Why does my block of cheddar cheese start off square when viewed from the side, but ends up trapezoidal?

Question

Here's the deal, no matter how much I try to slice the cheese straight down with the knife, the block always ends up resembling a ski slope, wider at the bottom than the top.

Then of course, I have to cut the lower chunk off and eat it, to even the shape of the cheese up again.

Any tips, or should I just give up on cheese and give my saturated arteries a break?

Answer 1

Get a cheese wire like this one:

http://www.cutleryandmore.com/details.asp?SKU=9517&src=NexTag&cam=Products&kw=9517

Answer 2

This one is an easy one to answer. The problem is that when you get to the middle of the cheese you are taking it out in a hurry and cutting it without care and keep missing a third of the way down. Hense a ski slope effect starts up.
Buy a cheese wire and board which will stop this.
You don`t have to give up cheese totally, just eat it in moderation for your heart.

Answer 3

OK here's the deal - you like the triangular shape of cheese best so your subconscious causes you to create one by cutting crooked. It is a simple law of physics. The large block is stable unflexing while the thin slice gives and bends away from the cutting blade. Some of the wire cheese cutters have the little roller to overcome this tendency.

Answer 4

Dont give up on the cheese, it is a good source of calcium, but you might want to look deeper into yourself and ask why you are so preoccupied with the shape of the cheese. It does not matter if it is square or trapezoid, it is still just cheddar cheese!!

Answer 5

You could try using a 'Magic Knife' i.e. One with an adjusting attachment which is set for a particular thickness - then time after time you will achieve a regular slice the same size as the one before... There are various shopping channels and websites which offer 'The Magic Knife'

Use a good search programme such as 'Google'

http://www.asseenontv.com/prod-pages/magic_knife.html

Answer 6

Happens so me all the time, so I solved the problem by cutting into cubes, or grating the cheese.

If you do not want too thin slices, then a good old fashioned cheese wire, like they use in the shops, give great results.

Hope this helps.

Answer 7

this is one of the greatest mysteries of the universe! I am an extremly talented chef and am very skilled with a knife and my cheese is never square either...i find its best to use a grater but its so hard to keep the cheese on the bread when makin a toastie so you end up splurging on it anyway!

Answer 8

I'd walk a mile for a "special" smile. I walk about 10 feet for a block of cheese. When it boils down to cheese and smiles, a man HAS to know his limitations.

Answer 9

Buy a cheese knife. The dutch use it and you get uniform slices. Problem solved.

Answer 10

Quit cutting the cheese. It's getting rather smelly around here..lol

Just start eating feta where you just crumble it and don't worry about the shape.

Answer 11

Buy cheese slices (not the plastic type but proper cheddar/gouda/emmental etc) or ready grated cheese. Problem solved!