Three Surprising Reasons Why You Should Always Grate Your Cheese
Updated: May 24, 2021
It's so much easier to buy a bag of pre-shredded cheese, but many sources claim shredding at home is better.
On the menu tonight: Stacy’s favorite lasagna. It is menu planning day, and you’re preparing the weekly grocery list. Your recipe calls for grated cheese, but should you buy a whole block of it or a bag of the pre-shredded kind? Does it really make a difference either way?
It turns out, there are some surprising reasons why you should grate your own cheese by hand.
1. It melts more smoothly.
Pre-grated cheese contains preservatives like potato starch and natamycin, meant to keep the shreds from clumping together in the bag. That also means they don’t melt together as well when cooking. Freshly grated cheese lacks those additives, so your lasagna will turn out much smoother.
2. You get more for your money.
When you buy the pre-grated cheese, you’re paying extra for the convenience and the preservatives. An 8 oz block of cheese yields more grated shreds than an 8 oz bag of pre-grated cheese, making it a much better choice for anyone on a budget or looking to get the most bang for your buck.
3. It tastes better.
Freshly grated cheese doesn’t contain added preservatives and chemicals, and since you’re shredding it on the spot, it will have a fresher, creamier taste. And fewer additives are always a healthier option.
Bonus; It’s an arm workout.
All in all, grating your cheese by hand isn’t the most fun, but it can be well worth it when you’re digging into that first bite of lasagna. So grab your grater, pick up a block of your favorite cheese, and get to work!