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Peace, love and cheese to everybody, but I love my supermarket brand of powdered parmesan-romano more than any of that other stuff....I used to cut that other stuff off of those big, heavy wheels in an Italian Deli in New York, and then grate it and package it, so it's not like I never had the good stuff. I just eat whatever I like. I'd rather have my Busch beer than the high dollar stuff, too.
Agreed! Stink cheese is stink cheese! LOL! J/K ! There are hundreds if not thousands of different cheeses. I could never sample them all. We've made a big dent though. But, I've had fresh Parmesan's before and yes they keep well. Apparently the older, harder and stinkier are more preferred. I like sharp Cheddar but it doesn't age well in the fridge! Too many cheeses too few samplers... To each his own. Some people may have hyper sensitive taste buds for certain cheeses. Beer and Parmesan any Parmesan will suit me. There are certainly uses for Parmesan specifically as well as others! Applausehere!! We've paid big money on "special" cheeses only to be disappointed. If you're making high quality Italian dishes ..use the best ingredients you can find. If you can afford them! Doesn't bother me ..as I've said before Kraft Spaghetti Dinner in the box is my favorite. Comes with a little packet of Parmesan cheese. Had many Spaghetti Dinners but this is #1Suits my taste buds!!
I love Parmesan. One time, though, I purchased some very expensive Parmesan at "Old World Market" in my town, which specializes in fancy schmantzy cheeses. It was a real extravagance for me. And I was very disappointed. The Parmesan was dry and not all that tasty. My favorite Parmesan can be purchased at the deli in one of my favorite restaurants in New Buffalo, Michigan. The restaurant is "Brewsters" and has marvelous gourmet Italian food. They put bowls of freshly shredded Parmesan on the tables, along with olive oil and fresh bread. Yum yum! When I discovered the same cheese is available in their deli, now I always stop in and take some home with me when I'm in that town.
Sorry, rainroosty, but the powdered stuff from the grocery store just doesn't compare to Brewster's Parmesan!
It is an inferior version of a strictly regulated cheese from a specific region in Italy. It has lower-quality ingredients, including fillers and preservatives. They get away with calling it 100% cheese by including those ingredients in the recipe for the cheese itself. It is DIFFERENT.
Good Lord help me. There is a product that is packaged in grated form. Before they grated it, it was THE SAME PRODUCT but not yet grated. Why can't I buy any of THE SAME PRODUCT that has not yet been grated?
Lord help me. There is a product that is packaged in grated form. Before they grated it, it was THE SAME PRODUCT but not yet grated. Why can't I buy any of THE SAME PRODUCT that has not yet been grated?
Why is this question so difficult to understand?
Because they make it for the sole purpose of pulverizing it into shake cheese. They make loads more money that way than if they tried to serve their cheese up to compete with other block cheeses called parmesan. It's likely you wouldn't even be able to cut or grate a "block" of it without it disintegrating into that powder form. It goes straight from the vat to the crumble machine, assembly line style.
Also, you must know that your question evolved. You first asked why a block of parm is more expensive than the powdered form. So, subsequently when you said "same", it's reasonable that posters thought you meant any block of parm was the same as what's powdered in the can - not that you meant why can't you buy the powdered stuff in block form.
Because they make it for the sole purpose of pulverizing it into shake cheese. They make loads more money that way than if they tried to serve their cheese up to compete with other block cheeses called parmesan. It's likely you wouldn't even be able to cut or grate a "block" of it without it disintegrating into that powder form. It goes straight from the vat to the crumble machine, assembly line style.
Also, you must know that your question evolved. You first asked why a block of parm is more expensive than the powdered form. So, subsequently when you said "same", it's reasonable that posters thought you meant any block of parm was the same as what's powdered in the can - not that you meant why can't you buy the powdered stuff in block form.
Thank you for being the first to try to answer my question.
My can says "Parmesan" on it, so whatever it was before it was grated can also be legally called Parmesan in the USA. My question referred to that product.
Good Lord help me. There is a product that is packaged in grated form. Before they grated it, it was THE SAME PRODUCT but not yet grated. Why can't I buy any of THE SAME PRODUCT that has not yet been grated?
Why is this question so difficult to understand?
Kraft tried selling this back in 2007. It was supposedly a block version of product you find in a can. It was called "Grate it fresh." It must not have done well. I can't seem to find any reference to it any longer.
Also interesting, they included a grater, which I am sure amped the price.
Thats the last time I saw a chunk of American parmesan cheese by a major or store brand at the megamart.
The major canned cheese varieties dont sell the stuff they put in a can as a solid piece. Why? I don't know. This only leaves you to purchase the more expensive import varieties by the block. It probably doesn't pencil out for them to sell it by the block since they make so much money cutting the cheese with celulose (at least thats what the cheese conspiracy theorists believe.)
Hope that solves your dillema and sees you part with your frustration.
I presume you are referring to this stuff =
http://brands.kraftfoods.com/kraftparm/parmproducts.htm (broken link)
And the reason you cant buy the stuff before its grated is that its not meant to be sold in blocks as its kinda hard to shake out of the can if its still in solid form,If you have a Kraft factory close by you could probably get a sample before it goes through the grater or you could call Krafts customer service to get more info on the product.
Some reading on the subject. http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/...s/3646082.html
We purchased the Kraft solid cheese and grater. The cheese was just okay, but I figured the grater would be good to keep. Unfortunately, the kids threw it out after they ate all the cheese and I never saw it in the stores again.
I keep a chunk of cheese inside a grater like this, then put the whole thing in a ziplock bag in the frig. Quick and easy for the kids.
Peace, love and cheese to everybody, but I love my supermarket brand of powdered parmesan-romano more than any of that other stuff....I used to cut that other stuff off of those big, heavy wheels in an Italian Deli in New York, and then grate it and package it, so it's not like I never had the good stuff. I just eat whatever I like. I'd rather have my Busch beer than the high dollar stuff, too.
You're such a populist! LOL
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We've paid big money on "special" cheeses only to be disappointed. If you're making high quality Italian dishes ..use the best ingredients you can find. If you can afford them! Doesn't bother me ..as I've said before Kraft Spaghetti Dinner in the box is my favorite. Comes with a little packet of Parmesan cheese. Had many Spaghetti Dinners but this is #1
Suits my taste buds!! 
,If you have a Kraft factory close by you could probably get a sample before it goes through the grater or you could call Krafts customer service to get more info on the product.
