Cup Cheese vs Feta Cheese
Cup Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from United States, while Feta Cheese is soft and made from goat or sheep milk, originating in Greece.
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What Is Cup Cheese?
Cup cheese is a soft, spreadable cheese from Pennsylvania Dutch kitchens, sold in the cup that gave it its name. It descends from the German cooked cheese Kochkäse and is known for a smell strong enough to split opinion at the table.
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 Cup Cheese and Feta Cheese?
- Origin: Cup Cheese (United States), Feta Cheese (Greece)
- Milk type: Cup Cheese (Cow's milk), Feta Cheese (Sheep's milk, sometimes with goat's milk)
- Milk treatment: Cup Cheese (unpasteurized), Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw)
- Taste: Cup Cheese (sharp, sour, strong), Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cup Cheese | Feta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | United States | Greece |
| Specific Origin | Pennsylvania | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk, sometimes with goat's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Unpasteurized | Pasteurized, sometimes raw |
| Texture | Soft | Soft |
| Rind | — | None |
| Aging | — | 2 months to longer |
| Taste | Sharp, sour, strong | Sharp to mild |
Taste Comparison: Does Cup Cheese Taste Like Feta Cheese?
Cup Cheese reads as sharp, sour, strong, while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild character. On the nose, Cup Cheese offers strong, contrasted with Feta Cheese's ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt.
Can You Substitute Cup Cheese for Feta Cheese?
Cup Cheese can stand in for Feta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Flavor-wise, Cup Cheese reads as sharp, sour, strong while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild notes.
Which Is Better, Cup Cheese or Feta Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. Flavor-wise, Cup Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, sour, strong notes, while Feta Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp to mild.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cup Cheese the same as Feta Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Cup Cheese originates in United States, while Feta Cheese comes from Greece. Cup Cheese is made from cow milk; Feta Cheese uses goat or sheep.
Is Cup Cheese similar to Feta Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Cup Cheese for Feta Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Cup Cheese taste like Feta Cheese?
Cup Cheese reads as sharp, sour, strong, while Feta Cheese is sharp to mild. Aromas also diverge. Cup Cheese leans strong, and Feta Cheese is closer to ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt.
What is Cup Cheese made of?
Cup Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized). It originates in United States.
What is Feta Cheese made of?
Feta Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw), using rennet. It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.
Which should I choose, Cup Cheese or Feta Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The table above is the fastest way to decide based on your recipe.