Cream Cheese vs Fontina Cheese
Cream Cheese
Fontina Cheese
Cream Cheese is a fresh soft, processed cow-milk cheese from United States, while Fontina Cheese is semi-soft and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
What Is Cream Cheese?
Cream cheese is a soft, mild fresh cheese made from milk and cream, sold unripened rather than aged. It began in Chester, New York in the 1870s and is best known as the spread on a bagel.
What Is Fontina Cheese?
Fontina is a cow's milk cheese from Italy's Aosta Valley, made there since the 12th century. It runs semisoft to hard, tastes creamy and nutty with earthy, mushroomy notes, and melts well enough to carry a fondue.
What's the Difference Between Cream Cheese and Fontina Cheese?
- Origin: Cream Cheese (United States), Fontina Cheese (Italy)
- Milk treatment: Cream Cheese (pasteurized or unpasteurized), Fontina Cheese (Raw (for traditional Italian Fontina), Pasteurized (for most American versions))
- Texture: Cream Cheese (fresh soft, processed), Fontina Cheese (Semi-Soft)
- Rind: Cream Cheese (rindless), Fontina Cheese (Natural, Often Washed)
- Aging: Cream Cheese (unripened, eaten fresh), Fontina Cheese (Typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor))
- Taste: Cream Cheese (creamy, mild, sweet), Fontina Cheese (Mild, Buttery, Nutty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cream Cheese | Fontina Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | United States | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Chester, New York, The U.S. | Aosta Valley, Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or unpasteurized | Raw (for traditional Italian Fontina), Pasteurized (for most American versions) |
| Texture | Fresh soft, processed | Semi-Soft |
| Rind | Rindless | Natural, Often Washed |
| Aging | Unripened, eaten fresh | Typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor) |
| Taste | Creamy, mild, sweet | Mild, Buttery, Nutty |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.
| Cream Cheese | Fontina Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Pairs well with | Ginger, Salmon, Seaweed, Shrimp, Cod, Green Tea | Chardonnay, Grilled Cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, Mushrooms, Prosciutto, Sangiovese |
Taste Comparison: Does Cream Cheese Taste Like Fontina Cheese?
Cream Cheese reads as creamy, mild, sweet, while Fontina Cheese brings mild, buttery, nutty character. On the nose, Cream Cheese offers fresh, pleasant, contrasted with Fontina Cheese's mild to pungent (earthier in aged versions). Aging plays into this as well. Cream Cheese at unripened, eaten fresh develops a different profile than Fontina Cheese at typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor).
Can You Substitute Cream Cheese for Fontina Cheese?
In most recipes, Cream Cheese and Fontina Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect fresh soft, processed bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-soft. Flavor-wise, Cream Cheese reads as creamy, mild, sweet while Fontina Cheese brings mild, buttery, nutty notes.
Which Is Better, Cream Cheese or Fontina Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a fresh soft, processed cheese, go with Cream Cheese. For a semi-soft profile, Fontina Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cream Cheese suits recipes that want creamy, mild, sweet notes, while Fontina Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, buttery, nutty.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cream Cheese the same as Fontina Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cream Cheese originates in United States, while Fontina Cheese comes from Italy. Aging also differs: Cream Cheese is typically aged unripened, eaten fresh, Fontina Cheese typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor).
Is Cream Cheese similar to Fontina Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Cream Cheese for Fontina Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Cream Cheese taste like Fontina Cheese?
Cream Cheese reads as creamy, mild, sweet, while Fontina Cheese is mild, buttery, nutty. Aromas also diverge. Cream Cheese leans fresh, pleasant, and Fontina Cheese is closer to mild to pungent (earthier in aged versions).
What is Cream Cheese made of?
Cream Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized or unpasteurized), using animal (chymosin, pepsin, rennet) in canada rennet. It's typically aged unripened, eaten fresh. It originates in United States.
What is Fontina Cheese made of?
Fontina Cheese is made from cow milk (raw (for traditional italian fontina), pasteurized (for most american versions)), using traditional (animal) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. It's typically aged typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor). It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Cream Cheese or Fontina Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cream Cheese is fresh soft, processed, while Fontina Cheese is semi-soft.