For a food that's best served at room temperature, the popularity of cheese has never been hotter. indicates that cheese is leading the dairy category in the U.S.
; while milk consumption is down, annual of nearly 42 pounds per person. That’s up around 10 pounds since 2000, according to the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Retailers are certainly listening. “We have been seeing a positive trajectory in cheese sales for some time now, and with social media trends like charcuterie boards, also noticed our customers getting more curious to learn from our in-store cheesemongers,” says Elise Olson, a certified cheese professional at Whole Foods Market.
“During the pandemic we gained large numbers of customers that, faced with limited options for dining out, discovered or maybe even rediscovered cheese and have consistently continued to purchase cheese as life returned to normal," Olson adds. There are a surprising number of ways you could be shortchanging how you serve cheese (if you eat it directly out of the fridge, we’re not judging, but we’re talking to you). We turned to the experts to find out common mistakes to avoid when serving cheese for maximum enjoyment.
For the best flavor and texture, allow cheese to come to room temperature before serving. Whether you’re serving fresh goat cheese or aged Parmigiano Reggiano, take it out of the refrigerator at least 30 minutes before serving, preferably longer. Another thing experts across the (cheese) board agree on unan.