Alpicrème Cheese vs Cheddar Cheese
Alpicrème Cheese is a soft goat-milk cheese from France, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) and made from cow milk, originating in England.
What Is Alpicrème Cheese?
Alpicrème is a soft cheese from France made with goat's milk. It features a bloomy rind that develops during an aging process of 30 days to 3 months. The cheese has a creamy and smooth texture, making it easy to spread. Its flavor is mild and slightly tangy, with the characteristic earthiness that comes from goat's milk. The aging process enhances its flavors, giving it a more pronounced taste over time. Alpicrème is often enjoyed on a cheese platter or paired with a crusty baguette.
What Is Cheddar Cheese?
Cheddar is a relatively hard, off-white to orange cow's milk cheese from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, South West England. The name is not protected, so it is made worldwide, and it is the UK's most popular cheese at 51% of the national cheese market.
What's the Difference Between Alpicrème Cheese and Cheddar Cheese?
- Origin: Alpicrème Cheese (France), Cheddar Cheese (England)
- Milk type: Alpicrème Cheese (goat's milk), Cheddar Cheese (cow's milk)
- Texture: Alpicrème Cheese (soft), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline))
- Rind: Alpicrème Cheese (Bloomy), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic))
- Aging: Alpicrème Cheese (30 days to 3 months), Cheddar Cheese (A few months to several years)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Alpicrème Cheese | Cheddar Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | England |
| Specific Origin | — | Southwest (Somerset, Gloucester) |
| Milk Type | Goat's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | — | Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized |
| Texture | Soft | Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) |
| Rind | Bloomy | Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic) |
| Aging | 30 days to 3 months | A few months to several years |
| Taste | — | Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory |
Taste Comparison: Does Alpicrème Cheese Taste Like Cheddar Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. Aging plays into this as well. Alpicrème Cheese at 30 days to 3 months develops a different profile than Cheddar Cheese at a few months to several years.
Can You Substitute Alpicrème Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?
Alpicrème Cheese can stand in for Cheddar Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline).
Which Is Better, Alpicrème Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Alpicrème Cheese. For a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) profile, Cheddar Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Alpicrème Cheese the same as Cheddar Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Alpicrème Cheese originates in France, while Cheddar Cheese comes from England. Alpicrème Cheese is made from goat milk; Cheddar Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Alpicrème Cheese is typically aged 30 days to 3 months, Cheddar Cheese a few months to several years.
Is Alpicrème Cheese similar to Cheddar Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Alpicrème Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Alpicrème Cheese taste like Cheddar Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Alpicrème Cheese made of?
Alpicrème Cheese is made from goat milk. It's typically aged 30 days to 3 months. It originates in France.
What is Cheddar Cheese made of?
Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, thermized, pasteurized), using animal; microbial chymosin in vegetarian and kosher versions rennet. It's typically aged a few months to several years. It originates in England.
Which should I choose, Alpicrème Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Alpicrème Cheese is soft, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline).