Aged Cheese vs Kasseri Cheese
Aged Cheese is a cheese, while Kasseri Cheese is firm to hard and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.
What Is Aged Cheese?
Aged cheese is cheese that has gone through ripening, the stage after manufacture when enzymes, bacteria and moulds build its taste, texture and body. Ripening runs from about three weeks to more than two years, and all cheese except fresh cheese gets it.
What Is Kasseri Cheese?
Kasseri is a pale yellow, medium-hard to hard Greek cheese made from sheep milk with at most 20% goat's milk. It belongs to the pasta filata family and is best known as the cheese in saganaki and kasseropita.
What's the Difference Between Aged Cheese and Kasseri Cheese?
- Aging: Aged Cheese (three weeks to two or more years), Kasseri Cheese (at least 3 months)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Aged Cheese | Kasseri Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | — | Greece |
| Specific Origin | — | Thrace, Macedonia, Thessaly, Lesbos |
| Milk Type | — | Goat's and sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized |
| Texture | — | Firm to hard |
| Rind | — | Develops as ages |
| Aging | Three weeks to two or more years | At least 3 months |
| Taste | — | Rich |
Taste Comparison: Does Aged Cheese Taste Like Kasseri Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Aged Cheese at three weeks to two or more years develops a different profile than Kasseri Cheese at at least 3 months.
Can You Substitute Aged Cheese for Kasseri Cheese?
Aged Cheese can stand in for Kasseri Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Aged Cheese or Kasseri Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Aged Cheese the same as Kasseri Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Aged Cheese is typically aged three weeks to two or more years, Kasseri Cheese at least 3 months.
Is Aged Cheese similar to Kasseri Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Aged Cheese for Kasseri Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in flavor and finish.
Does Aged Cheese taste like Kasseri Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Aged Cheese made of?
Aged Cheese is made from milk. It's typically aged three weeks to two or more years.
What is Kasseri Cheese made of?
Kasseri Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (traditionally raw, increasingly pasteurized), using natural rennet. It's typically aged at least 3 months. It originates in Greece.
Which should I choose, Aged Cheese or Kasseri Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.