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Whether you purchased packaged shredded cheese or shredded it yourself, sometimes you don’t use it all up, and there is no way this is going to waste. In fact it’s one of the best “leftovers” ever – I actually buy cheese and shredded cheese all the time without the slightest notion of what I will make with it, because I know when I have shredded cheese in the house, only good things will happen.

Grating Cheese / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Mia

Different Kinds of Shredded Cheese:

While some of these recipes might stipulate a particular kind of cheese, almost always it’s up to you which one you’d like to use. If a sharp cheddar is called for, for instance, then you may not want to swap in mozzarella, which is much milder….or maybe you would like to, because that’s what you have and you are fine with a softer cheese-flavored dish. It’s all good. It’s all really, really good. 

Here are some cheeses you might have or want to buy, and a bit about their flavors and intensity:

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Cheddar: 

A firm cow’s milk cheese, often available in white and orange varieties, and made in a whole lot of parts of the country—Wisconsin, New York, Vermont, to name a few. There are many kinds of cheddar, and also many levels of sharpness. Pick the one that feels right for the dish and your folks.

Monterey Jack:

An easy to love firm, semi-soft cheese made from cow’s milk, this melts really nicely and kind of goes with everything. It’s flavor is quite soft though, so it’s nice blended with other cheeses.

Pepper Jack:

Same cheese as above but with bits of jalapeno or other spicy peppers sprinkled throughout.

Mozzarella:

Usually available in part-skim and whole milk varieties. Fairly soft, super mild, easily meltable, used often in pizzas and lasagnas and other Italian pasta dishes.

Best Turkey Lasagna

Provolone:

Fairly firm, often slightly smoky (sometimes more than slightly – it might even have smoke flavoring added). Medium level of flavor intensity.

Parmesan:

Pieces of Parmesan Cheese on a black surface.

Parmesan cheese comes grated in a variety of densities, from an almost powdery fine grated version, to hefty strands. It’s is nutty and salty and intensely flavored, so if you do decide to go with Parm you may want to blend it with another milder cheese, unless you are really going to a full-flavored nutty taste. 

The world of Parmesan is a deep one, with all sorts of things to know about where the cheese is made, how it’s made, how long it is aged, and more, so if you want to dig in deeper, here’s some reading on that.  It’s super flavorful, but not the meltiest of cheeses (and when it melts it’s not that creamy)

Shredded Cheese Blends: 

There are lots of blended shredded cheese available in packages. Mexican Blend, Italian blend, Pizza Blends, Taco Blends, more specific blends like Cheddar-Jack, Colby Jack, Mozzarella-Provolone and others. There seem to be more and more blends available, which is awesome. I love these blended shredded cheeses, because with no extra work on my part, I’m getting a variety of cheese flavors in my dish. 

26 Things to Make with Leftover Cheese: If you have leftover cheeses of all kinds, these recipes will help you put them to fabulous use.

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Woman placing shredded cheese onto eggs on a tortilla.

What is added to shredded cheese?

Usually wither cellulose or potato starch are added to package shredded cheeses to prevent clumping, but in very small amounts. Check the label to see, and if you are a purist, you can buy blocks of whole cheese and shred your own.


26 Things to Make with Leftover Cheese

Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas

Cheesy Ground Beef Quesadillas

These comfort food quesadillas come together quickly and make a great last-minute dinner or satisfying snack.

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Spinach and Cheese Stuffed Shells

Cheesy and satisfying, this is a great alternative to tomato-based baked pasta dishes.

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Cheesy Mashed Potatoes

A comfort food gets even more comforting.

Spicy Cheesy Artichoke Dip / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Spicy Cheesy Artichoke Dip

Everyone loves an artichoke dip and this chunky one has both cheesiness and a little kick.

Hot Cheesy Scallion Kale Dip

Hot Cheesy Scallion Kale Dip

One of the nicest things that can happen to a bunch of kale.

Pasta Shells with Pumpkin in a Creamy, Cheesy Sauce

Creamy Pumpkin Mac and Cheese

Pretty, satisfying, cold weather comfort food

Very Cheesy Orzo Casserole

Very Cheesy Orzo Casserole

Never throw away small pieces of leftover cheese again.

