Leftover cheese? Here are some delicious ways to use it all up
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If you’re a cheese-lover, then you’re probably used to buying your favourite ingredient in bulk. Sometimes though, unused cheese is left inside your fridge and goes to waste.
But don’t feel guilty just yet! Here are some ways to use up leftover cheese and indulge in your cravings.
Blue cheese has a very intricate flavour…which is an acquired taste for most people. The smell can also start fights within your household, so remember to buy blue cheese in smaller amounts whenever you can. There’s less chance of waste, and fewer expenses, too.
Store it in baking paper in the more humid part of your fridge so it doesn’t dry out. If stored properly, blue cheese can last three to four weeks.
You can use blue cheese in the following ways:
Brie and Camembert can be stored with baking paper, not plastic because soft cheeses need to ‘breathe’. You can keep them in the fridge for no more than three to four days.
To use your leftovers:
Cheddar is one of the most common aged cheeses inside people’s fridges.
To store them properly, make sure you keep cheddar in a container with a tight lid in the fridge. This type of cheese (if stored correctly) can last up to three weeks. The more ‘mature’ it is, the more flavour it has.
Cheddar cheese is used in almost everything: sandwiches, pizzas, cheese sauces, or baking.
For cottage cheese lovers out there, make sure to store your cheese in an airtight container. This keeps it fresh for about a week (for leftovers), and for unopened cottage cheese, you can store it inside your freezer for about three months.
For ways to use it up, you can:
Cream cheese is a staple ingredient in sweets or in making bagels in the morning. Cream cheese can last up to one week inside your fridge if stored with an airtight lid.
Aside from making cream cheese icing, you can use up your leftover cream cheese on top of pork meatballs, or stuff them in jalapeños and bake them under the grill until charred.
Feta is another type of cheese that’s favoured by many. Because of its high salt content, this type of cheese has a long shelf life. To use it all up, you can:
Mozzarella is another favourite among many. To use any leftovers, you can:
To use it, take a bit of hardened parmesan and add it to slow-cooked dishes, like soups or stews. You can grate it and add the crumbs to meat, and veggies, or you can make quick and easy garlic bread.
Lastly, we have ricotta which brings richness into any dish – without it being too heavy. It’s uses include:
Looking for a great mac-and-cheese recipe? Watch the video below.
Do you also like to add a bit of cheese to your dishes, members? What’s your favourite recipe using cheese? Let us know in the comments!
But don’t feel guilty just yet! Here are some ways to use up leftover cheese and indulge in your cravings.
Blue cheese has a very intricate flavour…which is an acquired taste for most people. The smell can also start fights within your household, so remember to buy blue cheese in smaller amounts whenever you can. There’s less chance of waste, and fewer expenses, too.
Store it in baking paper in the more humid part of your fridge so it doesn’t dry out. If stored properly, blue cheese can last three to four weeks.
You can use blue cheese in the following ways:
- Crumble it over cauliflower dishes, like salads or soups.
- Crumble it over roasted grapes for a flavourful combination.
- Make a toastie with slices of ripe pear.
- Make a blue cheese dressing that’s perfect for steak or baked potatoes.
Brie and Camembert can be stored with baking paper, not plastic because soft cheeses need to ‘breathe’. You can keep them in the fridge for no more than three to four days.
To use your leftovers:
- Pop some on top of halved figs or stone fruits
- Drizzle them with honey and serve them for dessert or a very sweet breakfast.
- You can also make a brie and jam fried sandwich, or use them in a cheese sauce. Yum!
Cheddar is one of the most common aged cheeses inside people’s fridges.
To store them properly, make sure you keep cheddar in a container with a tight lid in the fridge. This type of cheese (if stored correctly) can last up to three weeks. The more ‘mature’ it is, the more flavour it has.
Cheddar cheese is used in almost everything: sandwiches, pizzas, cheese sauces, or baking.
For cottage cheese lovers out there, make sure to store your cheese in an airtight container. This keeps it fresh for about a week (for leftovers), and for unopened cottage cheese, you can store it inside your freezer for about three months.
For ways to use it up, you can:
- Make a dip blended with herbs, deseeded cucumber, or ripe avocados.
- Add milk to the cheese and use the mixture in place of buttermilk when making pancakes or baking sweets.
- Mix it with grated mozzarella on top of the pizza.
- Spread it on rye crackers with pickled cucumbers.
Cream cheese is a staple ingredient in sweets or in making bagels in the morning. Cream cheese can last up to one week inside your fridge if stored with an airtight lid.
Aside from making cream cheese icing, you can use up your leftover cream cheese on top of pork meatballs, or stuff them in jalapeños and bake them under the grill until charred.
Feta is another type of cheese that’s favoured by many. Because of its high salt content, this type of cheese has a long shelf life. To use it all up, you can:
- Crumble and mix it through meatballs and fritters.
- Mix a little bit of feta with chopped olives and some olive oil to make a quick spread.
- Crumble it over grilled zucchini and top with mint or parsley.
- Mix it in salads.
Mozzarella is another favourite among many. To use any leftovers, you can:
- Stuff them in garlic bread.
- Scatter grated mozzarella over roast veggies.
- You can make the most mouth-watering quesadillas.
To use it, take a bit of hardened parmesan and add it to slow-cooked dishes, like soups or stews. You can grate it and add the crumbs to meat, and veggies, or you can make quick and easy garlic bread.
Lastly, we have ricotta which brings richness into any dish – without it being too heavy. It’s uses include:
- Topping cakes or muffins.
- An addition to meatball mixtures.
- Mixed with steamed asparagus, a drizzle of olive oil, and salt and pepper for an elegant salad.
Looking for a great mac-and-cheese recipe? Watch the video below.
Key Takeaways
- Leftover cheese can still be used in several dishes, aside from the basic pasta and pizzas.
- You can use some in baking, in grills, and even in stews or soups.
- When all else fails, you can mix everything to make a mac-and-cheese medley.