Blue Cheese vs Goat Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Goat Cheese is soft, semihard or hard and made from goat milk.
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 Goat Cheese?
Goat cheese, also called chèvre, is cheese made from goat's milk. It is produced around the world in styles ranging from fresh and soft to aged and hard, and is known for the tart, goaty flavor that comes from the milk's medium-chain fatty acids.
What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Goat Cheese?
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Goat Cheese (goat)
- Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Goat Cheese (soft, semihard or hard)
- Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Goat Cheese (tart, goaty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Goat Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | — | Worldwide |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Goat |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | — |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | Soft, semihard or hard |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | — |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | Tart, goaty |
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Goat Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Goat Cheese brings tart, goaty character. More specifically, Blue Cheese shows earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter, while Goat Cheese leans toward tart goat character from caproic and caprylic fatty acids.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Goat Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Goat 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 soft, semihard or hard. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Goat Cheese brings tart, goaty notes.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Goat 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 soft, semihard or hard profile, Goat Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Goat Cheese fits dishes calling for tart, goaty.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Cheese the same as Goat Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Goat Cheese uses goat.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Goat Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Goat Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Goat Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Goat Cheese is tart, goaty.
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 Goat Cheese made of?
Goat Cheese is made from goat milk.
Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Goat Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Goat Cheese is soft, semihard or hard.