Pasture Pride Juusto Baked Cheese: A Delightful Scandinavian Treat

Today, Kevin, Ander, and I are sampling a new cheese brand called Pasture Pride, specifically their Juusto cheese. We found these at Jungle Jim's International Market for $6.99 each. The varieties we picked up include traditional, bacon crumbles, garlic, and Italian spices.

Juusto, also known as Juustoleipä or Ostbrod (meaning bread cheese), is a buttery-flavored, flat, and squeaky cheese made in Scandinavia for over 200 years. The cheese is baked in special ovens to create a delicious, toasty crust.

Cooking and Tasting Juusto Cheese

There are several ways to warm Juusto: in the microwave, oven, or on a gas grill. We chose to heat ours in a frying pan on the stovetop. You fry it for about four minutes per side until it becomes tender and slightly crispy.

Here are our thoughts on each flavor:

Traditional Juusto Cheese

• Calories: 110 per serving (660 per block)
• Taste: Similar to mozzarella cheese sticks, but warmed. It's delicious and has a mild, creamy flavor.

Bacon Crumbles Juusto Cheese

• Calories: 100 per serving (600 per block)
• Taste: Immediately smoky with a strong, real bacon flavor. We found this flavor significantly more interesting than the plain traditional version.

Garlic Juusto Cheese

• Calories: 100 per serving (600 per block)
• Taste: Strong garlic aroma and flavor. If you love garlic, this is a phenomenal choice. However, it’s not for those who prefer milder tastes.

Italian Spices Juusto Cheese

• Calories: 110 per serving (660 per block)
• Taste: Contains a mix of Italian spices like oregano and basil. Despite the enticing appearance, this was our least favorite, as the flavors didn't mesh as well as we had hoped.

Final Thoughts

Our favorite was the garlic flavor, closely followed by the bacon crumbles. The traditional Juusto was good but a bit plain, and the Italian spices didn't quite hit the mark for us.

Juusto cheese is fun to cook and eat, with its unique squeaky texture when bitten into. We recommend trying it in various ways, whether in a skillet, microwave, or oven. If you come across other brands, they might offer different levels of saltiness and flavor intensity.

Overall, Pasture Pride's Juusto cheese is a delightful addition to any cheese lover's repertoire. We hope you enjoyed our review, and stay tuned for more culinary explorations!