Can You Eat The Rind On Brie?
Can you eat the rind on Brie? Absolutely yes! Keep reading to learn more about succulent Brie’s bloomy rind and why it shouldn’t be overlooked.
What Is The Rind on Brie?
Brie is a soft-ripened French cheese and is considered a delicacy among cheese lovers due to its delectably smooth and creamy texture and its melt in your mouth quality.
The cheese is encased with a firm white rind on the outside. The rind is, in fact, a white mold called Penicillium candidum, which cheesemakers inoculate the cheese with. This edible mold blooms on the outside of the paste and is then patted down, over and over again, to form the rind. This process gives Brie its distinctive taste.
Can You Eat The Rind On Brie?
Yes, the bloomy rind is completely safe to eat and even keeps the inside safe from any potentially unwanted microorganisms during production. The rind on Brie not only protects and encases the cheese – it also adds a subtle, earthy flavor. With a soft and tender texture, it is meant to complement the paste inside. The combination adds up to more than the sum of its parts – the two taste better together.
As a rule of thumb, the natural rinds of most cheeses are edible. For example, the rind on other soft cheeses, such as the closely related camembert are also safe to eat. However, some, like the hard rind found on Parmesan, while technically safe to eat, are not particularly enjoyable. In addition, human-made wrappers, like the red wax found on gouda, are the exception and should not be eaten.
What if I Don’t Like It?
That’s okay, but be aware it is bad manners to scoop out the inside and leave the rind on the board because it skews the ratio of rind to cheese for anyone who may want to enjoy the cheese after you. Thus, if you’re not a fan of the rind, take both elements onto your own plate and separate them there.
The Bottom Line
So, to answer the question, “Can you eat the rind on Brie?” Yes, it is 100% okay to eat the rind on Brie, and is even recommended. If you enjoy the flavor the rind imparts, eat as much as you like! If you’re unsure, try it. You just might like it!