Grated Parmesan is dated with a Use By Date to give you an idea of how long it should last if stored in optimum conditions and unopened. Once the product is opened, it is best consumed within 10 days of opening. Our Grated Parmesan does not contain artificial preservatives and it can sometimes grow mould if over exposed to air or moisture, so it is important to be mindful of the way it is handled.
We recommend that Grated Parmesan is kept in the coolest part of your fridge which is usually at the top towards the back. When using Grated Parmesan, be sure to take tub or bag out of the fridge just prior to use. Only use clean, dry utensils to remove Parmesan from the container. Keep the Parmesan in the original container and make sure when resealing the tub that the lid is on airtight, which means screwed on tightly and without cheese blocking the lid track. For the bag, make sure you completely reseal the bag, so no air can enter the bag (and without cheese blocking the reseal track). Put back in the fridge immediately after use.
This product is also suitable for freezing. A handy tip is to freeze in portions to defrost and use as desired. As the product is finely grated, it will defrost almost immediately for instant use.
Refrigeration can substantially reduce the rate at which food will deteriorate. Low temperatures slow down the growth of microorganisms and the rate of chemical (including enzymic) changes in food. These are two of the main causes of food spoilage. Different parts of your refrigerator will operate at different temperatures. In older style refrigerators the upper shelves will often be slightly colder than the lower shelves. In more modern appliances, the temperature will be relatively uniform throughout. Check your instruction booklet to find the warmest and coldest areas inside your model.
There are simple things you can do to maximise your food’s shelf life. They include:
1. Check that your refrigerator is operating correctly. To do this you should use a refrigerator thermometer. These are available from some supermarkets, hardware and department stores. Your thermometer should show a temperature below 5 °C in the main section of the refrigerator.
2. Avoid crowding stored products in the refrigerator; ensure good air circulation around each item. Proper storage not only keeps your food in good condition and safe from the growth of food poisoning bacteria, but saves you shopping time and money because it reduces waste.
3. Don’t buy swollen chilled food packages. Fresh cheeses can contain harmless spoilage microbes. Such swelling is a sign that microbes have been allowed to grow and produce gas. This usually means the products have been stored for some time at warm temperatures or that they are near the end of their shelf life.
4. Take an insulated container with you when you go shopping. Always buy refrigerated food last – just before returning home. If you do not have an insulated container with you, at least make sure chilled items are wrapped in several layers of paper to minimise temperature rises during the trip home. Never leave chilled foods sitting in the car any longer than absolutely necessary.
5. As soon as you arrive home, read the storage instructions on packaged foods. Then, if necessary, place the item in the refrigerator. Every minute your food spends in warm temperatures will reduce its storage life.
6. Avoid overbuying. Remember chilled foods are perishable and have only a limited shelf life. The convenience and economy of quantity buying is lost if some of the food deteriorates or spoils and you have to throw it out.
7. Select your retailer carefully. If you suspect food is not handled as it should be, shop elsewhere. You might also bring this to the attention of the retailer and, if necessary, the manufacturer.
concini to make it last longer. Due to the delicate nature of the fresh cheese product, it does not freeze and defrost well and the product texture will be well below its usual quality if you freeze it.
Ricotta also does not take kindly to being frozen. Freezing ricotta cheese will not spoil it, but it will change its texture and the cheese will be well below its optimum quality, therefore we do not recommend freezing.
Some other cheeses are fine to freeze including hard grated cheeses (Parmesan, Pecorino). These can be frozen and taken out in portions to defrost and use as desired. They defrost almost immediately for instant use.
Translated from Italian, bocconcini means ‘little mouthfuls,’ which perfectly describes these balls of semi-soft, unripened cheese.
Rennet is a naturally occurring group of enzymes, the key member of which is chymosin; an enzyme which has the ability to clot, or coagulate milk. It is used in the making of cheese and junket. Animal rennet is obtained from the fourth, or true, stomach (abomasum) of milk-fed calves, this enzyme used by the animal to help digest the milk it consumes. Because of this, cheeses containing this animal rennet are not suitable for Vegetarians. Currently, all cheeses in the La Casa Del Formaggio range use non-animal rennet and the only product not suitable for Vegetarians is Grated Pecorino, as it contains animal derived Lipase.
