For cheese aficionados, having the right tools can transform the cheese-eating experience. Each tool plays a specific role in handling, serving, and enjoying different types of cheese. Here’s a detailed look at the essential
Cheese Tools that every cheese lover should have in their kitchen or cheese board setup.
1. Cheese Knife
A cheese knife is an indispensable tool, designed specifically for cutting and serving cheese. Different types of cheese knives cater to various cheese textures:
Soft Cheese Knife: This knife features a thin, flexible blade with a forked tip. It is perfect for cutting soft cheeses like Brie or Camembert, which can be messy if handled with a regular knife. The forked tip helps pick up and serve pieces without them sticking to the blade.
Hard Cheese Knife: With a sturdier blade and often a serrated edge, this knife is designed to handle harder cheeses such as Parmesan and aged Cheddar. The robustness of the blade allows for clean cuts without crumbling the cheese.
Wire Cheese Cutter: Ideal for semi-soft and semi-hard cheeses, this tool uses a fine wire to slice through the cheese. It allows for uniform slices and is especially useful for cutting cheeses like Gouda or Havarti.
Cheese graters are essential for shredding cheese into fine, medium, or coarse textures depending on your culinary needs:
Box Grater: Typically made of stainless steel, a box grater features multiple sides with different grating surfaces. Each side has a different type of grate, including fine, medium, and coarse options. This versatility makes it a valuable tool for preparing cheese for a variety of dishes.
Microplane Grater: Known for its sharp, fine blades, the microplane grater is ideal for grating hard cheeses like Parmesan into delicate shavings. Its design ensures that the cheese is grated finely and evenly.
Rotary Grater: This grater comes with a rotating drum and is perfect for grating large quantities of cheese quickly. The drum design allows for easy and efficient grating, making it suitable for both hard and semi-hard cheeses.
3. Cheese Spreader
A cheese spreader is used to serve and spread soft cheeses and spreads. The design and functionality of cheese spreaders include:
Flat Blade Spreader: This tool features a flat, wide blade ideal for spreading cheese evenly on crackers or bread. It is perfect for cheese spreads, cream cheeses, and pâtés.
Curved Blade Spreader: With a curved, serrated edge, this spreader helps scoop cheese from containers and spread it smoothly. It’s useful for cheese dips and soft, spreadable cheeses.
4. Cheese Plane
A cheese plane is a tool for slicing thin, even pieces of cheese from a block. It is particularly useful for:
Thin Slicing: The adjustable blade allows you to cut cheese into slices of varying thickness, which is ideal for semi-hard cheeses like Swiss or Gouda.
Consistent Results: The plane ensures that each slice is uniform, making it easier to manage portions and presentation.
5. Cheese Slicer
Cheese slicers feature a wire or blade mechanism to cut uniform slices from a block of cheese:
Manual Cheese Slicer: This tool uses a wire or a flat blade to slice through cheese. It is effective for semi-hard to hard cheeses and offers control over slice thickness.
Electric Cheese Slicer: For those who frequently slice cheese, an electric slicer can save time and effort. It provides consistent slices and is ideal for high-volume slicing.
6. Cheese Board
A cheese board is an essential piece for serving cheese and presenting it attractively:
Materials: Cheese boards can be made from wood, marble, or slate. Wooden boards add a rustic touch, marble and slate offer a sleek look, and each material has its own benefits for keeping cheese at the right temperature.
Features: Some cheese boards come with built-in knives and tools, and others have designated sections for different cheese types. A good cheese board enhances the presentation and makes serving cheese more organized.
7. Cheese Shaver
A cheese shaver is used to create thin shavings of hard cheeses:
Design: It typically features a sharp, angled blade that allows you to slice delicate shavings of cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano.
Applications: The shavings can be used as garnishes or added to dishes for extra flavor and texture.
8. Cheese Dome
A cheese dome helps preserve cheese and keep it fresh while allowing it to breathe:
Material: Cheese domes are usually made from glass or acrylic. The transparent design allows you to see the cheese while keeping it protected.
Functionality: The dome covers the cheese on a cheese board, preventing it from drying out and maintaining its texture and flavor.
9. Cheese Knife Set
A cheese knife set includes a variety of knives and tools tailored for different cheese types:
Contents: A typical set may include a soft cheese knife, hard cheese knife, and a cheese fork for serving. Some sets also include specialized knives for slicing or spreading.
Benefits: Having a complete set ensures that you have the right tool for every type of cheese, improving both the preparation and enjoyment of cheese.
10. Cheese Fondue Forks
For cheese fondue enthusiasts, a set of fondue forks is essential:
Design: These forks are long and often color-coded to help guests identify their own forks during fondue parties. The long handles keep hands away from the hot cheese.
Usage: They are used for dipping bread, vegetables, or other items into melted cheese, ensuring that everyone can enjoy the fondue experience.
Summary
Equipped with these essential cheese tools, you can enhance your cheese enjoyment and presentation. Each tool plays a specific role, from cutting and grating to serving and preserving, ensuring that you can handle various cheeses with ease. Investing in quality cheese tools not only makes cheese preparation more efficient but also adds a touch of sophistication to your cheese-related activities. Whether you’re hosting a cheese-tasting event or simply enjoying cheese at home, these tools will help you savor every bite to the fullest.