Mexican Tortilla Chicken Soup

Mexican Chicken Tortilla Soup

This divine soup is scented with chili, cumin and coriander, and topped with all kinds of deliciousness, like avocado and tortilla crisps. This is one of my favorite soups of all time.

Simple Baked Pasta with Bolognese Sauce / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

Simple Baked Pasta with Bolognese Sauce

A super solid, super satisfying cold weather pasta casserole—kind of a deconstructed lasagna.

Bulgur Wheat, Sweet Potato and Black Bean Gratin

Bulgur Wheat, Sweet Potato, and Black Bean Gratin

This casserole can be served as a vegetarian main course or a substantial side.

One-Skillet Cheesy Beef and Macaroni

One-Skillet Cheesy Beef and Macaroni

This is total comfort food; a one dish recipe, with even the pasta cooking in the same skillet.

Shepherd’s Pie / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Shepherd’s Pie

A savory ground lamb and vegetable filling topped with cheesy mashed potatoes is the ultimate Irish comfort food.

Herbed Cheesy Puff Pastry Bacon Straws

Puff Pastry Cheese Straws with Bacon

Flaky puff pastry gets all twisted up with cheese and bacon. An easy, classic appetizer for parties (and probably worth ruining your appetite for).

Easy Cheesy Loaded Hasselback Potatoes

Loaded Cheesy Hasselback Potatoes

Loaded hasselback potatoes are brushed with garlic butter, stuffed with cheese, and topped with sll the fixings!

Cheesy Chicken and Orzo / Saral Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

One Skillet Chicken with Cheesy Orzo and Baby Kale

Like an orzo-ey risotto with chicken cutlets nestled right in the mix.

Cheesy Beef and Hash Brown Casserole

Cheesy Ground Beef and Hashbrown Casserole

Crispy but tender shredded potatoes top a casserole of juicy ground beef bound together with a creamy cheesy sauce.

Sheetpan Macaroni and Cheese Squares

Sheetpan Macaroni and Cheese Squares

Mac and cheese becomes portable!

Breakfast Quesadillas / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Mia

Breakfast Quesadillas

This fun twist on quesadillas is very flexible and customizable and a great way to start your day! Vegetarian friendly.

Hot Clam Dip / Carrie Crow / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Hot Cheesy Clam Dip

The kind of thing you would order “for the table” without a moment’s hesitation.

Instant Pot Ziti “Lasagna” with Bolognese Sauce / Katie Workman / themom100.com / Photo by Cheyenne Cohen

Instant Pot Ziti “Lasagna” with Bolognese Sauce

The Instant Pot quickly makes cooked pasta, sauce, and cheese come together in a layered pasta dinner.

Spinach, Mushroom, and Chicken Quesadillas / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Spinach, Mushroom, and Chicken Quesadillas

A chicken quesadilla recipe to keep changing up.

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

Air Fryer Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

A new, easy way to get to heavenly grilled cheese sandwiches in your air fryer (with step by step instructions and photos!)

Cheesy White and Green Spinach Lasagna / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Cheesy White and Green Spinach Lasagna

Rich and creamy; filled with sautéed spinach, fluffy ricotta, simple béchamel sauce, and melty cheeses.

5-Minute Cheddar Cheese Popcorn

Cheddar Popcorn

This popcorn made with real cheddar is a far cry from the cheese popcorn you buy in bags.

Stovetop Macaroni and Four Cheeses / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Stovetop Macaroni and Four Cheeses

You don’t have to use all four cheeses (but by golly you’ll be happy you did).

Classic Lasagna with Turkey Sausage / Sarah Crowder / Katie Workman / themom100.com

Havarti and Gouda Turkey Lasagna

Gouda and havarti give this hearty lasagna serious cheese flavor. This is a contender of a lasagna.

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Comments

  1. I am very pleased with this grater. It is very easy to use and clean and is nice that you can grate straight onto toast so less plate washing. Can be assembled for right or left handed operation. As said very easy to keep clean just rinse parts under hot water no need even for dish washer as is so quick to clen would be clean before can even open the dishwasher door let alone start it.

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