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Soft cheeses are a type of cheese that have a very soft texture. There are many different types of soft cheeses, and they come in all shapes and sizes. They can be made from cow's milk, sheep's milk, or goat's milk.
Soft cheese is typically eaten as a spread on breads such as crackers or bagels. Some people even use them to top their salads for an added burst of flavor! Soft cheeses also make great toppings for french toast or crepes, because they melt easily when heated up!
This article will go over 19 different types of soft cheese and how you can use it!
The difference between hard and soft cheeses
Both soft and hard cheeses are made out of milk. But there is one difference - the kind of milk used in each type of cheese. In order to make a soft cheese, whole milk is used. Whereas for hard cheese, cream is extracted from the skimmed milk, which creates a harder texture.
Soft cheeses are typically round in shape and have a soft, pliable texture. They also tend to be more moist than hard cheeses. This is because there is not as much moisture being drained out of the curds when making soft cheese. Hard cheese tend to be harder, crumbly, and less moist (although they will still be moist compared to other types of cheese).
19 types of soft cheese and how to use them
Cottage cheese
Cottage cheese is made from skimmed milk curd that has been placed into cheesecloth and drained of excess liquid. It is then heated up to further remove moisture, which gives it a slightly crumbly texture. Cottage cheese can be eaten on its own or with fruit added to it.
The great thing about cottage cheese is that it can easily be altered to suit whatever you have on hand. You can add fruit such as bananas, strawberries, or blueberries; herbs such as chives or parsley; and seasonings like cinnamon and nutmeg to make an even more savory dish!
Cream cheese
Cream cheese is made from cream and milk. It is then heated up to the point where it separates into whey (the liquid) and curds (the solid substance). The curds are then collected, strained, shaped into blocks or rounds, and allowed to dry.
Cream cheese's texture makes it easily spreadable on toast, crackers, or bagels. It can also be used to make sweet treats like cheesecake!
There are so many different types of cream cheese out there - it all depends on the flavor you're going for (plain, strawberry, orange, etc.) You can even add fruit to plain cream cheese and create your own flavored spread!
Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is typically made from sheep's milk or goat's milk. It is then pressed into a round form and allowed to dry until firm. Feta can be used in sweet dishes, such as salads or appetizers. You can also use feta in a savory dish - it all depends on the recipe!
Feta cheese is a staple in Greek cuisine; you will often see it being served on gyros or salads. Its crumbly texture makes it easier to eat, especially when paired with warm pita bread!
Brie cheese
Brie cheese is made from cow's milk and comes in a round, flattened shape. The texture of brie makes it great for being served at room temperature or slightly warmed up. You will often see brie used as an appetizer to dip into sauces like fig jam or nutella!
Brie is very creamy and soft, which makes it easy to spread and delicate to eat. You can also slice brie up and put it on French bread or baguette slices for a tasty treat.
Camembert cheese
Camembert is a soft, creamy cheese that is typically made from cow's milk. It is then shaped into small cylinders that are placed in wooden boxes lined with cloth. The boxes are then stacked and allowed to mature for about a month - the longer it ages, the stronger the flavor becomes.
Camembert is a French-style cheese, which makes it great to be served with baguette or crackers. It has a strong flavor that pairs well with wine. You can also add apple slices to camembert for an awesome appetizer!
Mozzarella cheese
Mozzarella is made from cow's milk and comes in a ball shape. It is allowed to drain as liquid is being pushed out of it, which makes it have a softer texture. Mozzarella can be eaten on its own or with other ingredients added to it.
Mozzarella cheese comes in different types depending on how long it has been aged. The longer you let it age, the stronger its flavor becomes and the firmer/harder its texture can become!
Mozzarella is a common ingredient in Italian dishes like pasta or pizza - the gooey cheese paired with tomato sauce is to die for!
Colby cheese
Colby cheese is made from cow's milk. It then has a layer of salt added to it as it ages, giving it its unique taste and texture. It is allowed to age for about six months before being sold.
Colby cheese often has small holes in it which can be due to the presence of bacteria or air pockets during the aging process. The more holes in the cheese, the stronger its colby flavor will be!
Colby cheese is similar to Monterey Jack cheese - it can be used for a variety of dishes from appetizer to main course. It is best served melted onto nachos or baked potatoes!
Feta cheese
Feta is made from goat's milk or sheep's milk. It has a strong taste and can be added to salads, vegetables, and even sandwiches! You will often see feta being served on Greek dishes such as gyros or falafel.
Feta cheese is used in so many recipes that you'd never even know that it was a soft cheese! It is best served as an appetizer with crackers or pita bread.
You can also add feta cheese to soups, stews, and even pastas!
American cheese
American cheese is made from cow's milk and often blends with other ingredients as well. It is made into a square, rectangular block so it can easily be sliced.
American cheese has a milky texture that isn't very soft or moist; its consistency is somewhere between a hard and soft cheese. American cheese melts easily which makes it great for slicing and melting onto hot sandwiches or burgers!
Swiss cheese
Swiss cheese is made from cow's milk and comes in a wheel shape. It has holes throughout the body of the wheel, which can be caused by the presence of bacteria in its aging process. The more holes present, the stronger the flavor will become because it takes longer for air to travel through these holes!
