Gouda is a very popular cheese, especially here in the United States. It’s a smooth, firm, yellow cheese that is easily sliced, and has a mild flavor. It’s good on sandwiches, it melts well in recipes, and it makes an excellent addition to any cheese plate.
Gouda cheese can be made from whole milk or skim milk. The label will tell you which type of milk was used. Skim milk Gouda has less fat than whole milk Gouda, but there is not much difference in taste or texture between the two types of cheeses.
What is Gouda Cheese?
It sounds like something that would be a cross between a cow and a goat, but it’s actually a semi-hard cheese from Holland. It’s one of the most popular cheeses in the world and is easily identified by its firm texture and orange color.
Gouda cheese takes its name from the Dutch city of Gouda, where it was originally sold at the market. If you’ve ever seen a Dutch painting or photograph of people at an outdoor market or festival, chances are they were selling or eating this delicious cheese.
Gouda has become so popular that most of us just call it by the generic name Dutch Cheese, but there are many different types of gouda available. Most of them have different colors depending on their age: young goudas are usually white to yellow, while older ones are dark brown.
What Does Gouda Taste Like?
Gouda has a sweet, nutty and caramel-like taste. The younger the cheese the milder it is. The cheese develops a more pronounced flavor as it matures, which depends on the age of the cheese but also the type of bacteria used during production, and how long the cheese was aged.
Gouda can range from young and mild to sharp and salty, depending on how mature it is. Mild gouda is a gooey butter yellow color with a sweet flavor similar to cheddar and tastes of butterscotch or caramel. Aging gives gouda a darker color, a harder texture and a more intense taste, sometimes slightly salty. Gouda becomes sweeter and saltier as it ages.
How Can You Use It?
Gouda is a semi-hard cheese, which means it’s a bit firmer than soft cheeses but still relatively easy to cut and slice. It’s also got a very mild and clean flavor, which makes it an ideal choice for any cheese plate. If you’re looking to add more gouda to your life, try these uses:
1. Grill it
Gouda is great when melted on top of food. Try cutting a wheel into wedges, placing them on top of burgers, and grilling until the cheese melts.
2. Peel it
Use your Swiss Army knife or another sharp blade to cut off the top layer of wax from a piece of gouda or Edam cheese (they both come in waxed rinds). Now comes the fun part: Peel back the wax layer to reveal the inner wedge of cheese with its rich color and texture.
3. Shave it
Cut thin slices from a block of gouda using a vegetable peeler or a mandoline slicer if you have one. In either case, work quickly so that the slices don’t melt too much in your hands.
6 Main Types Of Gouda
Gouda cheese is a Dutch cheese made from cow’s milk and named after the city of Gouda in the Netherlands. Although it is sometimes referred to as Gouda cheese, there are many different varieties of gouda cheese.
The six main types of gouda that you’ll find at the store are:
1. Young Gouda Cheese
Young Gouda cheese is typically aged for only two to three weeks. It’s usually sold in small yellow wheels with a red wax coating. This type of gouda has a mild flavor and is usually used as a table or cooking cheese.
2. Aged Gouda
Aged Gouda cheese is typically aged for at least six months and has a stronger flavor than young gouda cheese. In the United States, it is commonly sold at supermarkets in small yellow blocks with a red wax coating.
3. Smoked Gouda
Smoked Gouda is made from either young or old Gouda that has been smoked over wood chips for about 18 hours. The color of the cheese ranges from golden yellow to deep brown, depending on the amount of smoking it receives. Some smoked Goudas are cold-smoked, which means they don’t actually melt when heated up (and therefore would not be suitable for cooking).
4. Matured Gouda
This type of Gouda cheese is made from pasteurized milk, and has been aged for around 5 months. The paste will be firm and dry, but still creamy. It has a rich, buttery flavor that is somewhat salty with a hint of sharpness.
5. Boerenkaas
This type of Gouda is made using raw milk and has an intense flavor with a slightly granular texture. It is best consumed when it is between two to four months old.
6. Herb & Spice Gouda
This variety of Gouda has herbs or spices added to the cheese during production. Some common ingredients include black pepper, cumin, garlic, nettle leaf and paprika. Herb & spice Goudas make an excellent addition to salads, sandwiches and quesadillas.
How To Produce Delicious Gouda Cheese At Home
Gouda is one of the most popular cheeses in the world, enjoyed for its rich and creamy texture. It’s a versatile cheese that pairs well with beer and wine, as well as fruits and breads.
To make Gouda at home, you need some basic equipment and a few ingredients. These include cheese rennet, citric acid, calcium chloride, salt, and rennet tablets. You also need a thermometer, a cheese press, and a couple of large pots with lids.
Once you have all your equipment and ingredients ready, you’re ready to get started:
1. Ingredients
- 6 gallons whole milk (not ultra-pasteurized)
- 1 packet direct-set mesophilic starter OR 4 ounces prepared mesophilic starter
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid rennet diluted in 1/4 cup cool, unchlorinated water (OR 1/4 rennet tablet dissolved in 1/4 cup cool, unchlorinated water)
- 1/2 cup Cheese Salt (non-iodized)
2. Gouda Cheese Recipe Steps
- Step 1: Warm milk to 90 degrees.
- Step 2: Add mesophilic starter and mix thoroughly.
- Step 3: Cover and allow to ripen for 1 hour.
- Step 4: Add rennet, mix thoroughly and cover. Allow to set for 30 minutes or until curd shows clean break.
- Step 5: Cut into 1/2-inch cubes, let sit for 5 minutes.
