I don’t know about you, but I always seem to have leftover cheese.
Whether it’s from a huge block of cheddar that I bought at Costco or individual slices of brie, I always seem to have cheese just sitting in the fridge not doing anything.
So are there any quick and easy ways on what to do with leftover cheese?
Here are a few ideas that I’ve gathered to share with you.
Let’s check them out.
Grate cheese and add it to pasta sauce
Your leftover works great in pasta sauces.
To do this, grate your cheese with a box grater and add it into the saucepan.
Let the cheese melt in the warm sauce before you mix it into cooked pasta.
Add leftover cheese to soups
The next time you whip up homemade soup, consider adding some of that leftover cheese into it.
Just shred or crumble any kind of hard or semi-hard cheese and add it to your soup.
The melting cheese will make your soup creamy and delicious.
Add it to risotto or fried rice
Leftover grated or shredded cheese works great in risottos, fried rice, or even with scrambled eggs.
To do this, simply throw your cheese into the pan where you are cooking your risotto or fried rice.
Mix it up so that the cheese melts evenly throughout the dish before serving.
Use it as a garnish for nachos
If there’s leftover grated or shredded cheese, don’t let it go to waste.
Instead of using it as a topping for nachos, use it as a garnish.
That way no one will ever know your secret.
Use in place of ground beef in tacos or chili
Using leftover cheese can also help stretch your dollar.
Simply shred or crumble the leftover cheese and mix it into ground beef before adding it to tacos or chili.
In addition, your leftover can be used as a garnish on top of chili.
Use as a topping on baked potatoes
Did you know that leftover cheese can even be used as a quick and easy topping for baked potatoes? All you have to do is bake your potato ahead of time, split it open, and sprinkle on some shredded cheese.
Then microwave the potato until it is hot and steamy.
Make quesadillas
If you’re looking for a quick bite, try making some quesadillas with that leftover cheese.
Just use tortillas (corn or flour) and spread some shredded cheese in the middle.
Fold them in half and press down on the quesadilla maker to toast them.
Then serve with salsa, sour cream, or guacamole.
Add it to scrambled eggs for an extra creamy texture
The next time you make scrambled eggs, try adding some leftover cheese to them.
It will add an extra creamy and delicious texture and taste to your eggs.
All you need to do is to shred or crumble some cheese and add it to the eggs before cooking them on a skillet.
Use in place of cream cheese for bagels
Have you ever thought about using leftover cheese in place of cream cheese for bagels?
Simply grate or crumble the remaining cheese and add it in the middle of your toasted bagel.
There’s no need to add additional cream cheese when your leftover cheese will do.
Make a quick and easy grilled chees sandwich
Another time-saving tip is to make a grilled cheese sandwich with any leftover cheese you have on hand.
Simply butter two pieces of bread on one side and place your cheese on the other.
Press down and grill until browned and toasty.
Use as a pizza topping
Your leftover is also great as a quick and easy pizza topping.
Just top your favorite pre-baked crust with some leftover shreds or crumbles of cheese before baking for extra cheesy goodness.
In addition, use some extra cheese as a garnish on top of your pizza after you finish baking it.
Can you freeze cheese?
Yes, some cheeses freeze well and stay good for up to 3 months in the freezer, while others can even last up to 6 months.
However, it is best to use them sooner rather than later because they will lose their flavor and texture after a certain period of time in the freezer. (source)
What can you use shredded cheese for?
Shredded cheese is great for sprinkling onto dishes like tacos, quesadillas, nachos, or baked potatoes.
It is also good as a garnish on top of soups and pasta.
How do you keep the cheese from going moldy?
When you store your cheese at room temperature, you want to make sure it is sealed tightly in an air-tight container.
This will prevent the cheese from drying out and keep it fresh longer. (source)
What is in yellow cheese?
Yellow cheese is a type of cheddar that has been aged for about a year.
It tends to have a more nutty and pungent flavor than white or orange cheddar.
In addition, yellow cheese goes well with tomatoes, apples, and pears.
How do you soften old cheese?
One way to soften old cheese is to place it in a bowl of hot water with a weight placed on top for about an hour.
You can also use the microwave or oven to speed up this process, but be sure to keep your eyes on the cheese so that it doesn’t melt. (source)
Where can I use cheddar cheese?
Cheddar cheese is usually used as the main ingredient in dishes such as macaroni and cheese, grilled cheese sandwiches, baked potatoes, soups, or casseroles.
What type of fruit goes well with cheese?
Cheese tends to go well with fruit such as apples, pears, or peaches.
In addition, you can also use it for dipping purposes or simply eat it on its own.
Can you melt block cheddar cheese?
Yes, block cheddar cheese is the perfect type of cheese to melt when you are cooking dishes such as grilled cheese sandwiches or macaroni and cheese.
What can I do with the leftover meat and cheese tray?
Leftover meat and cheese trays are great for making quick meals when you are in a hurry.
Some options include using the meat with bread or crackers, while leftover cheese can be added to scrambled eggs, included on top of burgers, or melted over nachos.
What can I do with old hard Parmesan cheese?
When you have leftover Parmesan cheese that has been sitting out for a while, it is best to mix it with milk and turn it into a cream sauce.
You can also add this sauce to your favorite macaroni or spaghetti dish. (source)
Can I use mozzarella in place of cheddar?
Mozzarella cheese tends to be a bit more stretchy and gooey than cheddar, so it will melt a bit differently when you are cooking.
However, mozzarella can be used in place of cheddar when you need to add an extra cheesy flavor to your dish.
Is it safe to eat dried-out cheese?
It is safe to eat dried-out cheese, but it may not be as flavorful.
For example, if you are sprinkling Parmesan cheese on top of your dish, sprinkle some dried-out parmesan on first to get the right flavor before adding more fresh Parmesan.
Will dried cheese melt?
Dried cheese does not melt on its own since it has already dehydrated and lost most of its moisture.
However, it is possible to add some water or milk to the dried cheese and use it in a sauce for pasta or casseroles.
Conclusion
There are many ways to use leftover cheese so that it doesn’t go to waste.
In addition to the ideas we’ve listed, you can also add shredded or crumbled cheese to macaroni and cheese, casseroles, enchiladas, lasagna, stuffed peppers, and more.
Your leftover is a great way to add flavor and texture to any dish.
So the next time you have some leftover cheese, get creative and see what delicious dishes you can make with it.