Cheese is one of the most popular foods worldwide. It can go with just about anything and is served in numerous different ways. Whether it’s for a cheese platter, pairing with crackers, on a pizza, or for your own burger creation, an important skill to know is how to slice cheese thinly.
If you’re looking to serve up the perfect slice for guests or just for yourself, using the best tool for the right cheese can make all the difference.
How To Slice Cheese Thinly
There are many different ways to cut cheeses. Cubed, thick-cut, crumbed, you name it. If you’ve got a need to slice it thinly, such as in your perfect burgers, on a pizza, or when having smoked cheese, it’s great to know there are options out there to make this an easy and seamless task.
Think about it, if you’re having THIN slices of cheese you can eat twice as many ;).
Let’s look at the best ways to slice cheese thinly.
Using A Plain-Edge Knife (Not Serrated)
There are so many types of cheese knives. However, the most traditional way to slice your cheese is by using any standard, plain-edge knife. That is, not using a serrated knife. By using a knife over any other tool, it gives you the most control over the slices. You also need to make sure that it’s sharp enough to get a clean and precise cut.
- Hold your cheese firmly against a wooden chopping block.
- Curl your fingers and line up your knife.
- Softly begin slicing through the cheese. If it’s larger and tougher you can slice more firmly, and bring the knife back and forth as you go.
Don’t push it too hard as you may end up squishing softer cheeses this way.
Using A Cheese Plane
One of the more effortless and precise ways to slice your cheese thinly is to use a cheese plane. A cheese plane is particularly effective for medium or harder cheeses. This hand tool will easily give you the perfect slice you are looking for, is safe to use, and reliable in serving the more precise slices of cheese.
- Set the cheese on a wooden cutting board so it doesn’t slide.
- Adjust your grip. Use a softer grip for softer cheeses and a harder grip for harder cheeses.
- Firmly slide the sharp side of the plane over the cheese, creating a clean and delicious slice.
You don’t need anything fancy, just a good quality steel cheese plane. The BOSKA Copenhagen Cheese Slicer makes beautiful slices and is so easy to use in its simplest design, plus it has a 10-year warranty!
Using A Cheese Wire Cutter
Hard cheeses are not all that you’ll be slicing. There are also, just as delicious, soft cheeses ready to be chomped down. Cheese planes don’t work as well on these cheeses, so in this case, a wire cutter will get you a much better result.
- Set the cheese on a wooden cutting board so it doesn’t slide.
- If your wire cutter is adjustable, set the thickness of the slicer according to your deepest cheesy desires.
- Use pressure to pull the wire through the cheese, creating a beautiful and thin slice.
The Bellemain Adjustable Thickness Cheese Slicer is one of the highest-rated and most popular cheese wire cutters available in the market. This one has a great adjustable setting for slicing at your desired thickness, it has a one-year warranty, and it’s great value for quality. It’s also fully stainless steel which is a good sign that it will last for a while.
Wire cutters work amazingly on medium and soft cheeses, but sometimes don’t have the strength for hard cheeses.
How To Slice Different Types Of Cheeses
Soft Cheeses
Soft cheeses should be cut in slices on the longest side. This will leave long strips behind that are great for presentations on cheese boards.
Hard Cheeses
Hard cheese blocks, like cheddar for example, should be cut on the wide edges until you are halfway through the cheese. From there you can make slices on the longest side.
Blocks And Wheels
Blocks are cut in half, then cut into rectangular portions. Wheels, however, are cut into triangles after cutting the entire wheel in half.
Logs
Logs have the simplest cut, as you will just simply cut off circles of cheese as you go down the length of it.
Tips For Slicing Cheese
- Slice the cheese just before you are about to use it.
- For medium and soft cheeses, move your knife gently back and forward, not forcing it down.
- Never use a serrated knife.
- Always cut on a clean and clear chopping board
- Use different cheese cutting tools depending on the hardness of your cheese.
Serving The Cheese
Now that you have your thin cheese slices, it’s your choice on how you are going to serve them. One of the most classic ways to serve cheese is on a cheeseboard. This offers you the opportunity to make some type of display utilizing the cheese slices, meats, fruits, and more.
Another way to serve these impeccable cheese slices is with crackers. There is nothing I love more than having a nice slice of cheese on top of a water cracker/biscuit. Slicing the perfect thickness and length to match the cracker to get that perfect bite. Plus matching the size with evenly sliced cheeses is so appealing to anyone, even if it’s just for your eyes only.
Final Words
Cheese is that unique food that can be served by itself, or in so many different ways, with so many different types of foods. In order to prepare and serve cheese in the best way possible though, it helps to use the right tool and technique for the right cheese. This can be done by using a smooth knife, a wire cutter, or a cheese slicer to get that clean, beautiful, and straight cut you desire.
Don’t stop loving cheese, and it won’t stop loving you.
