Product reviewed: Emile Henry Cheese Baker
There are very few things I love in life more than cheese. Melted cheese, sliced cheese, shredded cheese… you name it, I love it. I especially love cheesy dips. That’s why I was very excited to review the Emile Henry Cheese Baker.
With a ceramic dish and matching lid, the cheese baker is designed for preparing and serving warm cheese-based dishes and appetizers, such as fondue or baked brie. It is made in France from a natural clay that conducts and retains heat. To use the baker, simply place ingredients in the dish, cover with the lid and place it in the oven to bake. You can serve straight from the dish.
Right off the bat, I liked that this cheese baker isn’t large or bulky; it is compact, making it easy to store in a cabinet or drawer. There aren’t any attachments, either. It’s simply the ceramic dish and matching lid, meaning nothing to assemble and no small parts to lose.
I immediately put this cheese baker to the test, trying out two recipes from the booklet that comes with the product: Honey & Walnut Baked Brie and Lemon & Fresh Herb Baked Ricotta Dip. It was delightfully simple to use, but I did have a little trouble removing the dish from the oven. The outside of the cheese baker gets quite warm and the dish can be a bit slippery when trying to maneuver in and out of the oven. I also found that it’s nearly impossible to remove the lid with oven mitts on your hands. However, I did have better luck when using a thick kitchen towel to carry the dish and remove the lid.
Both recipes turned out wonderful and stayed warm for a long time in the ceramic dish. The cheese baker also is great for making smaller portions of your favorite warm cheese recipes. It fits a single wheel of brie or just enough cheese fondue for two or three people to enjoy.
As someone who despises doing dishes, I loved that this product allows recipes to be both baked and served in the same dish. No need to transfer the end product to a serving bowl. The cheese baker also is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
I would highly recommend this product to anyone who loves warm cheese dishes, hosts small gatherings (taking all COVID-19 precautions) and is looking for a functional yet stylish dish that doesn’t require a lot of storage space.