Non-animal rennet is an alternative substance that does the same thing to milk as the animal product. This can be made from plants such as fig tree bark, nettles, thistles, mallow, and Creeping Charlie. Rennet from thistle or ‘cynara’ is used in some traditional cheese production in the Mediterranean. Alternatively some microbes or molds produce enzymes that will curdle milk and these too can be used, in purified form, as a rennet substitute. Currently, all cheeses in the La Casa Del Formaggio range use non-animal rennet and the only product not suitable for Vegetarians is Grated Pecorino, as it contains animal derived Lipase.
The ingredient listing on each individual product page will confirm which type of coagulant is used in each of our products, as non-animal rennet is specifically called out on pack if the source is plant based. Currently, all cheeses in the La Casa Del Formaggio range use non-animal rennet and the only product not suitable for Vegetarians is Grated Pecorino, as it contains animal derived Lipase.
No. La Casa Del Formaggio’s Mascarpone is made from cream, milk, food starch and food acid. It does not contain rennet. Citric acid is the clotting agent in the product.
Some brands of ricotta products may contain rennet as there are two techniques traditionally used to make ricotta. The whey is set using either rennet or lactic acid. La Casa Del Formaggio’s basket style Ricotta is acid set rather than rennet set, so this style of whey Ricotta products do not contain any rennet. However our Ricotta made from full cream milk (not whey) that comes in our 500g tubs is set with non-animal rennet.
There are two techniques traditionally used to make ricotta. Our basket ricotta is made using whey (the byproduct of curd cheeses). This is the Traditional way to make ricotta. This ricotta tends to be slightly firmer because it expels whey (liquid) throughout its shelf life. This makes it ideal for cooking as it will not produce excess liquid when heated. The Reduced Fat Ricotta is firmer than the Full Cream and it is available in supermarket delis (behind the glass).
Our Smooth Ricotta is derived from our Traditional Ricotta, but we blend the whey back in with the cheese to create its smooth consistency. It is natural for liquid separation to occur throughout the course of the Smooth Ricotta’s shelf life. This can be drained or stirred back in – it is up to you!
Our 500g tub ricotta is made according to Rosa’s original recipe from the Cicchiello’s continental deli. Because Rosa was only making Ricotta and not any curd products, her ricotta is derived from pure milk instead of whey. The result is a clean and slightly sweet taste with a light and fluffy texture.
Bocconcini “
The difference between the 3 products in the Bocconcini family is the size. Bambini Bocconcini are small 5g balls, Cherry Bocconcini are bite sized 10g balls and Traditional Bocconcini are traditional 30g sized balls.
Yes, all our Bocconcini products melt when heated. They are perfect for melting on pizza, toasties or in your favourite pasta bakes.
Bocconcini
It is not recommended to eat unpastuerised cheeses while you are pregnant. All of La Casa Del Formaggio’s cheeses are pastuerised, however with any soft cheese, including Brie, Camembert and Ricotta, there is a minor risk of Listeria infection when consumed. If you are pregnant it is much safer to consume soft cheeses if they are cooked and served hot (as this kills any bacteria in the cheese), however we recommend you consult a doctor to discuss your options while you are pregnant prior to the consumption of any soft cheeses.
All of La Casa Del Formaggio’s cheeses are all made with pasteurised milk as stipulated by Australian law. We receive fresh full cream milk daily to our factory in Edinburgh and the milk is pasteurised onsite prior to cheese making.
Haloumi traditionally in Cyprus was made using a combination of goat’s milk and sheep’s milk. However, now it is also made using cows’ milk. La Casa Del Formaggio’s Haloumi is made using fresh South Australian cow’s milk.
