Muenster
Preparation, uses, and tips
French Muenster can be served with the salad course, with dessert fruits, such as cherries, pears, plums, or peaches, with beer and wine, and with hearty rye breads. German Muenster has a moderate flavor, which makes it an ideal complement to fruit, raw vegetables, breads, preserved meats, beer, or wine. American Muenster, with its mild flavor, combines well with other more full-flavored foods, and melts nicely.
Buying and storing tips
Like most cheeses, Muenster should be refrigerated at temperatures of about 35 to 40°F (0.8 to 1.6°C) in its original wrapping or container, or in waxed paper, foil, or a tightly covered container. Use within one to three weeks after purchase.
Varieties
Traditional German Muenster is a washed-rind cheese made from cows’ milk; it has an orange rind and can have a strong odor and a mild to strong flavor; it is enjoyed as a table cheese.
American Muenster (sometimes called Munster) is a smooth, light-colored, semisoft cheese textured with tiny holes; it is much milder than the European varieties. Many American Muensters are made in Wisconsin.
French Muenster is known for its full, sharp flavor, its creamy consistency, and its sometimes assertive odor. Muenster is initially white and odorless; the pungent aroma develops as it is aged over the course of a month, during which the cheese is rind-washed. It is typically seasoned with anise, fennel, caraway, or cumin seeds.
Nutrition Highlights
Muenster cheese, 1 oz. (28g)
Calories: 104
Protein: 6.6g
Carbohydrate: 0.32g
Total Fat: 8.5g
Fiber: 0.0g
*Excellent source of: Calcium (200mg)
*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.