Camembert – All You Need to Know | Instacart’s Guide to Groceries

What is camembert?

Camembert is a French soft milky cheese. It’s known for its creaminess, richness, and mildly intense flavor. Camembert is shaped into small wheels and eaten by the wedge. Each bite gives you a taste of the buttery interior and savory edible ripened white mold rind, which gives the cheese oniony and mushroomy notes.

This dairy cheese can be enjoyed in many ways. It goes well in a cheese platter, alongside walnuts and a glass of red wine; over toasted sourdough with honey drizzled on top; or baked and used as a dip with rosemary, garlic confit, and sea salt.

What is the difference between camembert and brie?

Brie and camembert share a lot of similarities. They’re both white cheeses from northern France (brie comes from Seine-et-Marne while camembert hails from Normandy), are made from cow’s milk, have a ripened white rind, and taste buttery soft.

But there are some key differences. For starters, brie makers add cream to their cheese, making it richer in butterfat than camembert. Secondly, because more lactic starter is used to make camembert, this cheese has a stronger, earthier taste. Lastly, brie is shaped into larger wheels (between 9-14in), while camembert wheels are smaller (typically 5in).

Where did camembert originate?

Camembert has its roots in 18th-century Normandy. Marie Harel, a farmer, and cheesemaker worked with a priest from Brie to improve a local cheese recipe. In the early days of camembert-making, cheesemakers didn’t quite understand how mold appeared in dairy products. That is why camembert used to have an inconsistent blue-and-grey rind.

At first, camembert only enjoyed modest success, with news of this novel delicacy not traveling too far. It wasn’t until the late 19th century—after an engineer invented wooden boxes that allowed the cheese to be shipped across great distances without spoiling—that camembert’s popularity truly took off.

During World War I, camembert became a staple of French diets because rations were generous. Today, camembert has become the most popular cheese in France.

How is camembert made?

Camembert can be made from pasteurized or unpasteurized milk, though the former is more common for food safety reasons. Either way, the milk is warmed, and cheesemakers inoculate it with bacteria.

Then, a coagulant is added to curdle the milk. Traditionally, rennet—a mixture of enzymes found in cows’ stomachs—is used in this step.

Next, the cheese curds are placed inside camembert wheel molds. They’re turned frequently, so all the whey separates, and all that’s left behind is a solid and crumbly cheese.

The next steps are what make camembert so unique. The outside of the cheese is sprayed with a specific mold—Penicillium camemberti—and left to ripen for at least 3 weeks. During this time, the rind blooms, and the inside gets buttery soft.

Lastly, camembert is wrapped in paper, boxed, and shipped all over the world.

Keep in mind that camembert isn’t a protected cheese. Thus, it can be made anywhere. However, Camembert de Normandie is a different matter: it must be made from unpasteurized milk and can only be produced in Normandy.

What is the nutritional value of camembert?

Despite looking buttery and creamy, camembert isn’t the fattiest cheese out there. One wedge (or approximately 38g) packs:

• 114 calories
• 9.2g of fat
• 5.8g of saturated fat
• 7.5g of protein
• 27mg of cholesterol
• 320mg of sodium

Additionally, the same wedge serving of camembert also has some essential vitamins and nutrients:

• 10% of your daily value (DV) of vitamin A
• 14% DV of riboflavin
• 10% DV of vitamin B5
• 7% DV of vitamin B6
• 20% DV of vitamin B12
• 6% DV of folate 
• 19% DV of phosphorus
• 10% DV of selenium

What to look for when buying camembert

There isn’t much difference between wheels of camembert nowadays. Thus, you’ll most likely strike gold no matter which one you buy. Just keep in mind that if you want the traditional Camembert de Normandie, made from unpasteurized milk, you’ll need to look for a wheel that was made in Normandy—otherwise, it’s a dupe.

If you are looking to have your groceries delivered, you can easily shop for camembert via Instacart. After adding a product to your cart, use the “Instructions” option to notify your Instacart shopper about any preferences or specific directions on how to choose the best products. Shop for camembert.

How to store camembert

Treat camembert like a perishable food item. Store your camembert in the fridge at all times, even if you haven’t cut into it yet. Since it likely came in a wooden wheel-shaped box and wrapped in paper, leave it in its original packaging. This allows the cheese to breathe and extends its shelf life.

Many people place their wheels of camembert in ziplock plastic bags, but that is not a good idea. It leads to a build-up of ammonia and moisture, which makes the camembert spoil more quickly. If you must place a wheel of camembert in a plastic bag, puncture holes in it to let air in.

What is the shelf life of camembert?

Soft cheeses tend to have a shorter shelf life, and camembert is no exception. While it’s still closed in its original packaging, camembert will last until the best-by date. Typically, this means you can keep it for up to 6 weeks.

Once you open the package, time starts running out. It’s recommended that you use up a whole wheel of camembert within 2 weeks. The longer you let it stay in the fridge, the texture will get runnier and the smell more intense.

How to tell if camembert is bad

It’s easy to tell if camembert cheese has gone bad. Spoiled camembert has a pungent off smell, a layer of mold on the surface, and becomes too runny to cut into wedges. If you see any of these signs on your wheel, toss it immediately.

What can I substitute for camembert?

Brie is the closest and easiest substitute to find for camembert. Alternatively, you could also swap camembert for any other creamy cheese with a bloomy rind, such as Mt. Tam and Coulommiers.

Where to find camembert near me

Camembert shouldn’t be difficult to find. But depending on where you live, this could mean driving around to a few grocery stores before finding what you’re looking for. You can skip the hassle when you order via Instacart. With just a few clicks, your wheel of camembert will be delivered to your door in under 2 hours, thanks to same-day delivery! Turns out you can have your cheese and eat it too.

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