Is there a way to treat any firm cheese so that it can be fried?
Something like halloumi can be fried directly, other firm cheeses melt before it's done. Can they be treated somehow so that they don't melt too soon?
Best Answer
It really depends on what you qualify as 'fried'.
You can take hard grating cheeses and sprinkle it on a sheet pan (preferably with parchment or silpat), and bake it around 300-400°F (150-200°C) to get a cracker-like item (search for 'parmesan crisp' recipes). If you remove it while it's still warm, you can roll it into a cone or tube, lay it over a bowl or cup, etc.
For pan frying, you can coat it in flour or cornstarch, then brown on all sides (or at least top and bottom if you sliced it thinly), but you might need to let it cool down between sides to firm back up. You might get away with rolling it in corn meal, but it's also a function of the cheese.
If you have an air fryer or a convection oven, you can do a three part dredge and then bake it at high heat, but you may need to freeze the cheese before baking so it doesn't melt too fast.
For deep frying, you'll likely have to batter it.
You can also look for other non-melting cheeses (feta, ricotta salata, paneer, etc)
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What kind of cheese can be fried?
What cheeses can be fried? Cheeses that have a high melting point can be fried. While the cheese melts slightly, it will generally retain its shape in the fryer or skillet. Popular fried cheese options are cheese curds, queso blanco, halloumi, paneer, mozzarella, bread cheese, certain cheddars, and provolone.Can you fry cheese without breading?
Fortunately, there is an incredibly easy way to fry cheese without breading and that is choosing the right kind. Cheese comes in countless different flavors, textures, and are made with different purposes in mind. Some cheese is made to melt over burgers while other cheese is designed to get crispy over the grill.How do you fry cheese without it sticking to the pan?
As an added precaution to prevent the cheese from sticking, hit your nonstick pan with a bit of vegetable oil spray. (If you have a high-performance nonstick pan like Zwilling Forte, which allows you to fry items like eggs without oil, you can easily skip this step for a healthier snack.)Can you fry cheese in a pan?
In an 8-inch non-stick pan heated over medium-high heat add 1/4 cup shredded cheese. Cook until cheese is light brown on the bottom. Turn over with a plastic spatula and continue cooking for another 10 to 15 seconds.More answers regarding is there a way to treat any firm cheese so that it can be fried?
Answer 2
I agree that it depends on what you mean by "done." If you want to pan fry or grill, and get a crust on the outside, with the interior becoming soft....and use no coatings...You might try freezing the cheese. You would probably have to experiment a bit to achieve the results you want.
Answer 3
Just like halloumi ,queso blanco and paneer have a high melting point that makes it suitable to grill or fry. The cheese melts slightly, but largely retains its shape when grilled or pan fried.
Answer 4
I've a partial answer actually based on the reverse of the question, how to make cheeses melt well. I've found that moisture really helps when getting cheese to melt nicely (as opposed to dry out or even separate).
So, if your cheese is a bit drier, it is more likely to firm up and thus fry instead of melt. It need not be dry all the way through, either, if you leave cheese uncovered for a while, the surface will start to dry out, leaving a thin "crust" or perhaps I mean rind (experience tells me so). I suspect, therefore, that a piece of cheese so dried around the edges would be fryable... perhaps the inside will melt and be soft and gooey but that dry crust should firm up with browning and so contain the softer inside - much like if one was battering or breading the cheese.
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