Do you shred your own cheese instead of buying it shredded?

[Anonymous]

What shredder do you use? Do you think it tasteS better?

[Anonymous]

Yes, it does taste better. The bagged shredded cheese has some sort of anti-clumping agent added that dulls the flavor, especially of sharp cheeses.

Use a grater similar to this https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Multi-Grater/dp/B00004OCKU?th=1

[Anonymous]

Of course it's better to shred your own cheese - most shredded cheese comes with anti-clumping agent, and it tastes bad. We never buy that crap.

Many home-processed things are better. A great example is whipped cream - it tastes so much better than the can version.

[Anonymous]

I generally just shred by hand using a metal tower, if it's a dish I care about. The pre-shredded packs have cellulose or a starch mix to prevent caking. I think it changes the texture more than the flavor.

But if I'm tossing some cheddar into a fried egg sandwich on toast for myself, I would use pre-shredded without any qualm. Just not part of what I care about in that context.

https://www.eatthis.com/hidden-ingredient-shredded-cheese/
The Hidden Ingredient In Shredded Cheese That's Destroying Your Recipes

[Anonymous]

Yes, it tastes better to grate it yourself. I still buy pre grated because I’m lazy and go through cheese at a wildly inconsiderate rate so blocks always grow mould.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I generally just shred by hand using a metal tower, if it's a dish I care about. The pre-shredded packs have cellulose or a starch mix to prevent caking. I think it changes the texture more than the flavor.

But if I'm tossing some cheddar into a fried egg sandwich on toast for myself, I would use pre-shredded without any qualm. Just not part of what I care about in that context.

https://www.eatthis.com/hidden-ingredient-shredded-cheese/
The Hidden Ingredient In Shredded Cheese That's Destroying Your Recipes

This.

My teen daughter likes gadgets and is obsessive about cooking so she shreds cheese for daily cooking. I don’t have that kind of time.

[Anonymous]

Yes, we do this. We have two shredders from Microplane, one a fine one for hard cheese like parmesan, and the other with much bigger holes for softer cheeses. Three reasons:

1) Many pre-shredded cheeses have weird preservatives in them to help them hold their shape and not become a gloppy mess in the bag, and I don't want to eat that. I want to eat the good cheese.
2) Even if I'm buying inexpensive cheddar or something, it is less expensive when bought as a block, plus there is less packaging. I'm very cost and environmentally conscious when grocery shopping.
3) If I buy cheese as a block, I can use it for anything. I can shred it for quesadillas or cut slices for grilled cheese or cube it for a cheese tray or whatever. I cook a lot so I like options.

[Anonymous]

I do. I have a box grater (no idea of the brand I’ve had it for so long I have no idea when I even got it) that I use if it’s just a little.

If I’m grating a bunch I’ll use my food processor

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, we do this. We have two shredders from Microplane, one a fine one for hard cheese like parmesan, and the other with much bigger holes for softer cheeses. Three reasons:

1) Many pre-shredded cheeses have weird preservatives in them to help them hold their shape and not become a gloppy mess in the bag, and I don't want to eat that. I want to eat the good cheese.
2) Even if I'm buying inexpensive cheddar or something, it is less expensive when bought as a block, plus there is less packaging. I'm very cost and environmentally conscious when grocery shopping.
3) If I buy cheese as a block, I can use it for anything. I can shred it for quesadillas or cut slices for grilled cheese or cube it for a cheese tray or whatever. I cook a lot so I like options.

+1 to all of that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I do. I have a box grater (no idea of the brand I’ve had it for so long I have no idea when I even got it) that I use if it’s just a little.

If I’m grating a bunch I’ll use my food processor

Also use a box grater. OXO is a reliable brand. I also have a special cheese knive but use it rarely - only if I want wide, thin slices for some reason, which I rarely do. A few weeks ago I was feeling too lazy to dig out the box grater so I used a carrot peeler and shredded my finger. Don't do that.

We eat a lot of cheese. Definitely it's much, much better freshly shredded or sliced.

[Anonymous]

Yes I shred my own and yes it taste so much better. But OMG my kids are so messy when they shred it themselves that I am sometimes tempted to by bagged for when they are making snacks

[Anonymous]

I tend to buy shredded because it's easy to make a quick quesadilla or throw some in a salad. If I'm cooking a nice Mac and cheese or something I'll shed my own. I tend to use the food processor shredding blade.

[Anonymous]

It depends. Am I making something for a party? Then I’m probably shredding my own, because the taste and consistency is better. Am I throwing it on top of vegetarian chili or chicken chili on a busy weeknight? That’s what the bags are for.

[Anonymous]

Yes, DH shreds a block in the food processor. The non clumping stuff icks him out. I don't really notice a difference so it's his project. However, I ask that he store it in Tupperware instead of a ziploc bag.

Somebody else mentioned whipped cream, we do that from scratch also. But I am a big fan of prepared sauces.

[Anonymous]

Depends on what I"m doing with it, but shredding your own definitely tastes better.