What does Dubliner cheese taste like? Some people said that its taste is similar to a good cheddar. However, the profile flavor of Dubliner cheese is more complicated. Since the taste of cheese can change over time, you may be interested in these unexpected flavors.
In this article, aside from the general information about Dubliner cheese, I also provide detailed instructions about its complex flavor. So, let’s get ready to learn more about Dubliner cheese and pick a suitable product.
Dubliner – One Special Granular Cheese
Like many other types of cheese, Dubliner cheese has its own story and interesting facts about its origin. Before jumping more profound into the flavor profile of this dairy product, let’s first learn some general information.
Origin
Dubliner cheese is an Irish cheese named after Dublin, the country’s capital, even though it comes from Cork, Ireland’s second-largest country. This iconic cheese was made by an Irishman named John Lucey in 1990, with the initial name “Araglen”.
From 1991 to 1994, the cheese was planned for commercialization by Carbery Milk Products. The cheese was called Dubliner in 1996 after being marketed internationally by Ornua. It is now made in large quantities under the brand name Kerrygold.
A Quick Overview Of Dubliner Cheese
Dubliner cheese is an Irish hard cheese made from cow’s milk. Since it takes at least a year to age, Dubliner cheese forms a firm and robust texture with a pale yellow, nearly white color.
Dubliner cheese has a flavor profile of buttery and sweet goodness. Besides, it is a close cousin of Parmesan in terms of texture since they are both granular cheese types.
This cheese also has a good melting feature, especially if you grate it. However, its meltability can’t be compared to Muenster cheese and other similar types of cheese.
As this cheese is widely popular and exported to many countries, you can find Dubliner cheese at any supermarket and online.
Lastly, Dubliner cheese is one favored cheese for vegetarians since it doesn’t use rennet, originating from the stomach of certain animals, during the making process.
Let’s Learn The Way To Make Dubliner Cheese
The detailed recipe for making Dubliner cheese is a secret you won’t be able to get. However, you still can overview how the cheese is made following the granular cheese-making method.
Like other granular cheeses, Dubliner cheese is produced by repeatedly stirring and draining a mixture of curd and whey. After heating the milk, instead of rennet, cheesemakers add microbial products to curdle the milk.
Next, salt will be added to the cheese to stabilize and preserve the cheese after people separate the curds from the whey. They will then let the cheese mature for at least a year before distributing it to the markets.
The Nutrition Facts Of Dubliner Cheese
Besides its vegetarian-friendly properties, Dubliner cheese is also an excellent food for a keto diet since it is carb-free and high in healthy fats. Usually made from milk from grass-fed cows, it is also an excellent source of healthy fats, omega-3, and linoleic acids.
In addition, this Irish cheese helps lower blood pressure, regulate fluids and provide a great energy source.
Most importantly, supplementing your meal with Dubliner cheese is a great way to add calcium to your body. That makes up much of the structure of bones and teeth, allowing normal bodily movement by keeping tissue rigid, strong, and flexible. (1)
General Taste Of Dubliner Cheese
When it comes to Ireland, people usually think of its beautiful landscape and the distinctive flavors of Dubliner cheese. For a quick explanation, this type of cheese has a flavor mixed between the sweetness of Parmigiano-Reggiano and the mature cheddar’s sharpness.
In more detail, Dubliner cheese has a nice buttery and nutty aroma. If you have one bite of raw cheese, you can feel the complexity in its flavor profile, which ranges from nutty and sweet to sharp.
Besides, the cheese also has a perfect balance of sweet and savory undertones. Therefore, it makes Dubliner cheese versatile for many different cooking recipes.
Nowadays, besides the original Dubliner cheese with traditional flavor, you can find some other versions:
- Matured Dubliner: This version resembles the typical Dubliner’s distinctive, mature, and full-flavor taste. It has a natural hint of sweetness and a crumbly texture.
- Vintage Dubliner: This version of Dubliner cheese has an aging process of up to 2 years. Therefore, it develops a more distinctive and deeper flavor.
Although it shares the mature version’s crumbly texture, vintage Dubliner perfectly balances the sweet and savory.
