Ways to Reuse Cheese Rinds

Often, when we are approaching the end of our parmigiana cheese, we consider the rind at the end of the cheese to be something that needs to just be thrown away. However, that rind actually has some practical uses both inside and outside the kitchen. In this article, we are going to see what these uses are.

Fried Cheese Rinds

The first step in making fried cheese rinds is taking the rind and cutting it into squares. Take the squares, place them in a saucepan, and add a couple of drops of extra virgin olive oil, as this will brown them. As soon as you notice that the pieces of cheese are starting to expand, you will know that they are ready. Now, they can be served and enjoyed as a snack similar to potato chips.        

Grilling Cheese Rinds

To make grilled cheese rinds, start by heating up the pan over medium. Once hot enough, place pieces of the cheese rind onto the pan, but this time do not add any olive oil. Let the pieces cook until they start to swell, then flip each piece over. Once they are fully toasted on the other side, the cheese rinds are ready to serve.

Other Cooking Options

You can also use your cheese rind as a condiment. It goes great on salads and various other types of dishes. Just finely chop the rind, and you can use it to add texture to your favorite recipes. Also, the finely chopped rind can be a great breading for meat and fish. It also goes well on pasta and risotto.

When it comes to sauces, a cheese rind can act as a base. Again, finely chop the cheese rind and mix it with the other ingredients for your sauce, such as milk or cream.

Outside the Kitchen

You can also use your cheese rind in the garden. Due to the cheese’s high content of calcium, a cheese rind can help many of your plants grow healthy and strong, tomatoes are a great example. All you need to do is chop the rind into a fine powder and sprinkle it over the soil in your garden.