Brick Cheese vs Feta Cheese

Brick Cheese is a semi-hard, smear-ripened cow-milk cheese from United States, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.

What Is Brick Cheese?

Brick cheese is a Wisconsin cheese pressed into brick shape and ripened on the surface with Brevibacterium linens. Young, it is sweet, mild and melts well; aged, it smells stronger and tastes nuttier. It is the traditional cheese on Detroit-style pizza.

What Is Feta Cheese?

Feta is a Greek brined white cheese made from sheep's milk or a mix of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly and slightly grainy, tangy and salty, and it anchors dishes like Greek salad and spanakopita.

What's the Difference Between Brick Cheese and Feta Cheese?

• Origin: Brick Cheese (United States), Feta Cheese (Greece)
• Milk type: Brick Cheese (Cow's milk), Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
• Texture: Brick Cheese (semi-hard, smear-ripened), Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine)
• Rind: Brick Cheese (washed), Feta Cheese (None)
• Aging: Brick Cheese (Best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks), Feta Cheese (2 months to longer)
• Taste: Brick Cheese (Sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age), Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Brick Cheese Taste Like Feta Cheese?

Brick Cheese reads as sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age, while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild character. On the nose, Brick Cheese offers pungent, rich, contrasted with Feta Cheese's ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt. More specifically, Brick Cheese shows sweet and mild when unaged, nuttier with a stronger smell after aging, while Feta Cheese leans toward sharp, dry, hard to mild, rich, creamy depending on production methods, breed of animals, season, and diet. can be tangy or creamy. flavors of sheep’s milk, grass, and clover. variety ranges from region to region, and producer to producer.. Aging plays into this as well. Brick Cheese at best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks develops a different profile than Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer.

Can You Substitute Brick Cheese for Feta Cheese?

Brick Cheese can stand in for Feta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect semi-hard, smear-ripened bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, white, aged in brine. Flavor-wise, Brick Cheese reads as sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild notes.

Which Is Better, Brick Cheese or Feta Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a semi-hard, smear-ripened cheese, go with Brick Cheese. For a soft, white, aged in brine profile, Feta Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brick Cheese suits recipes that want sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age notes, while Feta Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp to mild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Brick Cheese the same as Feta Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Brick Cheese originates in United States, while Feta Cheese comes from Greece. Brick Cheese is made from cow milk; Feta Cheese uses goat and sheep. Aging also differs: Brick Cheese is typically aged best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks, Feta Cheese 2 months to longer.

Is Brick Cheese similar to Feta Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Brick Cheese for Feta Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Brick Cheese taste like Feta Cheese?

Brick Cheese reads as sweet and mild when young, matures into strong, ripe cheese with age, while Feta Cheese is sharp to mild. Aromas also diverge. Brick Cheese leans pungent, rich, and Feta Cheese is closer to ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt.

What is Brick Cheese made of?

Brick Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged best enjoyed at between 10 and 12 weeks. It originates in United States.

What is Feta Cheese made of?

Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw), using rennet. It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.

Which should I choose, Brick Cheese or Feta Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brick Cheese is semi-hard, smear-ripened, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine.