Summarize:

Tear the plastic using your fingers or the tip of a knife. Then, pull the plastic away from the cheese until the entire outer wrapping has been removed. Discard the plastic. Place the tip of the knife at the center of the wheel. Make a straight cut from the center to the outside edge of the cheese wheel. Then, place the tip of the knife back in the center and move the blade so it's at about a 45-degree angle from the first cut you made. Slice down into the cheese wheel and make another cut. Remove the wedge from the cheese wheel. Wrap the rest of the gouda in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and store in the fridge for up to 3 weeks. Some wheels of gouda come with a red or black wax coating that needs to removed before the cheese can be eaten. If your wheel of gouda has one, peel the wax on each wedge back with your fingers or a knife. Discard the wax pieces after you remove them. Divide each wedge up into 4 or 5 even horizontal slices. Take the end piece near the rind (the hardened outer part of the cheese) and cut it in half crosswise to make 2 pieces. The rind on the cheese is edible, so leave it on when you're cutting up the cheese. If you don't want to eat the rind, eat around it and discard it when you're finished. Place a grater over a plate or bowl. Hold the wedge of gouda in your hand and gently rub it down the sharp perforated side of the grater. Once you reach the bottom, lift the wedge of cheese off the grater, bring it back to the top, and rub it down the side of the grater again. Repeat until the whole wedge has been grated. Keep your fingers away from the grater while you're grating the cheese.
Take off the plastic wrapping around the wheel of cheese. Cut the gouda into wedges using a sharp knife. Take off the wax coating if there is one. Slice the wedges of gouda horizontally for platters or sandwiches. Grate the gouda cheese to add to the top of recipes.