# Got me some Parmesan rinds - NOW what do I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 27, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085 "2015-08-27T17:32:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/1 "2015-08-27T17:32:53Z")
Wandering around the new Wegman’s the other day looking for some good shredded Parmesan cheese - and there was a lady behind the counter cutting up large quantities of _rinds_. I’ve heard of this being used as a flavoring for soups, so I bought a container of them. What next? I did find a few recipes for minestrone; other suggestions welcomed. BTW - they also had containers of Parmesan crisps, which I’ve had once or twice before, so I bought some. Nothing but Parmesan cheese, mounded on parchment or silicone, and baked for 5-6 minutes until crunchy. Like a pure umame explosion in your mouth, with a crunch. I was stunned at how easy they are to make, and must investigate this further, very soon. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/2 "2015-08-27T18:38:25Z")
The crisps you describe are also known as frico. Adding some herbs can be a nice touch, like parsley or basil, though I’m kind of a purist. It’s possible to use other cheeses, too. Even cheddar can make a nice crisp. As for the rind, putting it in a soup or sauce is pretty much the way to do it. Some of it will melt off and flavor the batch. I don’t think it’s a big enough difference to be worth buying the rinds, but if you were going to toss them out anyway, it’s a way to wring a little extra value out of them. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/3 "2015-08-27T18:55:51Z")
I chuck them in soups and in red sauces. ---
**Author:** ![GargoyleWB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gargoylewb/32/199_2.png) [@GargoyleWB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GargoyleWB)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/4 "2015-08-27T19:45:08Z")
The Gargoyle household makes this all the time…super quick and easy, a larger hunk of parmesan rind will make it progressively heavier and heartier (and yummier IMO). > **[Escarole and Bean Soup](https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/escarole-and-bean-soup-recipe-1914906)** > > Get Escarole and Bean Soup Recipe from Food Network ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2015, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/5 "2015-08-27T19:47:42Z")
The rinds I get are attached to the rest of the cheese. 😉 It gets grated when I grate the cheese, and I use it on pasta or in alfredo sauce. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2015, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/6 "2015-08-28T13:00:59Z")
My niece bought rinds to make this Parmesan Broth from The Smitten Kitchen. I haven’t made it and I don’t know if she has yet. [Parmesan Broth](http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2014/01/parmesan-broth-with-kale-and-white-beans/) ---
**Author:** ![DonLogan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/51bf81/32.png) [@DonLogan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DonLogan)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/7 "2015-08-29T13:09:12Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#): > > BTW - they also had containers of Parmesan crisps, which I’ve had once or twice before, so I bought some. Nothing but Parmesan cheese, mounded on parchment or silicone, and baked for 5-6 minutes until crunchy. Like a pure umame explosion in your mouth, with a crunch. I was stunned at how easy they are to make, and must investigate this further, very soon. You can do these in a really good non-stick frying pan also. ---
**Author:** ![Hello\_Again](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/85e7bf/32.png) [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/8 "2015-08-29T15:23:04Z")
I put rinds into tomato sauce while its simmering. Theres no trick to it you just drop them in, simmer as long as desired and fish out the remains before serving (it will get really soft as it cooks, but not dissolve completely). ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/9 "2015-08-29T16:24:41Z")
Soups, especially if vegetarian. Stews. Red sauces. Just chuck a rind in the pot, then fish it out and dispose at the end of cooking. Mine also come attached to the parmesan wedge, but they don’t grate well, so i save and toss in the freezer until ready to use. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/10 "2015-08-29T16:57:51Z")
Like **Johnny L.A.** , I just grate up the rind with the rest of the cheese ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyBunny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bc8723/32.png) [@GrumpyBunny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrumpyBunny)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/11 "2015-08-29T17:38:39Z")
:smack:I had planned to try [this vegetarian minestrone soup recipe](http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/articles/2012/03/21/recipe_for_vegetarian_minestrone_soup/) and was going to save my parm rinds to try it. But I kept forgetting and would grate them with the rest of the cheese. :smack: ETA: I normally buy Locatelli Romano cheese – think those rinds could be used instead of parm? I realize it would have a stronger flavour. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/12 "2015-08-29T17:50:55Z")
Re: Grating. I had a rotary cheese grater similar to [this one](http://smile.amazon.com/Zyliss-Rotary-Grater-Fine-Drum/dp/B000AETJ08) (same body, different grater pattern on the drum). The crank broke when I was grating some parm. I’ve been using a [microplane grater](http://smile.amazon.com/Microplane-40020-Classic-Zester-Grater/dp/B00004S7V8) (originally bought for nutmeg) for several years now, and it’s faster than the rotary one that broke. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2015, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/13 "2015-08-29T21:40:01Z")
> [@D\_Odds](#): > > Mine also come attached to the parmesan wedge, but they don’t grate well, so i save and toss in the freezer until ready to use. The trick, I find, is to grate them when there’s still an inch or so of the ‘flesh’ attached and you grate them on the fine side of the mandolin. Then they grate just fine. ---
**Author:** ![Girl\_From\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3da27b/32.png) [@Girl\_From\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Girl_From_Mars)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/14 "2015-08-30T12:49:48Z")
I like this Jamie Oliver recipe which uses the rind in a [broccoli orecchiette](http://www.lifestylefood.com.au/recipes/16482/broccoli-orecchiette-courgette-and-bocconcini-salad-prosciutto-and-melon-salad) dish. ---
**Author:** ![Strassia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@Strassia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strassia)\ **Post date:** [August 30, 2015, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/got-me-some-parmesan-rinds-now-what-do-i-do/729085/15 "2015-08-30T14:13:45Z")
I make pasta and chickpea soup with a tomato base. You put the rind in while cooking and the take it out at the end. But you don’t throw it out. It will be very soft. I cut it into 1cm squares and put it back in. They make delicious, chewy, little flavor bombs.