When I received the shredder attachment set for my KitchenAid stand mixer as a Christmas gift, I immediately fell in love! Like many (many) people, I love cheese. Maybe unlike some people, I despise using a box grater. They are cumbersome and I always manage to hurt myself on the grates somehow.
Now, no more box grater - the KitchenAid does it all for me and in a fraction of the time!
This post is all about how to easily shred cheese with a KitchenAid stand mixer. If you have been looking for a better way to shred cheese at home, or maybe you have been thinking about purchasing the shredder attachment, I hope this post helps you!
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From cheddar to brie and everything in between, cheese is a universal food. (As I was writing this, I almost referred to cheese as a food group!)
The Italians lovingly grate fresh parmesan over a hearty pasta dish, while the French savor Camembert with a crusty baguette. Such are the delights of life.
Any and all variations of the spectacular food we call cheese are welcome in my home. Give me warm brie on little toasts, or shredded cheddar generously sprinkled over a platter of homemade nachos, and I am all set!
Benefits of Fresh Shredded Cheese
There are times when you need to buy pre-shredded store-bought cheese, I get it. With a little planning, you can have fresh shredded cheese at home anytime using your handy KitchenAid stand mixer (similar, but in color Blue Velvet).
Why you'll love shredded cheese at home:
- Fresh and tastes better - No fillers or anti-caking ingredients, such as cellulose or cornstarch. It's just cheese.
- Cost effective - Pre-shredded store-bought cheese is typically more expensive than block cheese. Also, you can buy block cheese in bulk, shred it, and freeze it for later.
- Saves time - Making fresh shredded cheese using a KitchenAid stand mixer takes a few minutes versus shredding cheese with a box grater.
When it comes to cooking, fresh shredded cheese is much easier to cook with than pre-shredded cheese. Fresh shredded cheese melts quicker and more evenly. And don't even get me started on the difference in taste as well as texture.
Supplies and Ingredients You Need
As the title says, this is all about how to shred cheese with a KitchenAid stand mixer. Specifically, you will need a few supplies and only one ingredient to do this, all are listed below.
Ingredients:
You will need a block of cheese (cold). Harder cheeses work better for shredding cheese using this KitchenAid stand mixer method. That said, I read you can freeze softer cheeses for about 15-30 minutes beforehand to enable shredding with a stand mixer, but I have not tried it.
I used an 8 ounce block of Organic Valley Grassmilk Raw Organic Cheddar Cheese. It also comes as sharp.
Equipment:
KitchenAid Stand Mixer
If it's not already sitting pretty on your kitchen counter, take out your handy KitchenAid stand mixer. I have the gorgeous 100th Anniversary KitchenAid Stand Mixer in Misty Blue. I talked about the find of the century in a previous post. You can read all about how I came to own it in My KitchenAid Stand Mixer Story. If you are looking for a similar mixer, the KitchenAid stand mixer in color Blue Velvet is one of their popular colors.
KitchenAid Slicer/Shredder Attachment
You will need the KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment in order to shred cheese using this method. It comes with three different blade attachments for slicing or shredding everything from cucumbers and carrots to cheese, zucchini, cabbage, potatoes, and more. In general, it's a versatile attachment for a stand mixer.
Cheese Knife
While the stand mixer will do most of the work, you will need to cut the block of cheese down to properly fit into the attachment. Depending on the type of cheese, having a cheese knife set handy means you can use the proper knife for the hardness of the cheese and not ruin your regular kitchen knives.
Large Bowl
You will need a large-preferably tall-bowl to catch the cheese as it shreds. I simply used a large bowl from the nice glass mixing bowl set (similar) I have. The 10-piece set is made in France of shock-resistant tempered glass that is microwavable, as well as oven, freezer, and dishwasher safe.
While I knew the bowl I used would not be tall enough to contain the cheese, the glass bowl photographs well so I didn't care. A tall bowl from this stainless steel mixing bowl set may work better.
Directions
- Follow the instructions provided with the KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment to connect it to the stand mixer. Note: I used the "Coarse" shredding blade, but the "Medium" shredding blade should also work for cheese.
- Cut the (cold) cheese into small enough chunks to fit into the feed tube. As I mentioned, I read you can freeze softer cheeses for about 15-30 minutes beforehand to enable shredding with a stand mixer, but I have not tried it.
- Place the bowl under the attachment where the cheese will come out.
- Use the KitchenAid stand mixer to shred the cheese according to the Attachment instructions. When I did this, KitchenAid's directions said to turn the mixer to speed 4 and feed the cheese through the feed tube with the food pusher. I did this for all four chunks of cheese, yielding a large bowl full of perfectly shredded cheese!
Serving Suggestions
Ever the chameleon, there are countless ways to use fresh shredded cheese, including
- With my Cilantro Lime Rice, add shredded cheese to burrito bowls
- Sprinkle shredded cheese on top of my hearty Homemade Chili
- Melt shredded cheese over tortilla chips with fresh Pico de Gallo salsa
How to Store Fresh Shredded Cheese
Keep in mind hard and soft cheeses should be stored and consumed in very different timeframes. The harder the cheese, the less moisture content so the longer it will last before spoiling. The opposite is true of soft cheeses and you simply shouldn't freeze soft cheeses.
Whether refrigerating or freezing fresh shredded cheese, always check for signs of spoilage before consuming.
Depending on where you get your information from, there does not appear to be a consensus on how long freshly shredded cheese is good for in the refrigerator. Some sources listed 3 to 4 weeks, while others said 5 to 7 days. Since exposure to the air makes cheese spoil faster, remove as much air as possible, wrap it in plastic wrap or parchment paper, and place it in an air-tight container. Out of abundance of caution, and not wasting food, we try to consume freshly shredded cheese within a few days.
In terms of freezing shredded cheese, again there does not appear to be a consensus as to how long frozen shredded cheese will stay good for. I read two weeks from one source (that source was a purveyor of cheese), 2 to 3 months from another source (maybe the most used timeframe for best taste and texture), and 6 months from yet another source.
So, generally speaking, you can bulk shred block (hard) cheese and freeze it for 2-3 months, but freezing will change the texture and possibly the taste. The best way to freeze shredded cheese is to vacuum seal it. If you don't have one, remove as much air as possible before storing in a freezer-safe container.
When you are ready to use the frozen shredded cheese, The National Dairy Council's article, "Can You Freeze Cheese," suggests thawing shredded cheese slowly in the refrigerator for 24 to 48 hours to allow the moisture created from the freezing-thawing process to reabsorb into the cheese. Use the cheese very quickly once it is no longer frozen.
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