The tough outer layer of certain fruits (especially citrus and melon), cheeses, or cuts of pork; removed, eaten, or used in cooking depending on context.
This aged parmesan has a hard, thick rind that is excellent for flavouring soups.
The brie has an edible, velvety rind that adds a mushroomy note.
Candied citrus rind makes an elegant garnish for chocolate desserts.
A washed-rind cheese like taleggio develops a pungent, orange-tinted surface.
The butcher removed the tough rind from the side of bacon at the customer's request.
Similar words
skin
chicharrones
crackling
skin
peel
husk
zest
crust
casing
coat
Meanings
Outer skin of fruit
noun
food
neutral
The tough outer layer of a fruit, especially citrus fruits (lemon, orange, lime) and melons; may be eaten, grated for flavouring, or discarded.
Examples
She carefully removed the rind before slicing the watermelon.
The recipe calls for grated orange rind to add a citrus flavour to the cake.
He composted the lemon rinds after squeezing the juice.
Avoid eating the rind if the fruit has been waxed or treated with pesticides.
Candied citrus rind makes an elegant garnish for chocolate desserts.
Similar words
peel
skin
zest
husk
Outer casing of cheese
noun
food
neutral
The outer surface of a cheese, formed naturally during maturation (bloomy, washed, or natural rind) or applied as a coating; may be edible or inedible depending on the variety.
Examples
The brie has an edible, velvety rind that adds a mushroomy note.
Some people remove the rind of blue cheese before eating, though it is safe.
The cheesemaker brushed the rinds with brine each day during affinage.
This aged parmesan has a hard, thick rind that is excellent for flavouring soups.
A washed-rind cheese like taleggio develops a pungent, orange-tinted surface.
Similar words
crust
coat
skin
casing
Outer skin of bacon or pork
noun
food
neutral
The tough outer skin of a piece of bacon or pork belly; when fried or roasted until crispy, the result is known as pork rinds (US) or pork crackling (UK).
Examples
Score the rind of the pork belly before roasting to get crispy crackling.
He trimmed the rind off the bacon before dicing it for the salad.
Deep-fried pork rinds are a popular snack in the American South.
The butcher removed the tough rind from the side of bacon at the customer's request.
Chicharrones — fried pork rinds — are eaten across Latin America and Spain.
Similar words
crackling
pork skin
chicharrones
Etymology
From Old English rind or rinde ('bark, crust'), related to Old High German rinta and Old Norse rind, all denoting the bark of a tree or a tough outer crust. The Proto-Germanic root rindō referred to a stripped or peeled outer layer. The sense extended from tree bark to fruit peel and cheese crust in Middle English, and to pig skin in culinary usage.
FAQ
What is a rind?
A rind is the tough outer layer of a fruit (especially citrus and melon), a cheese, or a cut of pork. Whether it is edible depends on the context: citrus rind can be candied or grated, most cheese rinds are edible, and pork rind is eaten as crackling.
What is the difference between rind and zest?
The rind is the complete outer skin of a citrus fruit, including both the coloured outer layer and the white, bitter pith beneath. Zest refers only to the thin, aromatic coloured part — without the pith. Recipes that call for zest want you to grate only the outer coloured layer.
Is cheese rind edible?
It depends on the cheese. Bloomy rinds (brie, camembert) and most natural and washed rinds are safe and enjoyable to eat. Hard, thick rinds on aged cheeses (like parmesan) are usually too tough to eat fresh but can be simmered in soups and sauces. Wax coatings on cheeses like gouda are not true rinds and should not be eaten.
What is a pork rind?
A pork rind is the outer skin of pork. When fried or roasted until puffy and crispy, it becomes pork rinds (American English) or pork crackling (British English), also known as chicharrones in Latin American cuisine.
What is the etymology of rind?
Rind comes from Old English rind or rinde, meaning the bark of a tree or a tough outer crust. It is related to Old High German rinta and Old Norse rind, all from a Proto-Germanic root meaning a stripped or peeled outer layer.
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