- Light Dubliner: The light Dubliner version contains one-third less fat though it still has the same flavor as typical Dubliner cheese. As a result, if you are pursuing a less-fat diet, you can consider this version.
Still don’t know what the Dubliner cheese tastes like? Here is your answer.
How To Identify Good Dubliner Cheese?
Consuming spoiled cheese is never recommended since it can have many negative health effects andmay lose quality and nutritional value (2). Therefore, you should learn some steps you must follow when buying Dubliner cheese for better health.
Checking The Packaging
You must look at the packaging when buying Dubliner cheese or any type of cheese.
Although cheese can extend its life beyond the expiration day, eating expired food is not ideal. Therefore, you must first look at the expiration date before buying Dubliner cheese to ensure that the cheese has not deteriorated over time.
Second, check whether the packaging is clean and reasonably snug around the cheese. If there is any hole in the package, you better not bring that block of cheese home.
Checking The Appearance
This is a good signal if you unwrap the Dubliner cheese and notice a pale yellow and uniform, slightly darker than white cheddar. In case you notice some crystal formations in your cheese, that is just a normal sign of matured cheese.
You can also taste and smell the cheese to ensure it’s safe to eat. Dubliner cheese usually smells clean and has no strange smells. If your cheese looks dark and dry or gives off an ammonia scent, you shouldn’t keep it anymore.
How To Store The Dubliner Cheese Properly?
Similar to many other kinds of cheese, you can store Dubliner cheese by keeping the cheese refrigerated or freezing it. Let’s learn how to practice these two methods correctly.
Keep The Cheese Refrigerated
By keeping Dubliner cheese in the fridge, you can save it for 3-4 weeks. Rather than leaving the cheese in the fridge without protection, you should wrap it in wax or parchment paper and then cover it with plastic.
If there are signs of mold on the surface of the cheese, you must discard the portion 1 inch around and below the mold, then re-cover the rest in a new wrap.
Usually, manufacturers encourage you to store the cheese at 2-5˚C in the fridge and enjoy it within 7 days after opening the packaging. For the best quality, you should take the cheese out of the fridge for 30 minutes before using it.
Freezing The Dubliner Cheese
Freezing is always the best method to extend the shelf life of any cheese, especially Dubliner cheese. By placing it in the freezer, you can keep the cheese live for 6 months for the best quality. The cheese can be stored indefinitely if it is frozen at 0°F.
First, you should cover the cheese in plastic wrap, heavy-duty aluminum foil, or a heavy-duty freezer bag before placing it in the freezer. Besides, you should notice the frozen cheese will lose some flavor. Therefore, you should just use this cheese for cooking purposes.
How Can You Eat Dubliner Cheese?
Dubliner cheese is versatile, so you can have it in many different styles. Many people love to eat raw Dubliner cheese as a snack, which has a perfectly crumbly texture.
However, pairing the cheese with wine or fruits is okay. The cheese goes well with a wine like Cabernet or Guinness. You can have it with fruity wine, such as Irish wine or Oaky Chardonnay wine. Pairing Dubliner cheese with fruits like apples or pears is also beautiful.
For cooking purposes, you can melt Dubliner cheese for crusty brown bread. If you have sandwiches or pasta, replacing other cheeses with Dubliner cheese will bring you new flavor experiences.
Don’t Have Dubliner Cheese? Go For These Substitutes
If you don’t have any Dubliner cheese available, you can consider taking other cheese instead. But only a few varieties can fit the bill: let’s find out what they are.
1. Cheddar
Cheddar is native to England, but its fame is global. It is a hard cheese using cow’s milk. Depending on the varieties, cheddar can take 3-24 months to mature. Besides, cheddar is relatively easy to find in any kitchen, making it a popular alternative to Dubliner cheese.
A good cheddar will have a white to pale yellow color. Sometimes, the cheese will have darker color due to the source of milk or natural food coloring (like annatto color). Therefore, it’s not strange to see an eye-catching piece of orange cheddar.
