Cream Cheese vs Pérail Cheese
Cream Cheese
Pérail Cheese
Cream Cheese is a fresh soft, processed cow-milk cheese from United States, while Pérail Cheese is soft and made from sheep milk, originating in France.
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 Pérail Cheese?
Pérail is a soft sheep's milk cheese from Aveyron in southern France, sold in small rounds with an ivory, wrinkly rind. Older wheels taste distinctly sheepy.
What's the Difference Between Cream Cheese and Pérail Cheese?
- Origin: Cream Cheese (United States), Pérail Cheese (France)
- Milk type: Cream Cheese (cow's milk), Pérail Cheese (sheep)
- Texture: Cream Cheese (fresh soft, processed), Pérail Cheese (soft)
- Rind: Cream Cheese (rindless), Pérail Cheese (wrinkly, mainly Geotrichum candidum)
- Aging: Cream Cheese (unripened, eaten fresh), Pérail Cheese (2 to 8 weeks)
- Taste: Cream Cheese (creamy, mild, sweet), Pérail Cheese (distinctly sheepy in older cheeses)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cream Cheese | Pérail Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | United States | France |
| Specific Origin | Chester, New York, The U.S. | Aveyron, France |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or unpasteurized | — |
| Texture | Fresh soft, processed | Soft |
| Rind | Rindless | Wrinkly, mainly Geotrichum candidum |
| Aging | Unripened, eaten fresh | 2 to 8 weeks |
| Taste | Creamy, mild, sweet | Distinctly sheepy in older cheeses |
Taste Comparison: Does Cream Cheese Taste Like Pérail Cheese?
Cream Cheese reads as creamy, mild, sweet, while Pérail Cheese brings distinctly sheepy in older cheeses character. Aging plays into this as well. Cream Cheese at unripened, eaten fresh develops a different profile than Pérail Cheese at 2 to 8 weeks.
Can You Substitute Cream Cheese for Pérail Cheese?
Cream Cheese can stand in for Pérail Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect fresh soft, processed bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Cream Cheese reads as creamy, mild, sweet while Pérail Cheese brings distinctly sheepy in older cheeses notes.
Which Is Better, Cream Cheese or Pérail 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 soft profile, Pérail Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Cream Cheese suits recipes that want creamy, mild, sweet notes, while Pérail Cheese fits dishes calling for distinctly sheepy in older cheeses.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cream Cheese the same as Pérail Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cream Cheese originates in United States, while Pérail Cheese comes from France. Cream Cheese is made from cow milk; Pérail Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Cream Cheese is typically aged unripened, eaten fresh, Pérail Cheese 2 to 8 weeks.
Is Cream Cheese similar to Pérail Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Cream Cheese for Pérail Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Cream Cheese taste like Pérail Cheese?
Cream Cheese reads as creamy, mild, sweet, while Pérail Cheese is distinctly sheepy in older cheeses.
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 Pérail Cheese made of?
Pérail Cheese is made from sheep milk. It's typically aged 2 to 8 weeks. It originates in France.
Which should I choose, Cream Cheese or Pérail Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cream Cheese is fresh soft, processed, while Pérail Cheese is soft.