I
>> do most of the shopping.
>
> You chose the wrong solution, IMO. You should volunteer to grate the
> cheese for her on demand.

See my other reply - our schedules don't allow it. She's generally
making dinner while I'm teaching from 3 to 6 PM. Or look at it another
way - that's exactly what I did, grated cheese at 1 PM so she could cook
with it at 5 PM.

> Sometimes you can sub sliced cheese for grated. Whatever irrational
> objection she has to grating may not impede her from slicing.

Well, last night, she pronounced my pre-grated cheese a success, even
without anything to keep it from clumping. We'll see how it holds up in
the 'fridge - if it's good enough then I won't do anything else other
than keep ahead of the curve on this one.

-S-

"Steve Freides" > wrote in message
...
> George M. Middius wrote:
>> Steve Freides wrote:
>>
>>>> What made you grate the whole block?
>>>
>>> She said she wanted me to buy a bag of grated cheese - she wants it
>>> there, grated, when she cooks. My wife does most of the cooking, I
>>> do most of the shopping.
>>
>> You chose the wrong solution, IMO. You should volunteer to grate the
>> cheese for her on demand.
>
> See my other reply - our schedules don't allow it. She's generally making
> dinner while I'm teaching from 3 to 6 PM. Or look at it another way -
> that's exactly what I did, grated cheese at 1 PM so she could cook with it
> at 5 PM.
>
>> Sometimes you can sub sliced cheese for grated. Whatever irrational
>> objection she has to grating may not impede her from slicing.
>
> Well, last night, she pronounced my pre-grated cheese a success, even
> without anything to keep it from clumping. We'll see how it holds up in
> the 'fridge - if it's good enough then I won't do anything else other than
> keep ahead of the curve on this one.

Lucky lady)
--
--

http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

On 18/10/2012 3:54 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it "fluffy?"
> My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my grass-fed cheddar
> so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today, and put it in a gallon
> zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is already not so "fluffy".
>
>

Why? Seriously, why would you grate an entire block of a premium cheese
and then have to worry about storing it if you could just grate it as
you need it?

On Oct 18, 2:54*pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it "fluffy?"
> My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my grass-fed cheddar
> so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today, and put it in a gallon
> zip-top bag in the refrigerator. *Mine is already not so "fluffy".
>
> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they use
> in food processing?
>
> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
> that's what I'm looking for.
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> -S-

Glad real people have real problems. LOL

On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 23:03:20 -0700 (PDT), projectile vomit chick
> wrote:

>On Oct 18, 2:54*pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
>> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it "fluffy?"
>> My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my grass-fed cheddar
>> so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today, and put it in a gallon
>> zip-top bag in the refrigerator. *Mine is already not so "fluffy".
>>
>> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they use
>> in food processing?
>>
>> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
>> that's what I'm looking for.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> -S-
>
>Glad real people have real problems. LOL

There's no problem... if his wife needs special processed cheese all
she need do is skin his pecker back.

In article >
"Steve Freides" > writes:
>Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it "fluffy?"
>My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my grass-fed cheddar
>so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today, and put it in a gallon
>zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is already not so "fluffy".

Do not put it in a bag. Put it in a container that is large enough
that the cheese does not get smushed back together.

I shred a pound at a time so that it is ready to just use (and the
shredder only has to be washed occasionally). All but the last few
bits stay loose/fluffy. It would probably all be fine if I used a
slightly larger container.

The pound lasts us 5-10 days, depending on what the meals are (chili,
burritos, etc.).

I do not buy the bags of shredded cheddar because the stores I go
to do not have bagged shredded cheddar that is sharp enough. What
I can find may as well be colby.


