Blue Cheese vs Farmstead Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Farmstead Cheese is a cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo-milk cheese.
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 Farmstead Cheese?
Farmstead cheese, called farmhouse cheese in Europe, is made on the same farm that produced the milk. No outside milk is allowed, so each one tastes like the herd and land behind it.
What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Farmstead Cheese?
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Farmstead Cheese (cow, goat, sheep, sometimes water buffalo)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Farmstead Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | — | Europe And North America |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Cow, goat, sheep, sometimes water buffalo |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | — |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | — |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | — |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Farmstead Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Farmstead Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Farmstead Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Farmstead 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 Blue Cheese the same as Farmstead Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Farmstead Cheese uses cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Farmstead Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Farmstead Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Farmstead Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Farmstead Cheese made of?
Farmstead Cheese is made from cow, goat, sheep, or buffalo milk.
Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Farmstead Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.