So how to make cheese taste better

With the party season just about to start and the cheese platters about to become a common feature around tables, it is timely that Dairy Australia, as the national representative of the dairy industry, has just released ten tips for best enjoying cheese The following are based on those tips.

1. A little bit of everything – a good cheese platter has something strong, something hard and something soft, so there are different combinations of texture and flavour. It is also good to fruit on the platter to balance out the experience.
2. Buy local product – Australia has magnificent world recognised and awarded cheeses, so pick cheeses from this country and support local producers. Remember that farmer’s markets are a good place to find something very local and special.
3. Best before – cheese is actually an aged milk based product, so the closer it is to the best before date the better the flavour. It is one of the few products where the product is actually most likely better the closer it is to the best before. Remember that some cheeses have use by dates and these should only be eaten up to the date and not after.
4. So what to put with it – have you thought of a small container of honey or balsamic vinegar on the cheese board to jazz up the cheeses? Make sure that the crackers are fresh and crisp and include some fruit.
5. Keep it cold – all cheeses should be stored in the fridge before use. Keep them well wrapped.
6. Room temperature – like most foods, cheese tastes so much better when it is not ice cold, so get the hard and firm cheese out of the fridge and prepare the platter / board. Cover the board with a clean moist cloth to keep the cheeses moist and leave at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving. Fresh cheeses should be served straight from the fridge.
7. Leftovers – only put out small amounts so that the likelihood of leftovers is reduced. If the cheese has been out at room temperature for less than two hours, it can be wrapped or put into a container and placed back into the fridge. It can then be used on any product that is going to be cooked, eg; Ricotta on Spaghetti or Camembert over Chicken.
8. Keep them covered – make sure all foods, including chesses, are properly wrapped or in suitable containers when stored in the fridge, especially the stinky cheeses.
9. Serving boards – whilst cheese looks great on a wooden board, it is probably best to use the wooden board for the crackers or bread and a nice ceramic or glass tray for the cheese. You can use almost any clean flat surface for a cheese board.

10. Knives – just have one per cheese – saves mixing, so you get the flavour of one not many.