Posted on 01/14/2021 10:06:23 AM PST by mylife
There are a lot of things that come in a can. You can get a loaf of bread, a cheeseburger, a “whole chicken“ (if you can count it as such, because it comes out all butchered and congealed), rattlesnake, and more. There was even a company called GAME that created Christmas Tinner, which is a nine-course holiday meal in a can. Needless to say, that did not take off. One item I can safely say I never thought I’d find is canned cheddar cheese, but here we are. I found a canned cheddar cheese. It’s called Cougar Gold Cheddar Cheese. And it’s absolutely incredible.
Turns out, I’m not the only one who thinks so. After going down a Cougar rabbit hole, I learned that this cheese is made at Washington State University Creamery and has quite the cult following. (I found out later that it is, in fact, not the only canned cheese out there with a die-hard base: I see you Amul!) The Gold Cheddar makes up the majority of their cheese sales, and happy buyers rave about the flavor and texture. So I bought myself a gigantic 30 oz. can—which is the baseline portion—and impatiently waited for its arrival.
When it did show up—in a room temperature box; it’s shelf stable, of course!—I cracked that baby open the second I got my hands on it. Loyal fans say the cheese just gets better with age, but I just couldn’t wait. (Pop it in the fridge if you’re not going to immediately eat it. The chill helps the cheese maintain its shape and texture, while keeping the whey and curd from separating.)
At first it looked a little dry and crumbly for my liking. I assumed it would taste very salty and maybe even slightly gritty, a far cry from the smooth, sharp, tangy cheddars I love. I thought wrong. Once I popped a piece in my mouth, it started to melt a bit, creating a creamy, silky texture, with a nice sharpness to it. It was one of the best cheddars I’d ever had. It even excelled melted in macaroni and cheese, coating all my spiral noodles in a tangy, decadent finish.
And, yes, it’s from a can. A can! Both shocked and pleased, I am 100% a card-carrying member of the Cougar cult now. And I think you should be, too.
I became a gourmet with c-rations and the fruitcake was delicious.
Yes, this is excellent cheese. Used to receive it every christmas from family members for years.
Yep...comes highly recommended.
There may not be any green cheese on the Moon but there is some in my refrigerator. Goes with salad greens!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.