# Parmesan: too lazy to grate, too snobbish to buy pre-grated **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 22, 2019, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002 "2019-02-22T05:58:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/41 "2019-02-24T14:09:38Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Damn! I just tried to order from them - they’ve got a good deal right now - 2 lbs for $35, which isn’t particularly expensive for the Big Island, where everything costs more. But the cheapest shipping cost available is an added $20. Phooey. I need to think on this. Is two pounds of high quality parmesan worth $55 to me? > > Maybe. But I’m not going to place the order until I think about it for a while. Wow. That is a good price, especially as Zingerman’s, as much as I love them, tend to be quite pricy. This is the first time I’ve seen anything on their cite I’d qualify as a “deal.” I may have to order a couple pounds myself. ---
**Author:** ![Turble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Turble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turble)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/42 "2019-02-24T15:45:11Z")
@Carol. You can search local stores for real Parmigiano Reggiano – just be sure it has those words stamped all over the rind if you want the real thing (and don’t throw away the rind – freeze it and drop the chunk into your next soup or stew). It may or may not have been handled and/or prepared for sale very well, depending on the store. One thing to avoid is places that cut the cheese (:)) into flat slices; it should be broken into somewhat irregular chunks. In my area I can get pretty good stuff in a small local Italian deli for $25/pound. It is very good but the cheese from Zingerman’s is even better and I do sometimes choose to pay the shipping charge when I want something really special. While you think about this, keep in mind that real Parmigiano Reggiano bears no (zero) resemblance to that stuff in the green can and only vaguely resembles other more expensive grocery store stuff labeled “Parmesan”. We’re not talking about just a hoity-toity name, we’re talking about a tightly regulated traditional method developed over hundreds of years using milk from certain breeds of grass-fed cattle aged for at least two years as opposed to industrially produced milk in an industrial process factory aged for less than a year. The standard Microplane is my choice for grating. I can grate four ounces (two cups) for a pound of Linguine Alfredo in just a few minutes and just a few swipes under running water cleans it up. Grating it finely allow the cheese to melt in evenly and quickly. It’s also great for zesting citrus and adding a swipe or two of whole nutmeg to stuff (freshly grated nutmeg is another of those things that bears little resemblance to grocery store stuff in a can – it’s very strong, use sparingly). ---
**Author:** ![Royal\_Nonesutch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecb155/32.png) [@Royal\_Nonesutch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Royal_Nonesutch)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/43 "2019-02-24T16:08:49Z")
> [@Turble](#): > > @Carol. > You can search local stores for real Parmigiano Reggiano – just be sure it has those words stamped all over the rind if you want the real thing… > > While you think about this, keep in mind that real Parmigiano Reggiano bears no (zero) resemblance to that stuff in the green can and only vaguely resembles other more expensive grocery store stuff labeled “Parmesan”. While I think that just about everyone would agree with the first assertion (“Real” Parmesan certainly isn’t going to be found in a green cardboard can) I am not so sure about the second one, as it seems that you can find pretty close approximations of Parmagiano Reggiano in the gourmet cheese section of many well stocked upscale supermarkets all over Europe, which is sometimes actually more expensive than low priced, mass-produced actual P.R. which can be had for pretty cheap if you don’t care about the label. For the record, in most small specialty shops I looked at in Parma, Parmagiano Reggiano was going for between 45 and 75 Euro per kilo, which seemed like considerably more than what it often cost in the USA, although I am far from a connoisseur, usually just buying it at Costco when I lived in back in Salt Lake. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/44 "2019-02-24T16:13:43Z")
> [@Royal\_Nonesutch](#): > > For the record, in most small specialty shops I looked at in Parma, Parmagiano Reggiano was going for between 45 and 75 Euro per kilo, which seemed like considerably more than what it often cost in the USA, although I am far from a connoisseur, usually just buying it at Costco when I lived in back in Salt Lake. The Costco parmigiano-reggiano is quite fine. It’s not as sharp as some of the better ones I’ve had, but it tastes right and does have some nice cheese crystals in it. Perhaps local cheese shops in Europe do have decent approximation of parmigiano reggiano, but all the commonly found domestic brands here in the US like Stella and Bel Gioioso I’ve found insipid compared to the imported types. The Amazon reviews for both seem fine (four stars and up), but my taste buds say “nope.” I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if there was a smaller dairy here that does a decent parm-style cheese. I haven’t found one yet, so if anyone has suggestions, I’m all ears. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/45 "2019-02-24T16:17:44Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > Damn! I just tried to order from them - they’ve got a good deal right now - 2 lbs for $35, which isn’t particularly expensive for the Big Island, where everything costs more. But the cheapest shipping cost available is an added $20. Phooey. I need to think on this. Is two pounds of high quality parmesan worth $55 to me? > > Maybe. But I’m not going to place the order until I think about it for a while. Maybe it wouldn’t seem so expensive if you ordered other stuff, too? Or would that jack up the shipping even more? I know they can be crazy expensive… And of course there’s a wide range between Kraft in a green can and the high-end stuff. We usually buy pre-grated actual Parmesan from Costco; it looks like there are stores in Hawaii, but of course I have no idea how close they are to you. Or you could order a [20-pound wheel](https://www.costco.com/Cello-Riserva-Artisan-Parmesan-Cheese-Wheel-20-lbs.product.100366763.html) from them online; that price is shipping & handling included to the continental U.S., and you could see what to extra shipping cost would be. Maybe you could split it with a friend, or six? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/46 "2019-02-24T16:26:06Z")
