Why does my mascarpone taste weird?
November 17, 2009 4:08 PM Subscribe
Why does my mascarpone taste like alcohol and mushrooms? Is it supposed to taste like that?
I don't buy cheese often, and when I do, I'm usually a harvarti or brie kind of person. But tonight I was at a little Italian grocer and decided to try something new. I picked up a package labelled "Torta Mascarpone". When I opened it, it smelled strongly like alcohol. It tastes like alcohol and mushrooms. Not too enticing...
From what little I could find on google, it looks like I've accidentally bought a mascarpone that has a blue cheese mixed in, so that could explain the ick factor. But I've also read that both kinds of cheese go bad fast. Could the alcohol taste mean that it's gone past its prime?
Anyone had this kind of cheese before? Is it supposed to taste like this?
I don't buy cheese often, and when I do, I'm usually a harvarti or brie kind of person. But tonight I was at a little Italian grocer and decided to try something new. I picked up a package labelled "Torta Mascarpone". When I opened it, it smelled strongly like alcohol. It tastes like alcohol and mushrooms. Not too enticing...
From what little I could find on google, it looks like I've accidentally bought a mascarpone that has a blue cheese mixed in, so that could explain the ick factor. But I've also read that both kinds of cheese go bad fast. Could the alcohol taste mean that it's gone past its prime?
Anyone had this kind of cheese before? Is it supposed to taste like this?
Was there actually a seal over the top of the container? If not, it could have picked up flavors being shipped/sitting in the case. If there was a seal, check the expiration date, those smells could be a sign of the beginning of spoilage.
posted by TheBones at 5:12 PM on November 17, 2009
posted by TheBones at 5:12 PM on November 17, 2009
Best answer: Gorgonzola gone bad smells like ammonia (or week-old socks). Mascarpone gone bad smells like rotten milk, rancid fat.
I can see the aroma of blue cheese described as 'mushroom' when diluted and 'tamed' by the almost-odorless mascarpone, but alcohol smell or taste shouldn't definitely be there.
posted by _dario at 5:27 PM on November 17, 2009
I can see the aroma of blue cheese described as 'mushroom' when diluted and 'tamed' by the almost-odorless mascarpone, but alcohol smell or taste shouldn't definitely be there.
posted by _dario at 5:27 PM on November 17, 2009
Mascapone shouldn't taste like that, so take it back to the shop. It should taste smoothly creamy and only slightly cheesy, no sourness, alcohol or mushrooms.
posted by anadem at 7:01 PM on November 17, 2009
posted by anadem at 7:01 PM on November 17, 2009
i think mascarpone oxidates (or something) pretty fast once opened -- maybe it was a packaging problem?
posted by 3mendo at 5:14 AM on November 18, 2009
posted by 3mendo at 5:14 AM on November 18, 2009
Response by poster: thanks for the input, everyone. i think the ammonia smell (gorgozola gone bad) probably nails it. EW.
posted by snailparade at 7:59 PM on November 19, 2009
posted by snailparade at 7:59 PM on November 19, 2009
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posted by pised at 4:49 PM on November 17, 2009