Haloumi can be fried over hot temperatures without melting due to its higher than normal melting point, making it an excellent cheese for frying or grilling, as an ingredient in salads, or fried and served with vegetables. The resistance to melting comes from the fresh curd being heated before being shaped.
In Italy, Bocconcini was traditionally made solely from buffalo milk but there are now various combinations of buffalo and cows’ milk bocconcini. In Australia there are several variants including Bocconcini made solely from cows’ milk and a combination of both. Buffalo Bocconcini (also known as Buffalo Mozzarella) has a higher fat and protein content and has a stronger flavour than Bocconcini made from cow’s milk.
Buffalo milk is not commonly farmed in Australia, therefore most Australian cheese makers use cows’ milk to make Bocconcini. Due to the shortage of buffalo milk in Australia, Buffalo Bocconcini is generally significantly more expensive than cow’s milk Bocconcini. Also, the lower solids concentration in cows’ milk tends to lead to a softer product than Buffalo Bocconcini.
At present, La Casa Del Formaggio is only able to provide cows’ milk Bocconcini.
Most aged, hard cheeses like Swiss, sharp cheddar, and parmesan contain little or no lactos Most of the lactose found in cheese is removed with the whey during the manufacturing process. Bocconcini, Mozzarella and Fresh Pecorino are made using the curd not the whey, hence these cheeses are low in lactose. Ricotta is made using the whey, therefore it contains some lactose. Please note: if you are highly sensitive to lactose, we recommend you consult your doctor before consuming cheese.
La Casa Del Formaggio’s products are not Halal certified, however all our products are suitable for vegetarians, except Grated Pecorino (which uses animal derived Lipase). Please see each individual product page for a list of ingredients.
Mozzarella, stretched curd and Pasta Filata are all general terms for Italian style fresh cheeses such as Bambini Bocconcini, Cherry Bocconcini, Traditional Bocconcini, Fresh Mozzarella and Trecce. In Italy consumers will simply call any of the above products “Mozzarella Fresca” (Fresh Mozzarella).
The main difference between “Mozzarella Fresca” (or Fresh Mozzarella/Bocconcini) and Mozzarella, which is intended for melting, is that Mozzarella goes through an extra cooking step after the curd is cut to expel more moisture. This gives Mozzarella a slight yellow appearance as opposed to Fresh Mozzarella which has a more white appearance. Essentially, Bocconcini and Fresh Mozzarella are small pieces of fresh mozzarella that undergo no further ripening after being packed in slightly salty water.
Mozzarella and Sweet Cheese are very similar cheeses. The only difference is that Mozzarella has salt added while Sweet Cheese contains no salt.
In July 2023, our Factory Outlet Shop was closed as we transitioned into our new factory in Edinburgh, SA. Due to the location of our new factory being in an industrial area, we were not able to re-open a Factory Outlet Shop at the new premises. But rest assured, we are still busy making fresh cheeses for you to buy from your local grocer and enjoy with your family.
La Casa Del Formaggio products are freshly made at our factory in Edinburgh, South Australia.
Our products are available Australia-wide in Woolworths, Coles, IGA, Drakes, Romeos, Ritchies and selected independent supermarkets and retailers. See each individual product page for specific ranging information.
We have a large range of foodservice distributors around Australia who you can purchase a selection of our products from…
SA: Don’s Food Services, Galipo Foods, Bidfoods, John Lewis Foods, Siena Foods, PFD, Timpecha, Fine Food Cucina, Gaganis and Omega.
VIC: Calendar Cheese Co and Foods Unlimited
QLD: Fino Foods and Triton Food Brokers
WA: European Foods, Endeavor Foods and Evoo
NSW: Torino Foods, Fino Foods, and Gulli Foods
ACT: Cold Seas
Please contact the foodservice distributor directly for sale enquiries.
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| La Casa | The House |
| Del | Of |
| Formaggio | Cheese |
| Bocconcini | Little Mouthfuls |
| Ricotta | Recooked |
| Bambini | Baby |
| Fior Di Latte | Flower of Milk |
| Pasta Filata | Stretched Curd |
| Trecce | Plait |