--
Drew Lawson | "Look! A big distracting thing!"
| -- Crow T. Robot.
|

Drew Lawson wrote:
> In article >
> "Steve Freides" > writes:
>> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
>> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
>> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
>> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is
>> already not so "fluffy".
>
> Do not put it in a bag. Put it in a container that is large enough
> that the cheese does not get smushed back together.
>
> I shred a pound at a time so that it is ready to just use (and the
> shredder only has to be washed occasionally). All but the last few
> bits stay loose/fluffy. It would probably all be fine if I used a
> slightly larger container.
>
> The pound lasts us 5-10 days, depending on what the meals are (chili,
> burritos, etc.).
>
> I do not buy the bags of shredded cheddar because the stores I go
> to do not have bagged shredded cheddar that is sharp enough. What
> I can find may as well be colby.

Yes, those are my problems, too - the shredded stuff is too mild and
it's also part-skim and other things I don't care for.

The good news is that my wife said she prefered my grated cheese to the
stuff from the bag. She's been using a bit of shredded cheese in
hamburgers, mixing it directly with the ground meat before cooking, and
she did that again for dinner last night. (Grass-fed, locally raised
ground beef from Whole Foods.) The burgers tasted great to me.

-S-

On 2012-10-18, Steve Freides > wrote:
>
> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
> that's what I'm looking for.

The "real-world" answer is, grate it as you need it.

That's the whole point of "Home-Grated". Pre-grated cheese doesn't
store well. Dries out quicker and tends to stick together. That's
why even commercial name-brand grated cheeses use a some kinda starchy
powder to prevent sticking. Sargento brand uses something seemingly
as coarse as corned flour, or whatever the heck it is.

Bottom line, grate it right over yer food.

nb

--
Definition of objectivism:
"Eff you! I got mine."
http://www.nongmoproject.org/

"notbob" > wrote in message
...
> On 2012-10-18, Steve Freides > wrote:
>>
>> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
>> that's what I'm looking for.
>
> The "real-world" answer is, grate it as you need it.
>
> That's the whole point of "Home-Grated". Pre-grated cheese doesn't
> store well. Dries out quicker and tends to stick together. That's
> why even commercial name-brand grated cheeses use a some kinda starchy
> powder to prevent sticking. Sargento brand uses something seemingly
> as coarse as corned flour, or whatever the heck it is.
>
> Bottom line, grate it right over yer food.
>


There is a big difference between a commercial operation grating tons of
cheese, to be stored, transported, stored, transported, delivered to store,
sit on shelf, finally bought by consumer, transported, sit on shelf, finally
used, and the home user who pre-grates, stores, and uses in relatively short
order. Pre grate at home. Not much of a problem if it saves you time, or
you need to do for someone who can't grate on the fly (arthritis, anyone?)

On 10/18/12 3:54 PM, Steve Freides wrote:
> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it "fluffy?"
> My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my grass-fed cheddar
> so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today, and put it in a gallon
> zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is already not so "fluffy".
>
> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they use
> in food processing?

Cornstarch would do it, but she might not want cornstarch in whatever
she's making.

I'd separate the shredded cheese as is into 4 oz. (or other) increments,
put 'em in vacuum bags, and refrigerate or freeze. As firm as cheddar
is, if you pull it out at refrigerator temperature and use in your
recipe immediately, the shreds will separate very easily using one hand.

If you allow it to come to room temperature, it will be difficult to
un-clump.

--Larry

Sqwertz wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:54:05 -0400, Steve Freides wrote:
>
>> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
>> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
>> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
>> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is
>> already not so "fluffy".
>>
>> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
>> use in food processing?
>>
>> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
>> that's what I'm looking for.
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>
> Also, here's a decent article worth reading:
>
> <http://powderedcellulose.com/wp-content/themes/agency-sweetener-supply-pc/images/anti-caking-cheese-industry.pdf>
>
> -sw

An interesting article, I agree. I wonder if this would work?

http://www.amazon.com/Alaven-Unifibe.../dp/B001UNTV6K

Looks like the right thing - not sure why it says it's for laxatives - a
small amount in my grated cheese seems worth a try.

As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want to
have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons for
most of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner time
are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this for her -
and she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is
in the 'fridge.

