Can you eat cheese rind? Yes, but…

The Food Republic recently asked a very basic question: Which Cheese Rinds Are Edible? And the answer is surprisingly simple: – as long as it isn’t man-made (like wax), the rind is edible. But that does lead to a second question: Does it taste good? And that is definitely up to the taster – some will find the rind elevates the flavor of the cheese, others will find it offputting. But the bottom line is go ahead and taste it – it won’t hurt and it can add to the enjoyment of the cheese.

And while we’re on cheese rinds, here’s a little tip about parmesan cheese rind. It is quite edible; if you want to eat it, feel free to grate it. But if you don’t want to eat it, by all means save and freeze the rind. Then throw the whole chunk (no need to defrost) into your next soup, spaghetti sauce, even chili if you like. Parmesan is full of umami and the rind will definitely add flavor and complexity. If it hasn’t dissolved when the dish is done, just fish it out before serving. You paid $20 plus for that rind – might as well use it.