A little reason to celebrate
National Cheese Souffle Day
Food · May 18
A day for the cheese soufflé, the baked dish of cheese sauce and whipped egg whites that rises tall in the oven and sinks soon after.
National Cheese Souffle Day falls on Tuesday, May 18, 2027. That is 203 days away.
A cheese soufflé starts as a thick sauce of butter, flour and milk, enriched with egg yolks and grated cheese. Beaten egg whites get folded in, and the whole thing goes into a straight-sided dish and then the oven, where it puffs up well above the rim.
The texture is the point. The outside sets into a thin golden crust, while the middle stays soft and creamy, somewhere between a cloud and a very ambitious omelet. Gruyère and cheddar are common choices, and a little mustard or nutmeg often goes into the sauce.
Its reputation for being difficult is mostly about timing. The air trapped in the egg whites expands in the heat, and once the soufflé leaves the oven that air cools and the top begins to settle. Nothing has gone wrong. It just means the people should be seated before the dish arrives, not the other way around.
Cooks who try one at home usually find the steps are simple. Whites beaten to soft, glossy peaks, a gentle fold so they keep their volume, and an oven door left closed while it bakes. Buttering the dish and dusting it with grated cheese gives the batter something to climb.
Served straight away with a green salad, a cheese soufflé makes a light lunch or supper. Spoon into the center first, where the soft part is.
Ways to celebrate
- Try baking a cheese soufflé at home with whatever hard cheese you have.
- Practice folding egg whites gently into a thick cheese sauce.
- Look for a cheese soufflé on a local French restaurant menu.
- Share a photo of your soufflé before it starts to settle.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Monday, May 18 |
| 2027 | Tuesday, May 18 |
| 2028 | Thursday, May 18 |
| 2029 | Friday, May 18 |
| 2030 | Saturday, May 18 |
Also on May 18
Categories: Food days