Blue Cheese vs Cheddar Cheese
Blue Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) and made from cow milk, originating in England.
What Is Blue Cheese?
Blue cheese is any cheese made with edible mold cultures that form blue-green spots and veins through the paste. It ranges from mild and slightly sweet to salty and sharp, and from almost liquid to hard.
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 Blue Cheese and Cheddar Cheese?
- Origin: Blue Cheese (France), Cheddar Cheese (England)
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Cheddar Cheese (cow's milk)
- Milk treatment: Blue Cheese (Pasteurized or Raw), Cheddar Cheese (Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized)
- Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline))
- Rind: Blue Cheese (Natural), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic))
- Aging: Blue Cheese (Typically aged 2-6 months), Cheddar Cheese (A few months to several years)
- Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Cheddar Cheese (Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Cheddar Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | England |
| Specific Origin | — | Southwest (Somerset, Gloucester) |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) |
| Rind | Natural | Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic) |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | A few months to several years |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.
| Blue Cheese | Cheddar Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Pairs well with | Amaro, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dirty Martini, Dried Figs, Fig Jam, German Riesling, Green Apple, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb and more | Chicken, Ham, Macaroni and Cheese, Merlot, Tuna, Turkey, Kombucha, Tomatoes |
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Cheddar Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Cheddar Cheese brings mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory character. More specifically, Blue Cheese shows earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter, while Cheddar Cheese leans toward from mild and buttery to brothy and savory, with distinctive sharpness; variations in sweetness and flavor depending on the producer. Aging plays into this as well. Blue Cheese at typically aged 2-6 months develops a different profile than Cheddar Cheese at a few months to several years.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Cheddar Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect crumbly, creamy, semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline). Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Cheddar Cheese brings mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory notes.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cheese, go with Blue Cheese. For a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) profile, Cheddar Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Cheddar Cheese fits dishes calling for mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Cheese the same as Cheddar Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese originates in France, while Cheddar Cheese comes from England. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Cheddar Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Blue Cheese is typically aged typically aged 2-6 months, Cheddar Cheese a few months to several years.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Cheddar Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Cheddar Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Cheddar Cheese is mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory.
What is Blue Cheese made of?
Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (pasteurized or raw), using traditional (animal rennet) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. It's typically aged typically aged 2-6 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, Blue Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline).