What Does Gouda Cheese Taste Like?
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What does gouda cheese taste like? This question might be your issue now if you don’t have any idea about this fabulous cheese. Gouda cheese is an excellent type of cheese that is commonly used in a variety of delicious dishes.
There are many kinds of cheese throughout the world, but one of the most impressive cheeses is gouda cheese. Of course, this fantastic cheese has a unique flavor and makes it different from other cheeses.
After reading this post, I believe that you have to buy gouda cheese immediately because of its versatile uses, distinctive flavors, and nutritional values. Keep reading since I will tell you everything you need to know about gouda cheese.
How Does Gouda Cheese Taste?
The taste of gouda cheese is quite remarkable. The longer it has been aged, the stronger and sharper flavor it gets. Young gouda cheese has a mild and slightly sweet taste. The texture of gouda cheese can be hard, semi-hard, or soft, depending on its age.
When gouda cheese is aged for longer, you will find a buttery and nutty taste while eating it. Moreover, the texture and color of aged gouda cheese also become harder and darker.
Sometimes, you will find that the flavor of different gouda cheese might not be the same since the process of making gouda cheese can alter the ingredients, making its taste change a little bit.
Gouda Cheese And Its Various Uses In Culinary World
Gouda cheese is one of the most famous cheeses globally, although you haven’t tried it or heard about it yet. The origin of gouda cheese is in the Netherlands, but it is prevalent in various countries, and you can easily find young gouda cheese in most grocery stores.
The key ingredient to make gouda cheese is cow’s milk. The finished products often have eyes or holes with bright yellow appearance and semi-hard texture. This old type of cheese has a long aging process, up to approximately 36 months.
It is the perfect combination when consuming gouda cheese with bread, sandwiches, or crackers. The soft texture of gouda cheese will balance the hard texture of bread and sandwiches. In addition, gouda cheese also helps to enhance the flavor of these goods.
You can also eat gouda cheese alone to enjoy the best flavor, or you can serve with some wine if you want. Besides, aged gouda cheese is also a critical ingredient in various dishes, for example, Mac and cheese.
Nutritional Values Of Gouda Cheese
Gouda cheese will surprise you with its incredible nutrients. Can you guess what benefits gouda cheese can bring to your body? Gouda cheese provides excellent nutritional benefits for your health. It is an excellent source of calcium, vitamins, minerals, protein, and fat.(1)
The outstanding amount of calcium from gouda cheese can help to improve your bone health. In addition, gouda cheese contains vitamin K2, which is formed during bacterial fermentation. The health benefits of vitamin K2 are still controversial, but it is undoubtedly good for your body.(2)
Moreover, gouda cheese also consists of omega-3 fatty acids, which can enhance your cardiovascular health. Now you know all the fantastic health benefits of gouda cheese, why not add it to your everyday meals?
The Different Types Of Gouda Cheese
There is significant diversity in the types of gouda cheese. If you love classic flavors, you can try a fenugreek-infused gouda, a cumin-rubbed gouda, or a smoked gouda. If you want a new experience, you can try a bacon-filled gouda.
These gouda cheeses are classified based on the flavors. On the other hand, gouda cheese can also be classified according to their ages.(3) Look at the table below to know the differences between their ages.
| Types of gouda cheese | Age |
| Young gouda | 4 weeks |
| Young matured gouda | 8 – 10 weeks |
| Matured gouda | 16 – 18 weeks |
| Extra matured gouda | 7 – 8 months |
| Fully matured gouda | 10 – 12 months |
| Very aged gouda | Over 12 months |
A Detailed Description Of Gouda Cheese’s Flavor
Generally, gouda cheese is a mild cheese with nutty and sweet flavors. As you know, gouda cheese goes through a long aging process, so there are some differences in tastes between young gouda cheese and aged gouda cheese
Young gouda seems to have a mild sweetness, while aged gouda cheese tastes stronger and nuttier. Below is the comparison table between young gouda and aged gouda for you to follow easier.
Due to low water content, this is an advantage of aged cheese since bacteria grow in water. As a result, old cheese might limit bacterial infection.
However, you should not be subjective. Don’t store your old cheese under direct sun. It would be best if you kept your cheese in a dark place like in cellars. In this way, your aged cheese can be kept for months or even years.
In addition, one critical factor that makes the significant change in gouda’s taste relies on different types of gouda. Now I will show you what gouda cheese tastes like based on some kinds of gouda.
Besides its ages and types, there are some other factors affecting the flavor of gouda cheese. For instance, an important factor causing the change in its taste is geography.
Not only is gouda cheese common in the Netherlands, but it is also popular in many other countries. However, the taste of gouda cheese in different parts of the world will not be the same. Other countries might purchase gouda cheese with a similar flavor as its original taste.
In addition, a slight alteration in the process of making gouda cheese also makes its taste change. For example, cheesemakers can add an extra step to make the cheese taste sweeter.
