Why Does Gouda Cheese Have Wax?

Semi-firm cheeses like gouda are often dipped into a wax that seals the cheese into a safe home while it ages. This type of rind helps maintain moisture in the cheese, so nothing gets in, or out.

Can you eat the wax on Gouda cheese?

So long as the cheese coating in question was not made by man alone (like the red wax on Gouda) the rind is safe to eat. Depending on your palate, you may find that a little rind complements the cheese and enhances its flavor. You may also find it too strong, bitter, moldy or textually unpleasant.

Why is Gouda cheese wrapped in wax?

Gouda; pronounced How-da by the Dutch, is an orange cheese made from cow's milk. ... The cheese is dried for a few days before being coated with a red wax to prevent it from drying out, then it is aged. Depending on age classification, it can be aged a number of weeks to over seven years before it is ready to be eaten.