> [@Eva\_Luna](#): > > Maybe it wouldn’t seem so expensive if you ordered other stuff, too? Or would that jack up the shipping even more? I know they can be crazy expensive… > > And of course there’s a wide range between Kraft in a green can and the high-end stuff. We usually buy pre-grated actual Parmesan from Costco; it looks like there are stores in Hawaii, but of course I have no idea how close they are to you. Or you could order a [20-pound wheel](https://www.costco.com/Cello-Riserva-Artisan-Parmesan-Cheese-Wheel-20-lbs.product.100366763.html) from them online; that price is shipping & handling included to the continental U.S., and you could see what to extra shipping cost would be. Maybe you could split it with a friend, or six? **CairoCarol** is in Hawaii, so she’d still have to pay the extra shipping. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/47 "2019-02-24T16:49:36Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > **CairoCarol** is in Hawaii, so she’d still have to pay the extra shipping. Understood, but maybe Costco’s extra shipping is more affordable per unit. Or she could go buy in-person (although probably not the entire wheel). ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/48 "2019-02-24T19:07:46Z")
I buy pre-shaved parmesan at the store. Gourmets probably will make fun of me, but I bet you can’t tell the difference. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2019, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/49 "2019-02-24T19:13:08Z")
I have a hand-held grater with four sides. They slice, shave, grate big and grate small. When we serve parmesan, I shave, my husband grates small, and my daughter grates big. Then we throw the grater in the dishwasher. Easy peasy. ---
**Author:** ![amaguri](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@amaguri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amaguri)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/50 "2019-02-25T15:55:48Z")
I don’t have a problem with pre-grated parmesan as long as you make sure you’re buying actual cheese (i.e. avoid the shelf-stable stuff in the green can!) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/51 "2019-02-25T16:15:32Z")
What do I do when I’m too lazy to make my own ketchup but wouldn’t be caught dead squirting out that Heinz stuff? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/52 "2019-02-25T16:18:42Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > You are using the wrong model. I have several and can produce product ranging from small shreds to wide ribbons. Oops, all I have is the zester. I didn’t realize they made other products. Looking at their website, it looks like their other products are similar to what I referred to upthread as a hand-held grater (as opposed to a box grater). ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/53 "2019-02-25T16:40:11Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > **San Vito** , my good sir (or madam) - you wound me greatly with your “cooking idleness” remark. My thread title aside, I am anything but lazy in the kitchen. Right now I have homemade papaya chutney, sourdough bread, vegetarian chile, and more in my freezer. If anything, I spend too much time cooking elaborate food! But surely even a dedicated cook can be forgiven for wanting to save on clean-up when it’s getting late and the day has already been a busy one. Then I heartily beg your forgiveness, I fear it was my own childhood memory of ‘ready grated parmesan’ which made me judge your query fiercely. I envy your skills with the sourdough bread, of which I am a total failure. (I’m a girl, ftr). ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/54 "2019-02-25T17:15:21Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > What do I do when I’m too lazy to make my own ketchup but wouldn’t be caught dead squirting out that Heinz stuff? Use mustard. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/55 "2019-02-25T17:27:14Z")
My wife has a mini rotary grinder for parmesan. She just keeps the entire thing with cheese in the fridge in a bag. A bit of pregrinding and a few knocks on the counter to get the dried stuff away then you’re into fresh cheese again. ---
**Author:** ![CairoCarol](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cairocarol/32/3825_2.png) [@CairoCarol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CairoCarol)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/56 "2019-02-25T17:32:26Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > I envy your skills with the sourdough bread, of which I am a total failure. > > (I’m a girl, ftr). To be fair, I didn’t make the starter myself - a friend gave me some of hers. (I tried making starter a couple of times many years ago, but in both cases I lost track of the timing and ended up with a stinky mess.) ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2019, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002/57 "2019-02-26T08:54:32Z")
> [@CairoCarol](#): > > To be fair, I didn’t make the starter myself - a friend gave me some of hers. (I tried making starter a couple of times many years ago, but in both cases I lost track of the timing and ended up with a stinky mess.) I’ve decided to restrict my breadmaking to flatbreads (naans, pittas, chapattis, tortillas etc). Less chancy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parmesan-too-lazy-to-grate-too-snobbish-to-buy-pre-grated/830002.md?page=2)