- Step 6: Heat at 100 degrees F, stirring gently to keep curds from matting. The temperature should rise 10 degrees F every 10 minutes until a temperature of 120 degrees F is reached. Maintain this temperature for 30 minutes while stirring gently.
- Step 7: Remove whey down to the level of curds. Stir gently as you are doing this so the curds do not break down too much. Cover pot for 5 minutes and allow curds to settle.
- Step 8: Pour off remaining whey, reserving about 1/2 gallon for mixing the salt into later on.
- Step 9: Place curds in cheesecloth-lined colander and press at 10 lbs of pressure for 15 minutes, then 20 lbs of pressure for 2 hours.
- Step 10: Remove cheese from cloth, slice in half horizontally and Dry the Cheese at Room Temperature for 24 Hours
- Step 11: Wax, Age, and Enjoy your Gouda
10 Reasons You Should Eat More Gouda
Gouda is a versatile cheese, popular around the world. It can be used in many recipes or simply enjoyed as a snack. Here are 10 reasons why you should eat more gouda:
1. It’s Nutritious
Gouda isn’t just delicious — it’s also healthy. Gouda is rich in nutrients, such as calcium and vitamins A and B12, zinc, copper, selenium and riboflavin. These nutrients are essential for bone health, immune function and cell growth.
2. It’s good for your bones.
Gouda is full of calcium, which helps keep bone mass strong and reduces bone loss. One ounce provides 6 percent of your daily need of this mineral that benefits bone and heart health.
3. It’s high in protein.
The cheese contains a high amount of protein, which makes it a good meat alternative. One ounce (28 grams) of gouda cheese contains 7 grams of high-quality protein. Protein is important for maintaining muscle mass and strength as you age.
4. It aids weight loss.
Gouda has fewer calories than most cheeses.Gouda cheese is rich in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). CLA has been shown to support weight loss by reducing body fat and increasing lean muscle mass.
5. It may reduce heart disease risk factors.
Studies have shown that eating gouda may decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease by lowering blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels.
6. It’s good for your teeth and gums
Eating gouda helps protect against tooth decay and cavities
7. It Can Boost Your Immune System
A study published in the journal Food Microbiology found that eating raw-milk cheese like Gouda can help boost your immune system. Raw-milk cheeses contain good bacteria that help balance out bad bacteria in the gut, reducing inflammation and promoting regular digestion.
8. It contains probiotics.
Gouda contains probiotics that are beneficial for digestion.The probiotics found in gouda can improve digestion by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut and help fight off harmful bacteria that can cause digestive problems
9. It improves brain function
The cheese can improve your brain function by increasing the number of white matter cells in the brain
10. It tastes delicious!
Well, this one goes without saying, right? Whether you like it young or aged, Gouda is a delicious addition to your kitchen. If you want to experience the most flavor, try an aged version that has been cured for at least 12 months. If you prefer softer textures, stick with the younger version (aged for only two months).
5 Tips For Serving And Eating Gouda Cheese
You can eat Gouda as is, or you can eat it cooked. Usually, the younger Goudas are eaten as is and the older ones are eaten cooked or melted. It melts well so use it in your favorite dishes to add another layer of flavor.
Here are 5 tips for serving and eating Gouda cheese:
1. Cheese plates
Gouda is a great addition to a cheese plate. Its mild taste will not overpower other cheeses on the plate.
2. Pairs well with fruit
Serve it with apples, grapes, pears or any of your favorite fruits.
3. Creamy soups
One of my favorite creamy soups is broccoli cheddar soup. Add some Gouda to this soup and you will be in heaven.
4. Grilled cheese sandwiches
Make a grilled cheese sandwich with a little bit of Gouda for extra flavor and creaminess.
5. Breakfast pizza
Smear some tomato sauce over a flour tortilla and sprinkle with some mozzarella and gouda cheese. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until the cheese bubbles. Top with some fresh basil and you’re ready to go!
FAQs
1. How long does gouda last?
About six weeks at room temperature.
2. Can you freeze gouda?
Yes! It will stay good for about two months.
3. Is gouda a hard cheese?
Gouda cheese can be soft, medium or hard depending on how long it’s been aged. Typically the harder the Gouda, the more pronounced its flavor will be.
4. How do you pronounce Gouda?
Gouda (pronounced “HOW-duh”) is a traditional, semi-hard cheese from the Netherlands.
5. Where does the name “Gouda” come from?
The town of Gouda in the Netherlands is famous for making this cheese and giving this cheese its name.
6. Is gouda considered a hard or soft cheese?
Both, Gouda is considered to be a semi-hard cheese. It is firmer than soft chees
7. Can you melt gouda cheese?
Yes, gouda is a very good cheese for melting. It melts smoothly and has a buttery flavor. Gouda melts well in a variety of recipes, either shredded or cubed. It’s delicious when melted on top of nachos or fried potatoes.
8. Is gouda cheese healthy?
Yes it is because of the presence of Vitamin K2 which improves heart health, thereby lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. This cheese also contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) which reduces weight gain when consumed in moderation.
9. Is Gouda a Dutch or German cheese?
Gouda is a Dutch cheese. It takes its name from the town of Gouda in the Netherlands where it originated, not from the country of Germany.
In conclusion
Gouda is a very versatile cheese and can be used in many different ways. It’s useful in cooking or even as an easy snack on its own. Gouda cheese is an unbelievably good and delicious cheese, originally from the Netherlands, with a rich and creamy texture and a mild flavor. Due to this cheese’s incredible taste, it is also becoming very popular in the United States by aficionados.
