Cheddar Cheese vs Roquefort Cheese
Cheddar Cheese
Roquefort Cheese
Cheddar Cheese is a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) cow-milk cheese from England, while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy and made from sheep milk, originating in France.
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 Is Roquefort Cheese?
Roquefort is a blue cheese made from raw Lacaune sheep's milk in southern France. Only cheese ripened in the natural Combalou caves of Roquefort-sur-Soulzon may carry the name. It is tangy and creamy, with no rind and a sharp bite from the blue veins.
What's the Difference Between Cheddar Cheese and Roquefort Cheese?
- Origin: Cheddar Cheese (England), Roquefort Cheese (France)
- Milk type: Cheddar Cheese (cow's milk), Roquefort Cheese (sheep's milk)
- Milk treatment: Cheddar Cheese (Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized), Roquefort Cheese (unpasteurized)
- Texture: Cheddar Cheese (Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline)), Roquefort Cheese (Moist, very creamy)
- Rind: Cheddar Cheese (Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic)), Roquefort Cheese (none)
- Aging: Cheddar Cheese (A few months to several years), Roquefort Cheese (Minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months)
- Taste: Cheddar Cheese (Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory), Roquefort Cheese (Mild to strong)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cheddar Cheese | Roquefort Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | England | France |
| Specific Origin | Southwest (Somerset, Gloucester) | Roquefort-Sur-Soulzon, South Of France |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized | Unpasteurized |
| Texture | Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) | Moist, very creamy |
| Rind | Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic) | None |
| Aging | A few months to several years | Minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months |
| Taste | Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory | Mild to strong |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.
| Cheddar Cheese | Roquefort Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Pairs well with | Chicken, Ham, Macaroni and Cheese, Merlot, Tuna, Turkey, Kombucha, Tomatoes | Bordeaux, Barleywine, Beaujolais, Madeira, Port |
Taste Comparison: Does Cheddar Cheese Taste Like Roquefort Cheese?
Cheddar Cheese reads as mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory, while Roquefort Cheese brings mild to strong character. More specifically, Cheddar Cheese shows from mild and buttery to brothy and savory, with distinctive sharpness; variations in sweetness and flavor depending on the producer, while Roquefort Cheese leans toward buttercream smooth to salty and sharp. Aging plays into this as well. Cheddar Cheese at a few months to several years develops a different profile than Roquefort Cheese at minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.
Can You Substitute Cheddar Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?
Cheddar Cheese can stand in for Roquefort Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) bite and body where the recipe calls for moist, very creamy. Flavor-wise, Cheddar Cheese reads as mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory while Roquefort Cheese brings mild to strong notes.
Which Is Better, Cheddar Cheese or Roquefort Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) cheese, go with Cheddar Cheese. For a moist, very creamy profile, Roquefort Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cheddar Cheese suits recipes that want mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory notes, while Roquefort Cheese fits dishes calling for mild to strong.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheddar Cheese the same as Roquefort Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cheddar Cheese originates in England, while Roquefort Cheese comes from France. Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk; Roquefort Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Cheddar Cheese is typically aged a few months to several years, Roquefort Cheese minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months.
Is Cheddar Cheese similar to Roquefort Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Cheddar Cheese for Roquefort Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Cheddar Cheese taste like Roquefort Cheese?
Cheddar Cheese reads as mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory, while Roquefort Cheese is mild to strong.
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.
What is Roquefort Cheese made of?
Roquefort Cheese is made from sheep milk (unpasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 90 days, average of 5 months. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Cheddar Cheese or Roquefort Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline), while Roquefort Cheese is moist, very creamy.