Whether you are cooking carbonara for dinner or a cheesy dipping sauce for an appetizer, the smokey and pungent flavor of gouda enhances every plate. Liquify your favorite milk curds with help from the ultimate guide to melt cheese in the microwave to intensify taste and enrich meals in less than a minute.
Typically, gouda cheese is made from cow’s milk and is coated with a red wax to prevent it from drying out. Gouda has a higher fat content with at least 28% fat, and a maximum of 43% moisture, which it the perfect cheese to melt.
In order to melt gouda in the microwave, remove the wax coating and slice, grate, shred or dice the cheese. Place in a microwave-safe bowl, set medium power level, nuke for 15 seconds and stir. Repeat if necessary to find the consistency you are looking for.
Use red wax coated or smoked gouda for the best melting results. Does that mean that all gouda cheese melts?
Does gouda cheese melt easily?
Just like other semi-hard cheese, gouda needs mild heat to melt. If heated at too high heat, it can become stringy.
Gouda cheese has lower acidity than other cheeses, therefore it has a sweeter and chewy texture. Fresh gouda melts much easier compared to aged gouda cheese. In general, younger gouda can be identified with a red wax coating.
Depending on how long the cheese is aged really determines the ease to reach melting point. Since all variables in cheese production are not equal, choose the right type of gouda based on your preference and recipe.
How do you melt gouda cheese in the microwave?
The best way to melt gouda cheese quickly is by using microwave method. If you are making a smoked gouda dip or easy cheese sauce to pour over a side dish of broccoli, the melting point of gouda is only 30 seconds away.
Simply chop gouda into smaller pieces and place it in a bowl or container that is microwave-safe. Set the heat to 50% power and nuke for 15 seconds at a time. Check and stir every 15 second increment to find the best result.
Be careful when melting gouda in the microwave. The fat and protein can separate when overheated, which results in a clear liquid residue that seeps out of the cheese when not properly melted.
Why does gouda cheese not melt?
Gouda can be difficult to melt in the microwave even though you shredded or sliced thinly to accelerate the process. The melting point of gouda cheese is different based on the age, which affects the moisture content.
Gouda cheese that has been aged longer does not melt well because it has less moisture inside. Low moisture cheese doesn’t melt smoothly and typically ends up a bit lumpy.
Things to know before melting gouda cheese in the microwave
Melting young gouda cheese into a sweet and creamy sauce is so quick and easy. In contrast, added and smoked gouda can be a bit more difficult to melt because of the low-moisture content.
Here are additional information you need to know before melting gouda cheese in the microwave:
- When choosing microwave-safe bowl, pick non-stick feature when melting gouda cheese.
- Consider a light mist of non-stick cooking spray to prevent the melted gouda from sticking to the sides of the bowl.
- When storing gouda, wrap it in plastic wrap or food storage container and in the fridge. Gouda cheese dries out quickly.
- It’s not recommended to eat the red wax rind, but for smoked gouda you may eat the smoked outer layer. So, remove the red wax coating before melting.
- Let the gouda cheese sit in the room temperature for 20 minutes before heating. This reduces the transition between refrigerator temperature and melting point in the microwave.
- Avoid overheating gouda cheese, the fat may separate from the protein and it will not be able to reach the creaminess and smoothness you are looking for.
Slice, dice, or shred gouda cheese into uniform shapes and sizes. All the cheese to come to room temperature for 20 minutes before microwaving.
Place the gouda cheese into a microwave safe bowl, set the power level to medium, nuke for 15 second increments and stir after each interval. Repeat if necessary until the cheese reaches the melting point with a silky smooth consistency.
Instead of using a double boiler or fondue machine, use the microwave to melt gouda cheese to add to your tasty meal. The sweet and saucy cheese is so easy to melt that you don’t need any special technique or kitchen gadget to do so.