-S-

On Oct 18, 2:12*pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
> Sqwertz wrote:
> > On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:54:05 -0400, Steve Freides wrote:
>
> >> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
> >> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
> >> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
> >> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. *Mine is
> >> already not so "fluffy".
>
> >> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
> >> use in food processing?
>
> >> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
> >> that's what I'm looking for.
>
> >> Thanks in advance.
>
> > Also, here's a decent article worth reading:
>
> > <http://powderedcellulose.com/wp-content/themes/agency-sweetener-suppl....>
>
> > -sw
>
> An interesting article, I agree. *I wonder if this would work?
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Alaven-Unifibe...e-Laxatives/dp...
>
> Looks like the right thing - not sure why it says it's for laxatives - a
> small amount in my grated cheese seems worth a try.
>
> As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want to
> have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons for
> most of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner time
> are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this for her -
> and she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
> give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is
> in the 'fridge.
>
> -S-

It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
anyway.

On 18/10/2012 5:21 PM, Chemo wrote:

>> As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want to
>> have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons for
>> most of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner time
>> are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this for her -
>> and she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
>> give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is
>> in the 'fridge.
>>
>> -S-
>
> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
> anyway.
>


I hope you will understand if I don't jump to the defense of someone who
can't take a few seconds to grate some cheese.

Dave Smith wrote:

> > It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
> > doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
> > anyway.

> I hope you will understand if I don't jump to the defense of someone who
> can't take a few seconds to grate some cheese.

Maybe Steve will tell us what the problem really is. It's clearly
something more profound than cheese.

George M. Middius wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
>
>>> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
>>> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
>>> anyway.
>
>> I hope you will understand if I don't jump to the defense of someone
>> who can't take a few seconds to grate some cheese.
>
> Maybe Steve will tell us what the problem really is. It's clearly
> something more profound than cheese.

I was just worried that the grated cheese would clump up if kept in the
'fridge for a while. First thing is to find out if that's true, so
we'll see the next time my wife or I tries to use it, which could be as
soon as this evening.

-S-

"George M. Middius" wrote:
>
> Dave Smith wrote:
>
> > > It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
> > > doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
> > > anyway.
>
> > I hope you will understand if I don't jump to the defense of someone who
> > can't take a few seconds to grate some cheese.
>
> Maybe Steve will tell us what the problem really is. It's clearly
> something more profound than cheese.

Probably no sex unless he buys her frozen grated cheese. heheh

G.

On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:21:29 -0700 (PDT), Chemo
> wrote:

> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
> anyway.

She asked for grated cheese, but he bought a block instead and she
*doesn't want* to grate cheese. What can't you understand about that?

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

On 18/10/2012 9:56 PM, sf wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:21:29 -0700 (PDT), Chemo
> > wrote:
>
>> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
>> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
>> anyway.
>
> She asked for grated cheese, but he bought a block instead and she
> *doesn't want* to grate cheese. What can't you understand about that?
>
He is eating the same groceries. It would seem that he prefers a
better quality cheese.... and she is lazy.

On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 22:22:55 -0400, Dave Smith
> wrote:

> He is eating the same groceries. It would seem that he prefers a
> better quality cheese.... and she is lazy.

Then he can cook whatever it is that requires cheese.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

Dave Smith wrote:
> On 18/10/2012 9:56 PM, sf wrote:
>> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:21:29 -0700 (PDT), Chemo
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
>>> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
>>> anyway.
>>
>> She asked for grated cheese, but he bought a block instead and she
>> *doesn't want* to grate cheese. What can't you understand about
>> that?
> He is eating the same groceries. It would seem that he prefers a
> better quality cheese.... and she is lazy.

No, busy. We both work a lot, we both volunteer a lot, and you get the
idea, I hope. If I thought she was lazy, Id' be the first person to
tell her.

-S-

Dave Smith wrote:

> He is eating the same groceries. It would seem that he prefers a
> better quality cheese.... and she is lazy.

Maybe she's conditioned to avoid dangerous, knuckle-scraping graters.
Once you scrape your knuckles the first time, you either learn to use
the grater or you swear it off forevermore.

