What Is Cheese and How Can I Use It?

Cheese rewards a little know-how: how to choose it, cook it, store it, and substitute in a pinch. Browse 557 recipes to cook with it.

What is cheese?

Cheese is one of the most useful ingredients in the kitchen. It adds richness, salt, and umami to many dishes. Different cheeses behave very differently when heated. Understanding their melting properties matters for good results.

How to use it

Hard cheeses like parmesan and pecorino are best grated or shaved. They add sharp, nutty flavor without melting into strings. Soft cheeses like mozzarella and fontina melt beautifully. They are ideal for pizza, lasagna, and grilled cheese.

When melting cheese, lower heat is almost always better. High heat causes the proteins to seize. The fat separates and creates a greasy mess. Add cheese off the heat or at the very end of cooking for the smoothest texture.

Overheating is the most common reason cheese turns stringy or oily. This happens often in sauces and baked dishes. Lower heat prevents this problem.

Cooking & pairing

Cheese pairs well with fruit, nuts, bread, and wine. Blue cheese loves sweet elements like honey or dried fruit. These balance its sharpness. Fresh cheeses like ricotta and goat cheese work beautifully with herbs, olive oil, and bright vegetables.

A common mistake is adding too much cheese too early in a sauce. It can break or become grainy. Stir it in gradually over low heat. Remove the pan from the burner as soon as it melts.

Aged cheeses bring deeper flavor to gratins and baked dishes. Fresh cheeses add creaminess to fillings and spreads. Stronger cheeses can overpower delicate dishes. Milder cheeses work better when you want the other ingredients to shine.

The right cheese can turn a simple dish into something memorable. Pairing cheese with the right accompaniments brings out its best qualities. This creates balance in the final dish.

Substitutes

When a recipe calls for a specific cheese, the best swap depends on what the cheese is doing. For melting, mozzarella can stand in for provolone or fontina. For grating, parmesan can be replaced with pecorino or aged gouda. The flavor will be milder though.

Cream cheese can substitute for ricotta in some baked dishes. The texture will be denser. When in doubt, match the cheese by its role. Do not try to replicate the exact flavor. The role matters more than the name.

Substituting based on function rather than flavor usually produces better results. This approach avoids disappointment in the final dish.

Buying & storage

Buy cheese from a shop that cuts it to order when possible. Pre-packaged cheese often has a longer shelf life. It usually has less flavor though. Hard cheeses last longer than soft ones. Wrap them in cheese paper or parchment. Then add a layer of plastic wrap.

Store them in the cheese drawer or the warmest part of the fridge. Avoid wrapping cheese in plastic wrap alone. It traps moisture and encourages mold. For longer storage, hard cheeses can be frozen. The texture may change slightly upon thawing though.

Avoid buying cheese that looks dry or cracked on the surface. These signs indicate the cheese is past its prime. Fresh cheese should look moist and full of character. The smell should be pleasant and characteristic of the cheese type.

Proper storage preserves both flavor and texture far longer than most people expect. This simple step makes a big difference in quality.

Nutrition

Where found

Cheese is usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group

Cheese is a member of the Dairy and Egg Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

How much does cheese weigh?

Related

Dairy and Egg Products

In Chinese:

奶酪

British (UK) term:

Cheese

en français:

du fromage

en español:

queso

Recipes using cheese

There are 557 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Cheeseburgers

Microwave cheeseburgers brown ground beef patties with a quick bouquet sauce wash, then melt cheese on a soft bun in minutes. A retro 70s-style fast burger for when the stove is busy.

Refried Beans & Cheese Bread

This bread can either accompany or replace the Southwestem breakfast staple of refried beans topped with cheese or wrapped in a flour tortilla.

Chicken & Bean Enchiladas

Easy chicken and bean enchiladas rolled in corn tortillas with hearty baked beans, picante sauce, and melted cheese. A 5-ingredient Mexican-inspired dinner baked in 30 minutes for a warm, saucy, family-friendly meal any night of the week.

Mama's Marinara Sauce

Simple homemade marinara sauce with fresh tomatoes, canned tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and torn basil. Simmers in 30 minutes for a rustic Italian pasta sauce.

