What kind of cheese are those slices of Gouda cheese you buy in the supermarket?
Are pre-cut Gouda cheese slices cut from round Gouda cheeses?
If you’re standing in the cheese aisle at the supermarket, you’ll most likely see perfectly pre-cut slices of Gouda cheese.
How can all those slices look so similar? Cut in the same shape, the same color and shine, the same thickness… Surely they couldn’t have been cut from a round, naturally matured Gouda cheese, right?
How they make Gouda slices: Industrial or commercial Gouda
Rectangular Gouda Blocks: Gouda Slices
Gouda cheese is not only made in round wheels, but Industrial Gouda is also produced in rectangular and loaf shapes.
Why are these rectangular Gouda blocks produced?
This is done for convenience, and each slice of cheese looks uniform. Rectangular cheeses are produced industrially for packaged slices and hotel blocks. This shape is convenient for pre-packaged cheese production because it’s easier to cut straight slices than from a round cheese:
- Production: Industrially produced, primarily for cutting into slices for plastic packaging.
- Convenience: The rectangular shape makes it convenient for the cheese industry to package and process the cheeses.
- Quality: The quality of rectangular cheese isn’t always the highest compared to traditional round Gouda cheeses, because the corners ripen faster than the center.
Rectangles with Rounded Sides: Pre-packaged Gouda Slices
Rectangular Gouda cheeses are also made, which have rounded edges or curved sides, giving the appearance that the slices come from a round Gouda cheese wheel.
Why are these rectangles Gouda blocks made with rounded sides?
Imitation of a round Gouda cheese – consumers associate Gouda’s flavor and quality with the traditional round form, so industrial Gouda producers mimic that shape.
The best way to enjoy the full flavour of Gouda cheese slices
Slice the cheese yourself!
Furthermore, if you’re a fan of Gouda cheese, Dutch farmhouse Gouda cheese is a must-try because of its unique, powerful flavor, achieved through the use of raw, unpasteurized milk and the artisanal aging process. This results in a more complex flavor profile than factory-made Gouda cheese.
Once you’ve tasted this traditional Dutch specialty, you’ll never want anything else.
Where can you buy these Dutch Gouda farmhouse cheeses in Spain?
In Málaga at Craxi Queso—and also available online in our webshop—you’ll find a wide variety of artisanal Dutch Gouda cheeses made using traditional methods, including classic varieties with cumin and cow’s milk cheeses with herbs and spices.
Where can you find our physical cheese shops in Málaga?
Craxi cheese shop locations in Malaga:
CRAXI QUESO: Mercado de la Merced, Stall 14.
ADDRESS: Calle la Merced, 4, Centro District, 29012 Málaga, Spain.
Phone: +34 624 48 57 73
Email: Contact form
Opening hours: Wednesday to Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
📍 Find us on Google Maps
CRAXI QUESO: Mercado de Huelin, Stalls 7-8.
ADDRESS: Calle la Hoz, 37, Carretera de Cádiz, 29002 Málaga, Spain.
Phone: +34 624 48 57 73
Email: Contact form
Opening hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
📍 Find us on Google Maps
Cheese slices from a round Gouda or a rectangle Gouda
Gouda cheese has been made in its well-known round shape for centuries and that is not without reason
The shape of a Gouda cheese wheel versus a rectangular block has real effects on how it ages.
A round Gouda cheese ripens more evenly because the salt and moisture are evenly distributed throughout the cheese, resulting in a uniform flavor and texture. A rectangular cheese, on the other hand, ripens unevenly, with the corners drying out faster and developing a different salt concentration than the center, which leads to flavor variations.
Industrial rectangular Gouda blocks, by contrast, often age faster but less evenly, making them more suited for industrial slicing or short-term aging, not for artisan affinage.
Advantage: round Gouda shape = better moisture balance and smoother, more uniform interior:
- Round Gouda wheels age more evenly because the curved surface minimizes edges and corners where moisture can escape faster.
- In rectangular blocks, corners and flat sides tend to dry out more quickly, leading to uneven texture — drier at the edges, moister in the center.
Advantage: round Gouda shape = airflow during maturation:
- A wheel’s round shape allows air to circulate evenly during aging.
- Rectangular blocks have more abrupt surfaces where airflow stagnates or concentrates.
Round Gouda shape = stronger structure, fewer cracks:
- Cheese loses moisture and slightly contracts as it ages, building internal tension. A round shape distributes that stress evenly, helping prevent cracks.
- A rectangular block concentrates stress at corners and edges, increasing the risk of fissures or crumbly texture.
Evolution of the flavor of a round Gouda cheese
✅ Advantage: The round shape of the cheese allows for slower ripening, which enhances the flavor complexity, and textural refinement.
How to contact Craxi Queso in Malaga
If you have any questions about our artisan Gouda cheeses, shipping or online cheese order, please feel free to contact us via the contact form on the website or use the WhatsApp button. We will get back to you as soon as possible with an answer.
Find Craxi Queso on Facebook.
The authentic Dutch Gouda cheese – Craxi Queso.
Cheese shop near me in Malaga.
Order online in Spain – Gouda cheese web shop.
Gouda Cheese Bundles with Herbs – Craxi Goudalicious 3-pack.
Gouda cheese delivered to your home – Shipping costs.
Frequently Asked Questions – Gouda Cheese.
Craxi Queso – El Español.
CRAXI ARTISAN DUTCH GOUDA CHEESES IN MÁLAGA
PREMIUM QUALITY AND FLAVOR