This is an exact and detailed review on what gouda cheese tastes like that you expect to know.
How Can You Store Gouda Cheese?
Storing gouda cheese is easier than you may think. Right now, I will provide you with the best storage methods to ensure your cheese won’t go bad. The good news is that gouda cheese can be kept at room temperature and will last longer in the fridge, but take some notes below.
- At room temperature: Gouda cheese should be wrapped in parchment paper to have the best result. That’s because your gouda cheese can get air in parchment paper. You can also use a plastic bag to store gouda cheese, but remember not to seal it.
- In the refrigerator: Put your gouda cheese in the warmest area. In this way, your cheese can be kept for two to three weeks.
- In the freezer: It would help if you didn’t put gouda cheese in the freezer since you can make your cheese change its flavor or texture.
How To Tell If Your Gouda Cheese Is Bad?
It is pretty challenging to know a bad cheese, and gouda is not an exception. Bad young gouda cheese can be easier to recognize than a spoiled old gouda. If your young gouda tastes much stronger than usual gouda or you find any strange smell, you had better toss it away.
For old gouda cheese, it might be hard to tell if your cheese has gone bad since it is tough to find an odd smell besides its naturally strong taste. The only thing you can do is to look at its color. If your old cheese changes its color, you should consider discarding it to be safe.
In addition, you should also wonder which method and how long you have stored your old cheese to know whether it might be bad. If your aged cheese had been kept for a long time under the sun, you had better throw it away to ensure your safety.
Some Fantastic Recipes Using Gouda Cheese
Now you know everything about tremendous health benefits and the fantastic flavor of gouda cheese. I am sure that you will plan to add gouda cheese to your meals tonight or one day in the near future. Let me help you with some great recipes made from gouda cheese.
1. Apple Gouda Walnut Salad
Cubed gouda cheese is a wonderful ingredient in making salads. It will give your salad buttery and nutty flavors, resulting in a perfect and impressive dish. This recipe is a combination of cubed gouda cheese, apple, and toasted walnuts if you prefer.
You can season your salad with balsamic dressing to boost its flavor. This recipe will be an awesome dish for your meals. Try it as soon as possible.
2. Gouda Cheese Log
This dish is straightforward for every home cook. You just need to mix gouda cheese and cream cheese. Then, add the combined cheese to a bowl with tomatoes, garlic powder, and chives. Lastly, the mixture is shaped, and the cheese is rolled from seeds, nuts, or herbs.
3. Smoked Gouda Mashed Potatoes
This excellent dish will be the best choice if you prefer creamy and cheesy flavors. This tasty dish is flavorful, filling, and easy to make. Smoked gouda cheese and potatoes are a perfect combination that you surely want to make for your tonight’s meal.
4. Smoked Gouda Mac And Cheese
Is mac and cheese your favorite dish? Do you want to make a new twist for your delicious dish? Here’s the place for you. The smoky flavor of smoked gouda will create an incredible mac and cheese with a unique flavor.
First and foremost, boil water in a pot. Then, put milk, vegetables, and macaroni in boiling water. Adjust the heat at a low level and add parsley, shredded smoked gouda cheese to the pot. You can also add roasted jalapenos or dried tomatoes to make your dish flavorful and colorful.
This amazing recipe for mac and cheese will surprise you with its result. You can see this video to know more:
FAQs
If you are still wondering about related issues of gouda cheese, I believe these frequently asked questions might be your problems. Let’s discover now.
Some Useful Tips For Gouda Cheese Pairings
Not only can gouda cheese be a great ingredient in many dishes, but you can also eat gouda on its own. For young gouda, you can serve with stone fruits or fresh apples. Moreover, beer is also a perfect pair with young gouda cheese.
On the other hand, it is ideal to combine matured gouda cheese with sparkling cider or a Chenin Blanc, while it would be best if aged gouda cheese is served with dried fruits or deep wine red.
Does the information in this post satisfy your needs? I hope this is all the information you are finding. If you’re interested in this exciting knowledge, give me a share to your friends and relatives who haven’t still tried this amazing cheese.
If you have ever tried gouda cheese and have new ideas about its taste, or you have any queries about gouda cheese, please leave a comment to let me know.
References
1. LIVESTRONG.COM.. Is Gouda Cheese Healthy? | Livestrong.com. [online] Available at: <https://www.livestrong.com/article/366752-is-gouda-cheese-healthy/>.
2. Beulens, J. W., Booth, S. L., van den Heuvel, E. G., Stoecklin, E., Baka, A., & Vermeer, C. (2013). The role of menaquinones (vitamin K2) in human health. British Journal of Nutrition, 110(8), 1357-1368.
3. Veritasvisit.nl.. [online] Available at: <https://veritasvisit.nl/en/2015/06/05/types-of-cheese-gouda-tasting/>.
