‘Fold In The Cheese’: The Schitt’s Creek Scene That Became a Cooking Meme
Discover how a sitcom’s iconic scene left cooks everywhere asking: what does it really mean to ‘fold in the cheese’?
‘Fold In The Cheese’: From Schitt’s Creek to Culinary Meme Immortality
If you’ve ever watched the sitcom Schitt’s Creek, chances are you’ve encountered the phrase that left an entire segment of the internet delightfully confused: ‘fold in the cheese’. Referenced in the beloved episode “Family Dinner”, this now-iconic line morphed into a viral meme, stumping both fictional characters and real-life cooks. But what, exactly, does ‘folding in the cheese’ mean—and how did a slightly obscure culinary instruction captivate viewers worldwide?
The Enchilada Episode: Where It All Began
The moment is set in the chaotic kitchen of the Rose family, recently relocated from their lavish lifestyle to the sleepy town of Schitt’s Creek. Hoping to reclaim some vestige of tradition, Moira Rose, the delightfully eccentric matriarch played by Catherine O’Hara, decides to pass down her mother’s enchilada recipe. David, her son, volunteers to cook alongside his mother—unaware that a single step in the recipe will soon leave them hilariously at odds.
Midway through the process, Moira utters the now-legendary phrase: “Fold in the cheese.” This seemingly straightforward command grinds the cooking session to a halt as David asks for clarification:
- David: “How do you fold it? Do you fold it in half like a piece of paper and drop it in the pot, or what do you do?”
- Moira: “You just fold it in!”
- David: “I don’t know how to fold broken cheese like that!”
- Moira: “I cannot show you everything.”
Their escalating confusion, dramatized with Moira’s increasingly circular explanations and David’s mounting exasperation, turns the scene into one of the show’s most quotable and relatable moments. Viewers around the world identified with their predicament: who really knows how to “fold in the cheese”?
Viral Legacy: From Sitcom to Meme
The ‘fold in the cheese’ exchange quickly transcended television, sparking a deluge of memes, reaction GIFs, and social media remixes. On platforms like TikTok and Twitter, fans recreated the moment, debated its meaning, or simply relished its absurdity. The phrase now serves as shorthand for bewildering instructions—especially those that everyone pretends to understand but might not actually know how to execute.
- Meme status: The moment is instantly recognizable in pop culture circles.
- Cross-generational appeal: Foodies, sitcom lovers, and even professional chefs weighed in.
- Merchandise: The phrase appears on mugs, aprons, shirts—staples of the internet age.
This universal confusion and hilarity is precisely why the scene lives on, far beyond its original airing.
But Seriously: What Does ‘Fold In the Cheese’ Mean in Cooking?
For those left genuinely perplexed, the phrase does have real culinary significance. In the cooking world, ‘folding’ is a distinct technique:
- Folding means gently mixing an ingredient (like cheese) into a mixture without vigorously stirring or beating.
- The process often involves using a spatula to scoop from the bottom of the bowl and lift over the added ingredient repeatedly, allowing the cheese to incorporate smoothly and the mixture to stay light or unbroken.
- In the case of sauces, as demonstrated by Andrew Rea (of Binging with Babish), it involves gently stirring the cheese from the bottom upward, folding the liquid over the cheese so it melts gradually without breaking the sauce.
The goal is always to retain texture and prevent overmixing, which can ruin delicate dishes or emulsions. Folding is common not just for cheese, but for whipped egg whites, cream, and other airy ingredients.
Why Did Moira and David Get So Confused?
At the heart of the scene’s comedy is that neither Moira nor David, for all their confidence (or, in Moira’s case, bluster), actually know how to complete the step. This leads to hilariously circular logic:
- Moira tells David to “fold it in,” but when pressed, repeats herself, insisting the act should be self-explanatory.
- David tries to interpret the step literally, comparing it to folding a piece of paper.
- The conversation degenerates into mutual frustration, a comedic showcase of miscommunication.
The brilliance of the writing, and the performances by Catherine O’Hara (Moira) and Dan Levy (David), is grounded in their earnestness; each is convinced the other is at fault, which amplifies the farce. For audiences, it’s both excruciating and exhilarating to watch two people so lost in translation—especially when the stakes are so low.
Binging With Babish: A Real-Life Cooking Lesson
Culinary YouTuber Andrew Rea, host of Binging with Babish, seized the opportunity to settle the debate once and for all. In a dedicated episode, he recreated the show’s enchilada recipe, pausing to address the burning question: what does it actually mean to ‘fold in the cheese’?
Rea’s answer is refreshingly concrete. He demonstrates:
- Gently incorporate shredded or crumbled cheese into a warm sauce by stirring upward from the bottom, allowing it to melt without aggressive motion.
- This prevents the sauce from breaking or becoming oily, and ensures an even distribution of the cheese.
- Use a rubber spatula for maximum delicacy and control.
