Why grate your own cheese

It also keeps shredded cheese from clumping. Even though these fibers are claimed to be harmless, they add unnecessary carbohydrates to shredded cheese.

Okay, okay… Some of you may think of this as a negative. But, in my book, small bits of activity and exercise can make a difference in my overall health. Free and spontaneous arm workout—Sign me up! Home-grated cheese beats pre-shredded cheese, hands down. And with a little pre-planning and freezing , you CAN have the same convenience with fresh-grated cheese.

Have you ever added pre shredded cheese to a recipe and it turns into a clumpy mess? This could be part of the problem. Do you see the smooth and velvety texture of this Creamy Saffron Parmigiano Sauce? I used freshly grated cheese to ensure the cheese would melt into the cream properly to create a luxurious sauce that coats the pasta like a dream. Grating your own cheese from a block of cheese is definitely cheaper than having it pre-shredded. Minimal time with maximum benefits.

Enough said. I value my time! If I am grating my own cheese I still want a way to make it worth it in the long run. Welp — let me tell you my top three answers to that question. Grating your own cheese may seem like a labor-intensive job when you can simply grab a bag of the pre-shredded stuff at the store, but I am going to share with you why you should re-think it.

How could it not? Here is a side by side view of the same brand of medium cheddar cheese. The left is bought shredded in the package, the right is had shredded. Unless you really look, you might not think much of it. Now zoom in a bit. See that white coating? That is the preservative that is on the cheese to keep it from sticking together.

Not only do those preservatives and additives to that bagged shredded cheese help to keep it from sticking together, but the added starches also inhibit the cheese from that creamier, smoother melt you get when you shred your own from a block of cheese.

T he shredded stuff actually costs more. Freshly grated cheese also opens up the world of possibility for types of cheeses you can use.

Pre-shredded cheese just tends to come in only a few options. When you think that there are over kinds of Swiss cheese alone? Finally, those preservatives that add in extra moisture to keep fresh hinder the flavor. Before you go, pin this post to your favorite Pinterest board so you can find it quickly!

Like anything premade, in order to keep the cheese fresh and from clumping together, it will contain extra chemicals and preservatives that a whole block of cheddar, for example, wouldn't have. This isn't just us looking out for your health, though. The additives like potato starch and other anti-clumping ingredients mean that your cheese will not melt nearly as smoothly as if you were to grate it yourself.