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Hard Cheese

Canadian hard cheeses are firm cheeses that have been aged for months, and sometimes years, so as to lose of up to 70% of their moisture. Although mostly appreciated when grated, in au gratin dishes, sauces, or salad dressings, they can also be nibbled at with a few grapes or black olives. Complex and robust, these mouth-watering cheeses immediately evoke tasty and aromatic Mediterranean dishes. It is the quality of their sharp taste that defines hard cheeses. To achieve this, they are pressed, cooked and interior-ripened for a long period.

Hard cheeses, such as Parmesan have a moisture  level of 35% and a butterfat level from 10 to 25%.

Calcium and protein levels increase accordingly and make these cheeses excellent additions to a healthy and well-balanced diet.

Find out more about these hard cheeses:

Parmesan

Storage

If stored under good conditions, the quality and taste of hard cheeses ripen and become more pronounced. Nevertheless, any prolonged exposure to air or to temperatures over 4°C will accelerate ripening, forming of moulds and colour changes to the surface.

So, change the packaging frequently, wrap them carefully in aluminum foil and keep them in an airtight plastic container. The refrigerator’s vegetable drawer is the ideal place to store your hard cheeses.

Parmesan, for instance, has a shelf live of several months. You will know more on how to store Parmesan by clicking here.

Information provided by Dairy Farmers of Canada (www.dairygoodness.ca) 

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Characteristics

Appearance and texture:
Hard and dry rind with a very deep yellow colour; the body is golden yellow; has a hard and granular texture, melts in the mouth.

Aroma:
Evokes bread, almond and apple, very fragrant and complex aroma.

Taste:
Rich and complex taste of hazelnut, robust and sharp, rather salty.

Attributes:
They melt well; they mix well with other ingredients; they brown at high temperatures.

How to enjoy them?

Pasta dishes seem bland without Parmesan! Canadian hard cheeses add that little something that never goes unnoticed and heightens the taste of vegetables, omelets, gratins, quiches, pizza and soups.

Combined with Cheddar, Mozzarella or Emmental, they add a sharp bite that will make your favorite dishes a success.

Freezing

You can safely freeze small quantities (500 g) of hard cheeses, whether grated, in shavings or in pieces. Freezing can bring some slight changes in texture, but it does not alter the taste.

Remember to let the cheese cool in the refrigerator before placing it in the freezer, and also to let it thaw in the refrigerator after freezing.
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