Peter's Cream of Pumpkin Soup

Cream of pumpkin soup with fresh or canned pumpkin pureed with onions, celery, garlic, and thyme, finished with cottage cheese for silky body. Lighter take on a Thanksgiving classic.

Mom's Cheese Biscuits

Mom's cheese biscuits, drop biscuits made with grated cheddar, buttermilk, and vegetable oil instead of butter. Tender Southern-style biscuits with golden cheese-flecked crusts, served with white gravy.

Nancy's Fabulous Muffaletta Sandwiches

New Orleans muffaletta: a round Italian loaf piled with salami, mortadella, prosciutto, and provolone, soaked with a briny green olive salad. The classic Sicilian-Creole deli sandwich, made for sharing.

Yummy Cheese Muffins (Healthier Version)

100% whole wheat flour, roasted bell pepper, scallions, and olive oil together make these muffins a much healthier snack, and still taste cheesy and delicious.

Bev's Meatballs

Try something new when it comes to meatballs with this tasty recipe that uses mushrooms, cheese and oregano.

Burgers Santa Fe

Santa Fe burgers with cheese, salsa, crushed tortilla chips, and cumin mixed right into the patty, then topped with more salsa and cheese. Southwestern grilled burgers with serious flavor built in.

Spaghetti Alla Puttanesca

Bold, briny spaghetti alla puttanesca with San Marzano tomatoes, capers, black olives, and anchovies tossed in garlicky olive oil. This quick Italian pasta dish hits the table in 40 minutes with layers of salty, savory depth in every forkful.

Carol's Moosewood Vegetarian Chili

Moosewood-style vegetarian chili with kidney beans, bulgur wheat, fresh tomatoes, peppers, and a warm chili-cumin spice mix. A hearty, protein-rich plant-based main from the iconic Ithaca cookbook tradition.

Egg & Spinach Casserole

Layered egg and spinach casserole baked with crispy corn tortillas, smoky bacon, tomatoes, and melted cheese. A satisfying brunch casserole or easy weeknight dinner ready in about an hour with warm, savory, south-of-the-border flavors.

Moussaka I

Classic Greek moussaka with layers of browned eggplant, seasoned ground beef with red wine and cinnamon, and a rich bechamel sauce baked until golden and bubbling. A hearty Mediterranean casserole that serves 10.

Moussaka I

Classic Greek moussaka with layers of browned eggplant, seasoned ground beef with red wine and cinnamon, and a rich bechamel sauce baked until golden and bubbling. A hearty Mediterranean casserole that serves 10.

Scrambled Eggs - Low Fat

Try something new for breakfast with this scrumptious dish made with cheese and chopped mushrooms.

Master Frittata-Frittata DIY

An easy and tasty frittata. It's also a great way to use up your leftover vegetables from the day before to make a delicious breakfast. It's very versatile, you can pretty much add any veggies or cooked chicken, or seafood, etc...

Chicken Avocado Melt

Cornmeal-crusted chicken breasts topped with creamy avocado slices, melted cheese, and cool sour cream. This baked chicken avocado melt uses cumin and garlic salt for a Southwestern kick and takes just 45 minutes from start to table.

Jamon Jibarito

A Jibarito is a Puerto Rican sandwich popular in Chicago. This is my adaptation of Jeff "Sandwich King" Mauro's recipe.

Easy Crescent Vegetable Pizza

This easy crescent roll vegetable pizza is a favorite go-to for potlucks, showers, or wherever there's a hungry crowd. Use leftover veggies or your lastest garden harvest for toppings.

Chicken Caesar

A delicious, filling and well balanced chicken caesar salad satisfies everyone at the dinner table.

Mom's Taco Casserole

Easy taco casserole with seasoned ground beef, tomato sauce, and tortilla chips baked under melted cheese. Six ingredients and 30 minutes start to finish.

Halloween Ghost Toast in Tomato soup

Try something different for your kids at Halloween, this hearty healthy tomato soup served with ghost toast, kids love this creation!

Fried Ham & Cheese Sandwiches

Try this scrumptious, quick and easy ham with cheese sandwiches as breakfast or lunch!

Creamy Baked Potato Soup with Bacon & Cheddar

Creamy Baked Potato Soup with Bacon and Cheddar recipe

All 557 recipes