Kashar Cheese

What Is Kaşar Cheese?

Kaşar cheese is a yellowish Turkish cheese, generally made from cow's milk, produced using the boil-and-knead (pasta filata) technique. Depending on its ripening time, it is divided into "fresh kaşar" and "aged kaşar."

Fresh kaşar is soft with a mildly sweet taste; aged kaşar, matured for months, hardens, its taste becomes noticeably sharper, and it becomes better suited for grating.

Nutritional Values of Kaşar Cheese

Kaşar cheese contains, similar to comparable firm-to-semi-firm yellow cheeses, about 356 kcal of energy and 24.9 g of protein per 100 g. It is rich in calcium; depending on the ripening process, its salt (sodium) ratio is also not negligible.

What Are the Benefits of Kaşar Cheese?

With its high protein and calcium content, kaşar cheese stands out as a dairy product that is part of a balanced diet. Portion control is important since it is a cheese with a high fat and salt ratio.

This information is general; kaşar cheese is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment.

How to Choose Kaşar Cheese?

When choosing fresh kaşar, color, smell, and texture should be observed.

• The color should be light yellowish-cream; overly dark yellow or gray spots may indicate staleness.
• There should be no wetness or mold on the surface, other than natural oiliness.
• Fresh (soft, good for melting) or aged (firm, good for grating) should be chosen depending on the intended use.

How to Store Kaşar Cheese?

Kaşar cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 weeks, with the cut surface tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or waxed paper. It is protected from drying out in airtight packaging; leaving it exposed for a long time causes hardening and drying on the surface.

Using Kaşar Cheese in the Kitchen

Kaşar cheese is eaten raw, sliced, at breakfast, and thanks to its easy-melting property it is frequently used in toast, fried dishes, and oven recipes. Aged kaşar is grated and sprinkled on top of pasta and soups.

How Is Kaşar Toast Made?

Thin kaşar slices are placed between sliced bread and cooked in a toaster or pan until the cheese melts and both sides turn golden brown.

How Is Kaşar Fried?

Thickly sliced kaşar is lightly floured and fried quickly in hot oil until both sides turn golden brown; it is served hot.

Which Recipes Use Kaşar Cheese?

Kaşar toast, fried kaşar, kaşar pasta, and baked vegetables with kaşar are among the most loved uses. Grated aged kaşar is also sprinkled on top of soups and rice dishes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is kaşar cheese good for?

Kaşar cheese is a dairy product rich in protein and calcium, and stands out as part of a balanced diet. It does not claim to cure any disease.

What is the difference between fresh kaşar and aged kaşar?

Fresh kaşar stays soft and mildly sweet with a few weeks of ripening, while aged kaşar hardens and its taste becomes noticeably sharper after months of ripening; aged kaşar is generally preferred for grating.

Can kaşar cheese be frozen?

Since freezing can make its texture crumbly, it is recommended to store kaşar cheese tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for best results; if frozen, it is generally more suitable for use in cooked recipes.

Why does kaşar cheese melt easily?

The kneading technique in the production process makes the cheese's protein structure suited to melting; this quality makes it a preferred cheese in recipes consumed hot, such as toast and fried dishes.

If the moldy part of kaşar cheese is cut off, can the rest be eaten?

In firm cheeses, if a small mold spot on the surface is cut away with a wide margin, the remaining part is generally considered edible; however, in cases of widespread mold or doubt, discarding the entire cheese is the safe choice.