Don’t Let Plastic-Tasting Goat’s Cheese Ruin Your Next Dish: Here’s What You Need to Know
Goat’s cheese may taste like plastic due to excessive rennet use, the age and storage of the cheese, and the type of goat’s milk. Proper milk quality, cheese storage, and rennet amount are crucial for avoiding the plastic flavor.
What Causes the Plastic-Like Taste in Goat’s Cheese?
It can be a huge disappointment if you are looking forward to some delicious, creamy goat’s cheese and all you can taste is plastic!
Let’s have a look at the possible causes.
There are three reasons for the weird taste: the age of the cheese, the processing method, and the type of goat’s milk that is used.
If we start with the manufacturing method, too much rennet can cause problems.
Rennet is the enzyme responsible for coagulating milk and separating it into curds and whey.
But if too much is used, then the flavor of the goat’s cheese can become plasticky and bitter to taste.
The next culprit is the age of the cheese and how it is stored.
If the goat’s cheese is allowed to go overripe, the tangy flavor goes away and is replaced by the unpleasant taste of plastic.
And how you store the cheese at home also makes a difference.
Always keep it in the refrigerator, preferably wrapped tightly in parchment paper.
It should be neither too dry nor too moist.
In the next section, I am going to discuss the different types of goat’s milk.
🧀 5 Popular Goat’s Cheese Dishes You’ll Love 🧀 | |
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1. Goat’s Cheese Salad | 🥗 Fresh greens with goat’s cheese, walnuts, and a tangy vinaigrette. |
2. Goat’s Cheese and Sun-Dried Tomato Tart | 🍅 A savory tart filled with creamy goat’s cheese and sun-dried tomatoes. |
3. Goat’s Cheese Stuffed Mushrooms | 🍄 Juicy mushrooms filled with a delicious goat’s cheese mixture. |
4. Goat’s Cheese and Fig Crostini | 🍞 Crunchy crostini topped with goat’s cheese, figs, and a drizzle of honey. |
5. Goat’s Cheese and Spinach Quiche | 🥧 A light and fluffy quiche filled with goat’s cheese and fresh spinach. |
❤️ Discover more cheesy delights at ChoosingCheese.com 🧀 |
Can the Type of Goat’s Milk Affect the Taste of the Cheese?
You might be surprised at how much of an impact the different types of milk have on the final product.
Let me explain how the taste of the cheese can be affected by the milk.
It’s possible to obtain milk from several different breeds of goat, and it will have different characteristics.
For example, Nubian goats produce creamy, sweet milk, whereas LaMancha goats yield milk that is high in protein and fats, which makes it almost buttery in taste.
If you can find cheese made from the milk of Alpine goats, then you are in luck!
This is my personal favorite, and the flavorful, rich taste is perfect on crackers, or as the centerpiece of a salad.
Now, here’s something you may not have considered, and that is how the health and well-being of the goat can affect the flavor of its milk.
If the goats are stressed or sick, then just like humans, their bodies produce the hormone cortisol, which impacts milk production.
And yes, goats do suffer from stress!
The environment in which the goats are kept also plays a part in influencing the flavor of the milk.
The happier and healthier the goat, the better quality milk it will produce.
Ideally, the goats should be allowed to graze in fields, giving them access to sunlight and fresh air.
The final key factor is the goat’s diet.
If they are allowed to eat hay and fresh grass, the milk will be creamier and sweeter.
However, if the goats are fed processed foods or grains, the unwanted extra compounds can create a bitter, plasticky taste in the milk, and subsequently, the cheese made from it.
How Can You Prevent Goat’s Cheese from Tasting Like Plastic?
So, now that we have a better idea of why your goat’s cheese tastes like plastic, how can we prevent it?
Let’s find some tricks and tips!
Although I have to be honest and say that there is little you can do if once you have tasted the cheese, you detect a plastic flavor.
There is no way of removing it.
From the outset, always buy your goat’s cheese from a reputable source, made from high-quality ingredients.
The so-called artisan cheeses are usually reliable, as they are made using authentic, traditional methods.
As mentioned, before, ensure you store the cheese correctly.
Are you perhaps making your cheese at home?
If so, keep an eye on how much rennet you use, so as not to adversely affect the taste.
How Great Goat’s Cheese Is Made
My Conclusion
- The taste and texture of the goat’s cheese can vary depending on the type of milk used.
- The numerous different goat breeds produce milk with varying amounts of protein and fat, which can affect the texture and flavor.
- The quality and flavor of the goats’ milk can be greatly influenced by their health and well-being.
- Hay and fresh grass are good sources of nutrition for goats, and they tend to produce milk with a creamy flavor.
- Goats housed in stress-free and sanitary conditions are typically happier and healthier, which can enhance the taste of the milk.
I hope you enjoyed this article and now have a better understanding of why goat’s cheese can sometimes have a nasty plastic taste!
And, if you are interested in unusual flavors in your cheese, you might enjoy my article on the saltiness of mozzarella!
How might the information in this article change your approach to selecting and enjoying goat’s cheese in the future?
Let us know in the comments below!
How do you determine if a goat cheeze is natural, or un-
Processed ?
How do you know what cheese company used Nubian, or la mancha goats to produce their cheese ?
Thank you for educating us on goat cheeze.