For viewers (and Moira-and-David-level cooks), this brings closure to a meme and offers a practical lesson in classic kitchen terminology.
The Scene in Context: Why ‘Schitt’s Creek’ Resonates
Beyond the specifics of cheese, this episode encapsulates what has made Schitt’s Creek so beloved:
- Fish-out-of-water humor: The ultra-privileged Rose family trying to navigate a humble life in a rural town.
- Family dynamics: Moira’s matriarchal posturing, David’s hyper-literalism, and their playful antagonism.
- Relatable mistakes: From recipes to relationships, the show revels in human flaws and misunderstandings.
The enduring popularity of this particular scene is a testament to the writers’ ability to find comedy in the universal—most of us have, at some point, been given impossible-to-understand instructions, whether in the kitchen, at work, or at home. The Roses’ flailing attempts become our own, making their small triumphs and stumbles both hilarious and heartwarming.
How Culinary Terms Confuse Home Cooks
“Folding” isn’t the only kitchen term that confounds beginners. Recipes often presume a baseline of cooking knowledge, dropping instructions like:
- “Sweat your onions”
- “Deglaze the pan”
- “Zest the lemon”
Yet for many, these can be as mysterious as “fold in the cheese.” The scene exposes a wider gap between cookbook shorthand and practical know-how—and invites both cooks and writers to think carefully about how they communicate.
Quick Guide: Other Tricky Cooking Terms
| Term | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Folding | Gently mixing in a delicate ingredient, preserving texture |
| Blanch | Briefly boiling then shocking in ice water to halt cooking |
| Sweat | Cooking veggies over low heat to soften without browning |
| Deglaze | Adding liquid to a hot pan to dissolve browned bits (for flavor!) |
| Zest | Removing the colorful outer layer of citrus fruit |
The Broader Impact: Memes, Merch, and Meaning
“Fold in the cheese” didn’t stop at viral meme status. The phrase rapidly made its way onto merchandise, from kitchen aprons to coffee mugs. Cheeky nods to the episode pop up in recipe blogs, food videos, and even cooking classes. For many, quoting Moira—“You just fold it in!”—is now an inside joke, a marker of communal pop culture fluency.
But the spread also represents how television can teach even as it entertains. The internet’s collective obsession contributed to a newfound familiarity with an actual cooking skill. As a result, what was once mysterious instruction is now, thanks to memeification, part of the home cooks’ lexicon.
Pop Culture’s Fascination with the Everyday
Part of the charm is that the scene, for all its zaniness, comes from such an ordinary pursuit: trying to follow (and pass down) a family recipe. From Schitt’s Creek to real kitchens everywhere, the disconnect between expectation and capability brings people together through shared laughter—and occasional exasperation.
This goes to show that even the humblest moments—like a mother and son disagreeing over cheese—can achieve lasting fame, reminding us of the quirks and joys of cooking, and the fun of not taking ourselves too seriously.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What does ‘fold in the cheese’ actually mean?
A: In cooking, ‘to fold in the cheese’ means to gently combine cheese into a mixture using a spatula or spoon, lifting from the bottom and turning over to incorporate without breaking the mixture or sauce.
Q: Why did ‘fold in the cheese’ become such a famous meme?
A: The scene’s combination of genuine confusion, witty writing, and strong performances made it instantly relatable and extremely shareable; fans love to reference the moment when nobody really knows what ‘fold in the cheese’ means.
Q: Who clarified the meaning for home cooks?
A: YouTube chef Andrew Rea, from Binging With Babish, recreated the episode’s enchiladas and demonstrated how to correctly fold cheese into a sauce by stirring gently from the bottom upward.
Q: Does ‘folding’ only apply to cheese?
A: No! Folding is a common technique used for ingredients like whipped cream, whipped egg whites, and other delicate mix-ins that you don’t want to deflate or overmix.
Q: Can I use this trick in other recipes?
A: Absolutely. Any time a recipe calls for delicate combining—like in soufflés, mousses, or sauces—folding will help preserve the intended texture.
Summary Table: Why ‘Fold In The Cheese’ Endures
| Aspect | Impact |
|---|---|
| Comedy | Highlights miscommunication and relatable confusion with humor |
| Cultural Influence | Became a meme, referenced in jokes and merchandise |
| Culinary Relevance | Brought attention to an important kitchen technique |
| Pop Culture Legacy | Serves as shorthand for all vague or confusing instructions |
Final Thoughts
‘Fold in the cheese’ is more than just a line from Schitt’s Creek; it’s a perfect storm of kitchen confusion, comedic brilliance, and internet virality. It bridges the gap between expert and amateur cooks, celebrates family foibles, and cements its place in both food culture and television history. The next time you encounter a mystifying recipe instruction, remember Moira, David, and the world’s favorite kitchen meme—and perhaps reach for a spatula, gently folding with confidence.
