Why does my goat cheese taste like plastic?

[CRUZMISL]

Every time I buy goat cheese it tastes like plastic but when I go to restaurants it doesn't. Is it the packaging or the type of cheese? I love goat cheese and would like to know why.

Thanks,

Joe

[pleiades]

It is probably the package. What type of goat cheese is the main offender?

[Mayhaw Man]

That's not "Kraft American Individually Sliced Goat Cheese" or "Goat Whizz" is it?

Actually, I suppose "Goat Whizz" could be something else altogether. Maybe I should have posted this in one of the several threads covering "poo" as subject matter (or come to think of it, is the poo covering the subject matter?)

[CRUZMISL]

No, this is no garbage goat cheese and I have tried a few different brands. I don't know the exact brands but they were packed in plastic. Are there goats cheeses not wrapped in plastic?

Joe

[Placebo]

Are they sealed packages (like machine-wrapped)? I have some goat cheese in my fridge that is fairly plasticky but it's pretty typical supermarket goat cheese. Clearly mass-produced and such and it tastes it, plasticky in texture and flavor. Better is very fresh goat cheese wrapped in plain clear plastic -- hopefully the clear plastic is a proper cheese wrap and not just regular plastic wrap as cheese plastic allows the cheese to breathe a little bit. Around here (Seattle) there are a bunch of good local producers. Otherwise you might look for a cheese where your portion is cut from a larger piece when you ask for it (like getting a slive cut off a "log" of Boucheron) so that the cheese hasn't really been in contact with the plastic for long. Also small individual mold-ripened (or otherwise rind-encrusted) cheeses are good or those that otherwise have their surfaces seperated fromt he plastic (like a goat cheese wrapped in hazelnut leaves) -- the plastic never touches the cheese.

You may need to find a higher-grade cheese-purveyor to get these sorts of cheeses -- they're not likely to be at the regular supermarket (though the Whole Foods here has perhaps the best cheese selection I've found in the city). Generally anywhere with a cheese counter that lets you tsate as you like is a good bet,bothe in terms of the quality of the cheeses and the quality of the wrapping materials.

If possible, please find out what you've been trying and post it - I'll see if I can find it here and give it a try.

[Suzanne F]

Definitely the wrapping. I used to think that bulk cheese cut in the store (supermarket) was at least a little better than the pre-packaged stuff. Until I found out that there's something in the store wrap that rubs off onto the cheese, and makes it taste like disinfectant.

and yes, there are goat cheeses not wrapped in plastic, but you won't find them in the supermarket. As Placebo said, you have to go to a decent cheese store that knows how to cut and wrap the stuff.

[Schneier]

You need to remove the plastic wrapping before you eat it.

Bruce

[skoolpsyk]

Maybe it's their diet. Mine always seems to taste like an old tin can...