Brick cheese is ideal for sandwiches and as a topping for crackers;
it’s also delicious with fruit, beer, and wine.
Brick is an American cheese, made in rectangular loaves, that was first produced in
Wisconsin in 1877 by John Jossi, a cheese maker of Swiss descent. The loaf-shaped cheese
displays numerous fine holes when it is sliced. When young, it is sweet and mild; after aging,
it tastes somewhat like a mild Limburger or cheddar, and has been compared to a Danish
Tilsit.
Brick is a semisoft cheese, typically aged for just a few weeks, in a specialized
environment where it picks up natural molds to form a soft rind. The rind is then rinsed with
salty water (or beer or brandy) to further sharpen the flavor of the cheese. This process,
also applied to Limburger and Liederkranz, produces cheese that has a more assertive flavor
than other milder, semisoft cheeses.
Varieties
Young brick cheese is very mild; as it ages, it becomes sharper and
more piquant.
Buying and storing tips
Young brick cheese can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two
weeks; aged brick will keep well for about four weeks.
Availability
Brick cheese is widely available in large health food stores,
specialty stores, and markets.
Preparation, uses, and tips
Because it slices well, brick cheese is ideal for sandwiches. Enjoy
it with crackers and fruit or grate it to make macaroni
and cheese.
Nutritional Highlights
Brick cheese, 1 slice (1 oz.) (28g)
Calories: 105
Protein: 6.6g
Carbohydrate: 0.8g
Total Fat: 8.4g
Fiber: 0.0g
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The information presented in Foodnotes is for informational
purposes only and was created by a team of U.S. 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 December 2003.
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