Swiss cheese is a very popular ingredient in grilled cheeses - it can be sliced and melted on bread or even added into the sandwich itself!
Monterey Jack Cheese
Monterey Jack is made from cow's milk, but has extra bacteria added to it. It is then shaped into blocks. The longer that Monterey Jack cheese ages, the stronger its flavor will become!
Monterey Jack cheese pairs well with almost anything - it can be eaten alone as a snack or melted on top of dishes like quesadillas and tacos!
Muenster cheese
Muenster is made from cow's milk and comes in a wheel shape. It is allowed to age for about four months before being sold. The longer it ages, the stronger its flavor will become!
You can spread Muenster cheese onto bread or toast, shred it into sandwiches, and even melt it on top of your favorite hot dish! Muenster is best served alone as a snack or with crackers.
Muenster cheese pairs well with just about any type of bread, including tortilla chips in nachos or on tacos! It can be eaten alone or added to a meal and melted onto top.
Parmesan cheese
Parmesan is made from cow's milk. It usually comes in a shaker canister or as a grated topping for Italian dishes like spaghetti! It has a very nutty taste and crumbles easily which makes it easy to add into recipes.
You can top off your pasta with Parmesan cheese, add it to soups or even make cheesy breadsticks! It's very versatile so you can never go wrong!
Parmesan cheese goes great on top of any dish - it tastes especially delicious on baked potatoes with a little bit of butter and sour cream!
Provolone Cheese
Provolone is made from cow's milk. It comes in a wheel shape, but is folded over itself to create a square form. Provolone is best served sliced onto sandwiches or melted on top of hot dishes like calzones and pizzas!
You can add Provolone cheese to any recipe that you'd usually use Mozzarella cheese in. It's very versatile so there are many ways to prepare it and enjoy its flavor!
Cotija Cheese
Cotija cheese is made from cow's milk. It begins as a harder chees that is allowed to age for at least two months before being sold. Afterwards, it can be crumbled and added into tacos, quesadillas, salads, eggs and many other dishes!
You can eat Cotija cheese alone or with crackers or bread. You can also add it to just about any meal that you'd like! It's very versatile so there are many options on how to prepare and enjoy it.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta is made from cow's milk. It can be eaten alone as a snack or added into dishes like baked ziti, lasagna and calzones!
Ricotta goes great in salads and also tastes delicious on garlic bread! It can be sliced, chopped or shredded depending on the dish you're making. It can also be baked off and eaten with crackers!
Ricotta cheese is very versatile so it tastes great in many dishes. You can even add it into pancakes or crepes to really liven them up!
Fresco cheese
Fresco cheese is made from cow's milk. It comes in a wheel shape and has holes throughout the body of the wheel. The longer that Fresco cheese ages, the stronger its flavor will become!
You can shred it into salads or sandwiches, melt it onto hot dishes like nachos and tacos, or eat it alone as a snack!
Fresco cheese tastes great with just about anything - you can never go wrong when adding it to your meal so don't be afraid to try it!
Gouda cheese
Gouda cheese is made from cow's milk. It comes in a wheel shape with holes throughout the body of the wheel like Fresco cheese! The longer that Gouda cheese ages, the stronger its flavor will become!
You can eat Gouda cheese alone as a snack or add it to your favorite dishes! It can be sliced, shredded, grated or melted onto pizza or sandwiches for a more flavorful meal.
Cheddar Cheese
Cheddar cheese is made from cow's milk. It comes in a wheel shape but has no holes throughout the body of the wheel like Gouda and Fresco cheeses! The longer that Cheddar cheese ages, the stronger its flavor will become!
You can shred it into any hot dish to add a little kick to your meal! It tastes great on top of nachos, tacos or baked potatoes! It can be sliced and eaten on sandwiches too.
Cheddar cheese is a strong flavored cheese so it's best added into dishes that you wouldn't think about adding cheese to. If you want something different than the usual cheddar cheese, try it on your next sandwich!
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Gouda cheese?
Gouda cheese is a cow's milk cheese that comes in wheel-shaped form with holes throughout the body of the wheel. It tastes best when eaten alone or added to dishes like pizzas, sandwiches, tacos and baked potatoes. You can also add Gouda cheese to salads, eggs and crackers for a sweet snack or meal.
- What cheese goes well with a cracker or bread?
Cheddar cheese is a good choice because it has a strong flavor that goes well with bread and crackers. And, if you live in the States, American cheese will also be an excellent option.
- How can I incorporate Ricotta into my recipes?
Ricotta, the Italian word for "sponge", is a type of soft cheese used in dishes like baked ziti, lasagna and calzones. Ricotta can also be sliced, chopped or shredded depending on the dish you're making. It can also be baked off and eaten with crackers! Ricotta cheese tastes great with just about anything - you can never go wrong when adding it to your meal so don't be afraid to try it!
Conclusion
The list of 19 different types of soft cheese is a great resource for anyone looking to incorporate more dairy into their diet. Whether you're cooking dinner or hosting a party, there are so many different cheeses that can be used in your dishes! It's important to note the differences between each type as they may not have similar textures and flavors.