Flavorwise, you can use matured cheddar to replace Dubliner cheese. As cheddar is aged long enough, it will form white speckles. Besides, having the aged cheddar is a good way to mimic the sharp flavor similar to Dubliner cheese.
2. Parmigiano-Reggiano
This renowned Italian cheese consists of unpasteurized cow’s milk and takes 12 months to age. Parmigiano-Reggiano has a complex flavor profile but tastes mildly sharper than cheddar.
Like Dubliner cheese, Parmigiano-Reggiano is a hard granular cheese. Although the taste of Parmigiano can be nuttier and fruitier, it mimics the white crystals of Dubliner cheese exactly.
Usually, you can use Parmigiano-Reggiano to graze on pizza and pasta. Otherwise, eating this cheese as a snack or pairing it with fruit is also beautiful.
But here is the catch: Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese can go by the name Parmesan, but the opposite isn’t true. Many so-called Parmesan products only follow the same making method and don’t actually come from Italy.
3. Gruyere Cheese
Gruyere cheese is a famous Swiss cheese. It is also an excellent candidate to substitute for Dubliner cheese. Because this is a firm cow’s milk-based cheese, its texture and flavor are highly similar to Dubliner.
Usually, Gruyere takes at least six months to age, leading to a complex flavor profile with a sharp and nutty taste. Thus, you can use Gruyere to enhance the taste of various dishes, such as mac n cheese or grilled sandwiches.
Besides, the cheese is also suitable for melting. Gruyere cheese provides a smooth and creamy texture, which can be different from the crumbly one of Dubliner cheese when heated. However, if you are looking for cheese for your baked dishes, Gruyere is a good option.
You Will Love These Dubliner Cheese Recipes!
Here comes the most exciting section of the article, the Dubliner cheese recipes. Do you know the beautiful flavor of Dubliner can substitute for many kinds of cheese? Let’s learn some popular dishes using Dubliner cheese.
Dubliner Au Gratin Potatoes
I love having Dubliner Au Gratin Potatoes for my Christmas dinner. This is a delicious side for every party in which its creamy texture and buttery flavor will shine beautifully. Its nutty and sweet flavor balance will make you remember it for days.
Are you curious about how to make this creamy and cheesy dish? Let’s discover this recipe now.
Guinness Dubliner Dip
The Guinness Dubliner Dip is a cheesy and addictive recipe. You can have it as a warm appetizer at a cozy holiday party. Your friends and family will be grateful for this soft, golden, bubbly dish.
You must serve the dip with toasted slices of rye bread. The crispiness of the bread and the softness of the cheese are the perfect match card.
Dubliner Cheese and Tomato Stuffed Chicken Breasts
I was surprised when I learned that chicken and cheese could go together. However, this combination is an excellent innovation. The melted cheese will give the chicken breasts a beautiful fat and succulent flavor you will never forget.
Irish Cheese Toasties
These Irish cheese toasties are classic and delicious snacks that go well with beer. This dish has a full flavor of Dubliner cheese and a bit of savory goodness from spices like salt and the toasty bread. In general, it is satisfying.
Savory Waffles with Rosemary, Ham, and Dubliner Cheese
The waffle is famous for its sweet version, but do you know this savory waffle with Dubliner cheese is also scrumptious? You can have this cheesy and savory bite for breakfast or brunch and start your day in the most delicious way possible.
FAQs
I hope you feel good when learning about Dubliner cheese. But if you are still interested in learning, you can keep reading for a more detailed answer to this iconic cheese of Ireland.
Dubliner Cheese – A Wonderful Delicacy From Ireland
Aside from the beautiful landscape, Irishmen are also proud of their signature cheese, Dubliner. You should try this beautiful and flavorful cheese if you have a chance. You can become addicted to its goodness and aroma.
Remember to share this article with your beloved if you find it helpful. They will be happy to learn about this fantastic cheese. Besides, I always welcome any contribution to the topic, so don’t hesitate to leave a comment. Thank you so much!
References
- Office of dietary supplements – calcium NIH Office of Dietary Supplements. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Department of Health & Human Services (2000) Food – use-by and best-before dates, Better Health Channel. Department of Health & Human Services.
