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My roommate called me out for buying pre-shredded cheese
She said I was throwing money away since blocks are cheaper and last longer. Did the math and it's like saving $1.50 per bag, plus no anti-caking stuff. Anyone else made the switch and notice a difference in cooking?
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nguyen.blake1mo ago
The $1.50 savings per bag is a solid estimate, though it depends on your store and brands (some store brands are closer to a dollar difference). But the real change I noticed was in sauces and melting - pre-shredded cheese has that powdery coating that keeps it from clumping, but it also makes it take longer to melt smooth. I switched about six months ago and now I just shred a block on Sunday and keep it in a ziplock bag for the week, which feels way more consistent for cooking. One thing I would gently push back on is the "last longer" part - blocks do last longer once opened, but pre-shredded often has a longer unopened shelf life thanks to those same anti-caking agents. So if you're the type who buys cheese months in advance, maybe keep a bag or two around for emergencies (just don't expect it to melt into a perfect fondue or anything).
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vera1951mo ago
That point about the "powdery coating" is spot on, I never really thought about WHY my nachos were coming out all gloopy instead of smooth. I started shredding my own blocks too and it's a game changer for anything saucy like mac and cheese where you want it to melt evenly. Plus I find the blocks just taste fresher somehow, even if the pre-shredded bags last longer unopened like you said.
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