"sf" > wrote in message
...
> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:21:29 -0700 (PDT), Chemo
> > wrote:
>
>> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
>> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
>> anyway.
>
> She asked for grated cheese, but he bought a block instead and she
> *doesn't want* to grate cheese. What can't you understand about that?

I don't like to grate it either. I don't mind if it is a very good cheese
like Parmesano Reggiano. But that is also a hard cheese and it doesn't make
a mess of the grater. Cheddar and other softer cheeses can leave a mess on
the grater and it's not fun to clean. And then you have all those grate
marks on the end of your cheese.

sf wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:21:29 -0700 (PDT), Chemo
> > wrote:
>
>> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
>> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
>> anyway.
>
> She asked for grated cheese, but he bought a block instead and she
> *doesn't want* to grate cheese. What can't you understand about that?

Thank you.

-S-

Steve Freides wrote:

> > She asked for grated cheese, but he bought a block instead and she
> > *doesn't want* to grate cheese. What can't you understand about that?
>
> Thank you.

How long have you two had this debilitating communication problem?

On Oct 18, 4:21*pm, Chemo > wrote:
> On Oct 18, 2:12*pm, "Steve Freides" > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Sqwertz wrote:
> > > On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:54:05 -0400, Steve Freides wrote:
>
> > >> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
> > >> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
> > >> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
> > >> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. *Mine is
> > >> already not so "fluffy".
>
> > >> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
> > >> use in food processing?
>
> > >> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
> > >> that's what I'm looking for.
>
> > >> Thanks in advance.
>
> > > Also, here's a decent article worth reading:
>
> > > <http://powderedcellulose.com/wp-content/themes/agency-sweetener-suppl...>
>
> > > -sw
>
> > An interesting article, I agree. *I wonder if this would work?
>
> >http://www.amazon.com/Alaven-Unifibe...e-Laxatives/dp...
>
> > Looks like the right thing - not sure why it says it's for laxatives - a
> > small amount in my grated cheese seems worth a try.
>
> > As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want to
> > have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons for
> > most of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner time
> > are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this for her -
> > and she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
> > give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is
> > in the 'fridge.
>
> > -S-
>
> It takes seconds to grate/shred cheese. I can't understand why she
> doesn't want to do it...afterall, she's in the kitchen making dinner
> anyway.

Perhaps he/she/it is cooking for Julie.

Steve Freides wrote:
>
> As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want to
> have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons for
> most of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner time
> are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this for her -
> and she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
> give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is
> in the 'fridge.

Steve, in your unique situation I would suggest two ways to go.

1) just buy the shredded cheese (it's not all that bad)

2) If she has a clue to how much she will need, shred your good cheese
before you do the music lessons. Put a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet,
shred it all over, then put in freezer until she cooks. That short time in
the freezer uncovered won't hurt it.

G.

On Oct 18, 3:14*pm, Gary > wrote:
> Steve Freides wrote:
>
> > As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want to
> > have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons for
> > most of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner time
> > are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this for her -
> > and she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
> > give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is
> > in the 'fridge.
>
> Steve, in your unique situation I would suggest two ways to go.
>
> 1) just buy the shredded cheese (it's not all that bad)
>
> 2) If she has a clue to how much she will need, shred your good cheese
> before you do the music lessons. Put a piece of wax paper on a cookie sheet,
> shred it all over, then put in freezer until she cooks. *That short time in
> the freezer uncovered won't hurt it.
>
> G.

They should just get a butler.

Chemo wrote:
> On Oct 18, 3:14 pm, Gary > wrote:
>> Steve Freides wrote:
>>
>>> As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want
>>> to have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons
>>> for most of my living, the hours between when school ends and
>>> dinner time are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to
>>> do this for her - and she never knows how much she'll want, so the
>>> solution has to be to give her what she's asking for, a bag of
>>> grated cheese she can know is in the 'fridge.
>>
>> Steve, in your unique situation I would suggest two ways to go.
>>
>> 1) just buy the shredded cheese (it's not all that bad)
>>
>> 2) If she has a clue to how much she will need, shred your good
>> cheese before you do the music lessons. Put a piece of wax paper on
>> a cookie sheet, shred it all over, then put in freezer until she
>> cooks. That short time in the freezer uncovered won't hurt it.
>>
>> G.
>
> They should just get a butler.

