There is no denying that grated cheese is a great addition to almost any recipe. That said, grating cheese by hand can be extremely time-consuming, not to mention all the hard work you will be doing.
But, using a food processor to grate cheese is one nice solution that many people turn to in order to save time without sacrificing quality.
If you are wondering how to grate cheese in a food processor, then you have come to the right place. This article will present you with the best methods for grating cheese in a food processor.
Step by Step Process of Shredding Cheese in a Food Processor
It's not hard to grate cheese in a food processor, and it's faster than hand grating. The only trick is to make sure you have the right shredding disc and to grate the cheese in the right setting.
Grate hard cheeses like parmesan or aged cheddar first, so they don't stick to the grater. Softer cheeses like mozzarella can be added after the hard ones are done, but do them last because they melt easily into strings of melted mozzarella.
Step 1. Make Sure You Have the Correct Attachment for The Job
Most food processors come with different attachments like slicing disc, grater disc, and so on. If you want to shred cheese in a food processor, then use the grater disc attachment that comes with the machine.
Step 2. Cut the Cheese into Chunks
Cut the block cheese into smaller pieces if it does not fit in your food processor. You can do this easily by placing the blocks on a cutting board and cutting them into smaller blocks with a knife.
The smaller the pieces, the easier it will be to shred the cheese evenly using your food processor.
Step 3. Prep the Food Processor
Next, thoroughly wash the food processor. The shredding will be easier if you don't have to interrupt the process to clean the bowl halfway through shredding several pounds of cheese.
Step 4. Put the Cheese Chunks into The Food Processor
Put the cheese chunks into the food processor and turn on the food processor. Start it on low speed until everything is shredded (about 30 seconds). Increase your speed to medium-high for about another minute, or until all of your cheese is finely chopped into small bits.
Step 5. Take Out the Shredded Cheese
Once you have achieved your desired texture of grated cheese, take it out to use.
Store the remaining shredded cheese in an air-tight container or storage bag at room temperature and use it within two days, or freeze it for up to one month if desired. No more having to buy pre-shredded cheese at the store that's loaded with preservatives. And when you use freshly shredded cheese, it melts smoother and stretches further than processed cheese does.
Why it is Important to Shred your Own Cheese at Home
Freshness
The fresher the cheese is, the better it tastes. Cheeses that are sold pre-shredded may have been sitting on store shelves for weeks and months before you purchase them.
Taste
When you buy shredded cheese from a store, what you're really doing is paying for someone else's choice of ingredients and seasonings, then taking their word that they used only high-quality ingredients and only added what is allowed by law. The best way to avoid this is to shred your own cheese at home, so you know exactly what goes into each batch of grated cheese, plus have fresh cheese.
Plus, when you shred your own cheddar or parmesan cheese, you are able to control the size of the shreds. You can make them small or large depending on what they will be used for.
Having your own grated parmesan cheese adds great flavor to homemade dishes. Grated cheese will melt faster than store cheese, so it is best used in dishes that are going to be cooked.
Ingredients in most store-bought Grated cheese include:
Artificial colors, salt, sugar and/or corn syrup, and preservatives like sulfites are used to extend the shelf life of cheese. These are additives that you may not want to consume.
While these preservatives aren't necessarily toxic, they can be detrimental to your health over the long term because they can negatively affect your body.
The artificial colors are used to make your food look more appetizing, while salt is added to increase flavor.
Sulfur dioxide and/or sodium bisulfite is used as preservatives and antioxidants in various foods, including wine, dried fruits, dried potatoes, processed cereals, beer some dried eggs.
Cellulose from Wood Pulp
Also, cellulose powder is used in some shredded cheese. Cellulose powder is made from groundwood pulp, and when added to cheese, it helps prevent clumping and sticking together in the bag or container.
When you include this ingredient in the food is not illegal as it does not cause harmful effects. However, most people will not be okay with such ingredients in their cheese.
If you're worried about consuming preservatives and other chemicals when you buy already shredded cheese, simply shred your own instead. It's easy to do with a food processor fitted with a shredding attachment.
Can you grate hard cheese in a food processor?
The harder the cheese, the easier it is to grate and achieve the fine texture that some recipes require. Some people freeze the cheese first before placing it in the food processor bowl.
They want it as cold as possible before putting it into the food processor so that when they are grating parmesan cheese, they aren't heating and melting down the shreds at all.
The cheese should be dry before you grate it. If the cheese is too moist, it will stick to the grating disc and may cause a jam in the machine. Once you have grated the cheese, you need to clean out the machine immediately to prevent any buildup from occurring.
Can You Use a Food Processor to Grate?
Yes, you can use a food processor to grate. A food processor is one of the most versatile kitchen tools you can have. It can slice, grate, chop, puree (see also how to puree without a food processor), mix, and more. It's also a great tool for making shredded cheese at home.
Shredded cheese can be used in many recipes, and it makes cooking easier because it takes less time to make. You can put shredded cheese on pizza, pasta, vegetables, and much more (see here how to shred cabbage, too). Just shred your cheese and add it to recipes that call for shredded or freshly grated cheese.
What Are the Benefits of Using a Food Processor to Grate Cheese?
Using a food processor to grate cheese is a great alternative to the standard box grater. Not only does it give you good results, but it is also much faster than other methods. A box grater takes a long time to grate a small amount of cheese, and the results are often uneven. Even a smaller food processor does not have those problems, so it is the perfect kitchen tool for home cooks who like freshly grated cheese in their meals.
Saves you Time
The first benefit of using a food processor to grate cheese is that it saves you time. It can grate large amounts of cheese very quickly, especially if you have a larger food processor, so you can make dishes that require it in no time.
You will be able to cook more meals at home because you are not spending your time on tedious tasks like shredding cheese. Some people think that using a food processor will take longer than using a box grater, but that is not true at all. The blades of the processor cut through even blocks of hard cheese with ease, so you can grate large quantities in under a minute.
Easy to Use
Food processors are easy to use because they have an on/off button as well as a pulse setting, which is great for making nut butter among other things. You can easily determine how finely or coarsely you would like your ingredients to be chopped or shredded by using the pulse button for smaller amounts of ingredients and then using the on/off button for larger amounts of ingredients.
Fresh Grated Parmesan Cheese
Most people are used to buying shredded cheese from the grocery store. It comes in neat little packages that make it attractive for many people. However, store-grated cheese is extremely unhealthy for you.
You have no idea what kind of chemicals they have added to the grated parmesan cheese for preservation purposes. Additionally, this cheese is more expensive than the cheese you can grate at home, so you are wasting money by buying pre-shredded cheese.
Grating cheese at home is healthier and doesn't have any preservatives or artificial ingredients that the pre-shredded kind has, plus it is fresh.
What Kind of Cheese Should I Grate?
Any cheese can be grated. However, different cheeses have different properties that affect how they grate. Here is a brief summary of the most common types of cheese for grating:
Parmesan - Parmesan is a hard Italian cheese with sharp flavor and texture. It's an excellent choice for sprinkling on top of pasta or salads or adding to bread crumbs. Parmesan also grates well and makes a delicious topping for popcorn.
Asiago also grates well and keeps its flavor when frozen, making it an ideal choice for adding to soups, casseroles, and other recipes during colder months.
Cheddar: Cheddar is probably one of the most popular types of cheese. Use it for making grilled cheeses, in quiches, or on sandwiches. You can shred cheddar using a large-holed cheese grater or a food processor.