Is the white rind on Brieedible, or does it need tobe removed before eating?
Yes, the soft “crust” of brie, called a bloomy rind, is edible.
It grows when the beneficial molds and bacteriaused in making cheese are sprayed onto thesurface of the cheese before aging. The moldthen produces enzymes which help the cheeseripen from the outside in (opposite of how hardcheeses ripen). This means the interior of thecheese softens while the molds form Brie’ssignature white rind. The ripening process takes3 to 10 weeks for the cheese to reach maturity.
Historically, the rind has been considered themost flavorful part of Brie, but Brie made in theU.S. is made with pasteurized milk, so the rindsare usually bland. The rinds from imported orartisan Bries typically have more flavor.
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