Soft Mold-Ripened Cheese Varieties
- Brie
- Double Cream Brie
- Triple Cream Brie
- Flavored Varieties of Brie
- Camembert
Blue-Veined Cheeses
Key Applications
Soft ripened cheeses are used in cold and melted applications, including sandwiches, cheese plates, appetizers, dips and spreads, U.S.-style pizza, quiches, soups, sauces, warm salad dressings and fondues. The Blue-veined cheeses, such U.S. Blue and Gorgonzola-style Blue cheese have a firmer body than the soft-ripened cheeses and a crumbly texture. These cheeses are used in hot sandwiches, premium sauces, dips and spreads, fillings, salads and innovative salad dressings.
Manufacturing Process
The distinctive step in the manufacture of these cheeses is the use of a beneficial mold.
- For soft-ripened cheeses, the mold Penicillium candidum is applied during the drying process which helps cheeses such as Brie and Camembert develop the distinctive, soft, velvety growths on the outside known as bloomy rind. The mold allows the cheese to ripen from the outside in. Brie ripens within a matter of weeks, or may be aged longer for a more pungent flavor.
- For U.S. Blue cheese and Gorgonzola, the mold Penicillium Roqueforti is added to the milk or curds prior to pressing. Holes are punched through the formed wheels of cheese to allow oxygen to reach the interior, which encourages mold growth. In some cases, the cheeses are crumbled before packaging for easier utilization in salads, dressings and other applications.
Performance Considerations
Soft-ripened cheeses are versatile and interchangeable in many applications. They may be sliced for cold applications and also have good melting properties. U.S. Blue and Gorgonzola are selected primarily for their unique flavors and crumbling properties, which make them easier to add to casseroles, sauces and other foods for a quicker melt.
Key Benefits in Foodservice & Prepared Foods
- Distinctive flavors add a unique intensity to sauces, dressings and other dishes.
- Blue-veined cheeses crumble for easy addition as a condiment to many foods.
- Brie and Camembert are used to create a distinctive gourmet appetizer spread for breads and crackers by baking briefly to soften the interior while keeping the rind intact.
Marketing benefits
- Premium image, European-style gourmet appeal.
- Well-recognized cheeses by consumers, add distinction and help differentiate dishes.
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