Heath Notes

Brie

Wine Pairings

Preparation, uses, and tips

This elegant cheese can be served with a variety of fresh fruits, including sweet berries or grapes, and with warm crusty breads or mild-flavored crackers that will show off its flavor. It is also good with cappuccino, red wines, and apple cider, and makes an enjoyable treat when baked in a pastry crust.

Buying and storing tips

The softer the cheese, the more perishable it is. Ripe Brie will keep for just a few days. If the cheese becomes too runny or smells of ammonia, it indicates the cheese has been aged too long. Owing to concerns about Listeria bacteria, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends that unpasteurized, soft, aged cheeses like Brie should not be eaten by children, older people, or anyone with a compromised immune system.

Varieties

French Brie is marketed under two names protected by the French government: Brie de Meaux (check for the AOC or Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée regulated name designation), and Brie de Melun, which is not exported. Good Brie is also produced in Coulommiers, although this cheese is not a name-controlled product.

Nutrition Highlights

Brie, 1/4 cup (2 oz.) (57g)
Calories: 189
Protein: 12g
Carbohydrate: 17g
Total Fat: 15.7g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Good source of: Calcium (104mg), and Riboflavin (0.294mg)

*Foods that are an “excellent source” of a particular nutrient provide 20% or more of the Recommended Daily Value. Foods that are a “good source” of a particular nutrient provide between 10 and 20% of the Recommended Daily Value.

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The information presented in the Food Guide is for informational purposes only and was created by a team of US–registered dietitians and food experts. Consult your doctor, practitioner, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before using any supplements, making dietary changes, or before making any changes in prescribed medications. Information expires June 2009.