Best Soft Cheeses

Top 10 Soft Cheeses

1. 1 Mont d'Or Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.
2. 2 Brie de Meaux Brie de Meaux is a soft cheese made from raw cow's milk in the Brie region of France, an AOC product since 1980. Wheels run 36 to 37 cm (14 to 14+1/2 in) across, with a delicate white rind and a straw-yellow, creamy interior.
3. 3 Neufchâtel Neufchâtel is a soft, slightly crumbly, mold-ripened cheese from the Neufchâtel-en-Bray region of Normandy and one of the oldest cheeses in France. It looks like Camembert but tastes saltier and sharper, has a grainy texture, and is usually sold in heart shapes.
5. 4 Brie Brie is a soft cow's milk cheese named after the French region it comes from, pale under a white mould rind. It runs 60 to 75 percent butterfat and tastes creamy, nutty and mushroom-like, with a faint acidity. The rind is eaten along with the paste.
6. 5 Domiati Domiati is the most common cheese in Egypt, a soft white salty cheese usually made from buffalo or cow milk. Salt goes into the milk before the rennet, which sets it apart from feta and gives the cheese its sharp, pickled character.
7. 6 Coulommiers Coulommiers is a soft ripened cow's milk cheese from the town of Coulommiers in Seine-et-Marne, France. It is a smaller, thicker cousin of Brie with a nuttier flavor, sold as a disc under a white bloomy rind.
8. 7 Lor Lor is an Iranian whey cheese, similar to ricotta but firmer and less creamy. It is made from the whey of sheep's, goat's, or cow's milk with added milk and salt. This cheese is low in fat and mild in flavor, typically used in Iranian cuisine as a filling for pastries or as a spread.
9. 8 Kalathaki Limnou Kalathaki Limnou is a fresh brined cheese from the Greek island of Lemnos, made from sheep's milk with up to 30 percent goat's milk. Protected as a PDO since 1996, it is named for the small basket molds that leave their pattern on its surface.
10. 9 Chèvre (Goat Cheese) Chèvre is the French name for cheese made from goat's milk. The classic French style is soft and creamy under a light colored rind, tart from the fatty acids in goat milk, and is sometimes served hot as chèvre chaud.
11. 10 Squacquerone di Romagna Squacquerone is a soft cow's milk cheese from Romagna, aged only a few days. Its high water content keeps it creamy and spreadable, and it is one of the main fillings for piadina.

More Soft Cheeses Worth Knowing

11. 11 American Neufchâtel American Neufchâtel is a soft cheese made from cow's milk in Chester, New York. It has a creamy texture similar to cream cheese but with less fat. The flavor is mild and slightly tangy, making it a popular choice for spreads and dips. Its smooth consistency also works well in baking and cooking, providing a lighter alternative to richer cheeses. American Neufchâtel is often used in cheesecakes or as a topping on bagels. It is a versatile cheese that pairs well with both sweet and savory dishes.
12. 12 Pouligny-Saint-Pierre Pouligny-Saint-Pierre is a raw goats' milk cheese from the Indre department of central France, shaped like a tall pyramid. Its nicknames, Eiffel Tower and Pyramid, come from that silhouette.
13. 13 Bryndza Podhalańska Bryndza Podhalańska is a soft brined sheep's milk cheese from the Podhale region on the northern side of the Tatras in Poland. In 2007 it became the first Polish product registered in the EU scheme for protected designations of origin.
14. 14 Gaperon Gaperon is a French cow's milk cheese from the Auvergne, shaped into a dome and flavored with cracked peppercorns and pink garlic. It tastes tart when young and turns soft, buttery, and strongly garlicky as it matures.
15. 15 Baby Brie Baby Brie is a soft cheese from France made from pasteurized cow's milk. It features a creamy texture and a mild flavor that appeals to many cheese lovers. The cheese has a cream-colored interior with a bloomy rind, which adds to its aromatic profile. Often referred to as Petit Brie or Mini Brie, this cheese is a smaller version of the traditional Brie, making it perfect for individual servings or small gatherings. Its soft texture and mild taste make it a crowd-pleaser, suitable for pairing with fruits, nuts, or a fresh baguette.
16. 16 Hoop Cheese Hoop cheese is a fresh cow's milk cheese from the Southern United States, pressed in a wooden hoop until the whey drains out. Once a staple of Southern general stores, it is now sold mostly at roadside stands and farmers markets.
17. 17 Brie de Melun Brie de Melun is a soft unpasteurised cow's milk cheese from the Brie region of France, one of only two bries the French government certifies. It is smaller than Brie de Meaux, with a stronger flavour and a more pungent smell, and has held AOC status since 1980.
18. 18 Farmer's Cheese Farmer's cheese is pressed curds, an unripened cheese made by adding rennet and a bacterial starter to milk. It comes from cow, sheep or goat milk, and the style ranges from pressed cottage cheese to a firm wheel close to Monterey Jack.
19. 19 Canarejal Canarejal is a soft cheese from Spain made from sheep's milk. It has a creamy texture and a pale yellow color. The cheese has a mild, slightly tangy flavor with a rich, buttery taste. Its soft consistency makes it a great choice for spreading on bread or crackers. Canarejal is often enjoyed as part of a cheese board or paired with fruits and nuts. It is best served at room temperature to fully appreciate its creamy texture and flavor.
20. 20 Cachaille Cachaille is a strong Provençal cheese preparation made by fermenting leftover sheep tomme and goat brousse with brandy, white wine and oil. Sold in glass jars, it is spread on bread, and a well-tended pot can keep going for 20 years.
21. 21 Queijo do Pico Queijo do Pico is a cured cow's milk cheese from the island of Pico in the Azores. It cures for 20 to 30 days into a flat cylinder with a yellow crust and a soft, pasty interior, and it has carried EU protected origin status since 1996.
22. 22 Pate de Fromage Pâte de Fromage is a French cheese made from either goat's or sheep's milk and has a fat content of 50%. It is known for its soft texture, making it easy to spread or enjoy on its own. The cheese has a creamy flavor with a gentle tang, typical of goat's and sheep's milk cheeses. Its mild taste allows it to pair well with a variety of foods, enhancing both simple and more elaborate dishes. Whether enjoyed on a crusty baguette or as part of a cheese platter, Pâte de Fromage offers a pleasing taste experience.
23. 23 Carre de l'Est Carre de l'Est is a soft cow's milk cheese from Lorraine in eastern France, sold in small squares of 330 g. It is made much like Camembert but comes out firmer, with a damp red rind and a stretchy paste that melts in the mouth.
24. 24 Pérail Pérail is a soft sheep's milk cheese from Aveyron in southern France, sold in small rounds with an ivory, wrinkly rind. Older wheels taste distinctly sheepy.
25. 25 Taleggio Taleggio is a semisoft Italian cheese with a washed, smear-ripened rind and a strong smell. The taste is milder than the aroma suggests, creamy and pale yellow inside, with an unusual fruity tang.

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All the best cheeses, ranked