What Is Brie Cheese? How To Eat Brie Cheese? All You Need To Know!

What Is Brie Cheese?

Brie is a type of soft and spreadable cheese that is made with skimmed cow’s milk. It gets its name from the historic northern region of France called Brie. 

It is one of the best-known French cheeses and is nicknamed “The Queen of Cheese” due to its popularity among royalty in France. 

Brie cheese has a slightly pale color with a greyish tinge under the rind and has a mild, earthy flavor with a creamy and spreadable consistency. 

Brie can be enjoyed on its own along with its rind, or combined with other edibles to bring out its nutty sweetness. 

When To Serve Brie?

It depends on your preference for the consistency and intense flavor that you want your cheese to have. As Brie ripens, the mold enzymes break down the protein structures to give it that soft and runny consistency that is characteristic of Brie cheese. 

Unripe brie can be stiffer with less intense flavor to taste and lack a runny texture. 

Once the cheese curds are transferred to round molds and sprayed with the bacteria starter (P. candidum), it takes about 6 weeks for the white mold to develop around the curds for ripening. 

What Food To Serve Brie With?

Brie is great with acidic fruits like apples, pears, grapes, and plums. If you are going for a tart and sweet option, pair it with rhubarb jam, mincemeat, apple chutney, or a cranberry compote. 

Baked Brie with a melted gooey texture can be paired with crispy garlic bread or a variety of dry fruits. 

Add it to ham, chicken, or turkey sandwiches for an exciting upgrade from the usual cheese slices. 

The options are so vast that simply tearing a small piece from a baguette and pairing it with Brie can be an amazing appetizer. 

How To Eat Brie Cheese?

Brie cheese can be cut and served on its own as an appetizer. The rind of Brie is safe to eat and often complements the experience with a more intense flavor. 

If you enjoy the melted runny texture then baking the Brie for 10-15 minutes can create simply one of the best-tasting melted cheese there is. 

You can have Brie as wedges or cut them into smaller slices and combine them with bread, or bake them with fish fillets (yum)!

Your macaroni and cheese can be upgraded to culinary delights. Use brie as a crepe or egg roll filling, on a pizza or tart, in a sauce over pasta, in mushroom soup, etc. The possibilities are endless.

What To Drink With Brie?

A French cheese with a classic French beverage like champagne is an obvious choice when it comes to drinks that go well with Brie.

Certain wines and beer are also fantastic with Brie such as soft and fruity red wines like Pinot Noir. Chardonnay, Rose Champagne, Black Sauvignon, Sweet Sherry, etc. are all great options recommended by connoisseurs. 

Other acidic citrus fruit drinks with orange, apple, grape, or cranberry can also be great options. 

How To Store Brie Properly?

An unopened wheel of Brie retained in its original packaging can stay fresh in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks. Once you’ve opened it, it generally lasts up to a week before starting to go bad. The rinds can become very intensely bitter with an unappealing smell. 

To prolong its shelf life once opened, you should wrap it in parchment paper or wax paper instead of plastic wrap, since whole cheeses like Brie need to breathe. 

If you don’t mind the texture and want to use Brie for cooking, then you can extend its shelf-life greatly by freezing it. Wrap the whole wheel tightly in aluminum foil and place it in a freezer bag after pushing out as much of the air as possible before sealing it shut. 

Strong smells of ammonia or flaky or gray rind with signs of blue or green spores are signs that your Brie has started to go bad and is probably not safe for consumption. 

How To Eat Brie Cheese Warm?

Brie cheese is best enjoyed at room temperature, where it will retain its soft and runny texture. If you enjoy melted cheese, then baking your Brie in the oven for a few minutes can make it a great appetizer and can be served warm. You can also enjoy warm Brie on pasta, pizza, or sandwiches or use it for cooking. 

Should Brie Be Served Warm Or Cold?

Cold Brie that is taken straight from the refrigerator can be stiffer and less soft. It is usually brought back to room temperature for pairing with bread and other dry treats. 

Cold Brie is not considered as flavorful or enjoyable as melted or room-temperature Brie, so it’s best served warm.

Read more: Is Brie Cheese Good For Weight Loss?

How To Eat Brie With Crackers?

Plain crackers are great with Brie, and there are so many options of crackers to choose from. Herb crackers can invite more savory flavors if they have tinges of chives, basil, or rosemary. 

Baked brie and crackers can always be served as a reliable, tasty, and easily prepared appetizer. You can mix up your crackers with multigrain, sesame, and melba crackers for a diverse range of textures and flavors.

Do You Heat Brie Before Eating?

Brie cheese that has been in the fridge may need to be heated to revert to its soft and mushy texture. You can always bake Brie in the oven for melted cheese, which goes well with so many dishes. 

If you want a slightly spongy texture and want to enjoy the rind, then it’s best to allow the cheese to come to room temperature and avoid heating it. Baking can make the rind more crispy than flaky, which is usually more enjoyable. 

Conclusion:

Brie is considered one of the tastiest cheeses, especially when melted. It is an integral part of French culinary delights since the late 18th century. There are so many options for combining Brie to upgrade your everyday dishes, making them creamier and more enjoyable.