Now _that_ is a fine idea.

-S-

On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:12:43 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
wrote:

> she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
> give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is
> in the 'fridge.

Not sure why fluffiness matters (compare them sometime and you might
find the commercial grated cheese is thicker and a slightly different
shape from yours), but you'll need some preservatives because
refrigerated grated cheese goes moldy pretty fast. I'd store it in
the freezer and not care if it's fluffy or not.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

sf wrote:
> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 17:12:43 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
> wrote:
>
>> she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to
>> give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know
>> is in the 'fridge.
>
> Not sure why fluffiness matters (compare them sometime and you might
> find the commercial grated cheese is thicker and a slightly different
> shape from yours), but you'll need some preservatives because
> refrigerated grated cheese goes moldy pretty fast. I'd store it in
> the freezer and not care if it's fluffy or not.

The experiment is ongoing - the cheese was grated yesterday afternoon,
some of it was used a few hours later, and the rest is still in a single
plastic bag. We'll see what it's like the next time she want it, likely
today or tomorrow.

-S-

On Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:35:28 -0400, "Steve Freides" >
wrote:

> We'll see what it's like the next time she want it, likely
> today or tomorrow.

It should be fine if she uses it that quickly.

--
I take life with a grain of salt, a slice of lemon and a shot of tequila

"Steve Freides" > wrote in message
...
> Sqwertz wrote:
>> On Thu, 18 Oct 2012 15:54:05 -0400, Steve Freides wrote:
>>
>>> Anything one can add to home-grated sharp cheddar to keep it
>>> "fluffy?" My wife likes store-bought grated cheese, I prefer my
>>> grass-fed cheddar so I grated an entire block, wasn't much, today,
>>> and put it in a gallon zip-top bag in the refrigerator. Mine is
>>> already not so "fluffy".
>>>
>>> Cornstrach, flour, some sort of OK-but-sounds-terrible chemical they
>>> use in food processing?
>>>
>>> Guesses are fine, but if someone actually has a real-world answer,
>>> that's what I'm looking for.
>>>
>>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> Also, here's a decent article worth reading:
>>
>> <http://powderedcellulose.com/wp-content/themes/agency-sweetener-supply-pc/images/anti-caking-cheese-industry.pdf>
>>
>> -sw
>
> An interesting article, I agree. I wonder if this would work?
>
> http://www.amazon.com/Alaven-Unifibe.../dp/B001UNTV6K
>
> Looks like the right thing - not sure why it says it's for laxatives - a
> small amount in my grated cheese seems worth a try.
>
> As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want to
> have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons for most
> of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner time are my
> main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this for her - and she
> never knows how much she'll want, so the solution has to be to give her
> what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese she can know is in the
> 'fridge.

A small shredder might better. At least you won't have the storage
problems.

http://www.lakeland.co.uk/15063/I-Ca...-Measuring-Jug

You can even buy electric ones.

--
--

http://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Ophelia wrote:

>> As to why pre-shred, it's all about schedule - my wife doesn't want
>> to have to grate/shred the cheese, and because I give music lessons
>> for most of my living, the hours between when school ends and dinner
>> time are my main teaching time and I'm thus unavailable to do this
>> for her - and she never knows how much she'll want, so the solution
>> has to be to give her what she's asking for, a bag of grated cheese
>> she can know is in the 'fridge.
>
> A small shredder might better. At least you won't have the storage
> problems.
>
> http://www.lakeland.co.uk/15063/I-Ca...-Measuring-Jug
>
> You can even buy electric ones.

From what I gather, those work best on hard cheeses - not sure they'd
work with cheddar. Anyone care to comment?

This is the kind I used, albeit without the nice collection container at
the bottom:

http://www.chefcentral.com/product/g...ter-black.html

I just used it on a kitchen counter and picked up the cheese by the
handful to put into the plastic bag.

-S-