Edam Cheese vs Feta Cheese

Edam Cheese is a rubber-textured to crystalline cow-milk cheese from Netherlands, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine and made from goat and sheep milk, originating in Greece.

What Is Edam Cheese?

Edam is a semi-hard Dutch cheese named after the town of Edam in North Holland, sold in flat-ended spheres under a red wax rind. It hardens rather than spoils, which made it the world's most popular cheese from the 14th to the 18th century.

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 Edam Cheese and Feta Cheese?

• Origin: Edam Cheese (Netherlands), Feta Cheese (Greece)
• Milk type: Edam Cheese (cow's milk), Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk)
• Milk treatment: Edam Cheese (pasteurized), Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw)
• Texture: Edam Cheese (Rubber-textured to crystalline), Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine)
• Rind: Edam Cheese (Smooth, waxed), Feta Cheese (None)
• Aging: Edam Cheese (3 months to longer), Feta Cheese (2 months to longer)
• Taste: Edam Cheese (Sweet, milky, nutty, buttery), Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Edam Cheese Taste Like Feta Cheese?

Edam Cheese reads as sweet, milky, nutty, buttery, while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild character. On the nose, Edam Cheese offers almost no smell when young, contrasted with Feta Cheese's ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt. More specifically, Edam Cheese shows sweet milky-ness, light brazil nut and almond tones, gentle buttery-ness, aged variants show caramel and roasted nut qualities, 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. Edam Cheese at 3 months to longer develops a different profile than Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer.

Can You Substitute Edam Cheese for Feta Cheese?

Edam Cheese can stand in for Feta Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect rubber-textured to crystalline bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, white, aged in brine. Flavor-wise, Edam Cheese reads as sweet, milky, nutty, buttery while Feta Cheese brings sharp to mild notes.

Which Is Better, Edam Cheese or Feta Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a rubber-textured to crystalline cheese, go with Edam Cheese. For a soft, white, aged in brine profile, Feta Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Edam Cheese suits recipes that want sweet, milky, nutty, buttery notes, while Feta Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp to mild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Edam Cheese the same as Feta Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Edam Cheese originates in Netherlands, while Feta Cheese comes from Greece. Edam Cheese is made from cow milk; Feta Cheese uses goat and sheep. Aging also differs: Edam Cheese is typically aged 3 months to longer, Feta Cheese 2 months to longer.

Is Edam Cheese similar to Feta Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Edam Cheese for Feta Cheese?

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

Does Edam Cheese taste like Feta Cheese?

Edam Cheese reads as sweet, milky, nutty, buttery, while Feta Cheese is sharp to mild. Aromas also diverge. Edam Cheese leans almost no smell when young, and Feta Cheese is closer to ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt.

What is Edam Cheese made of?

Edam Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 3 months to longer. It originates in Netherlands.

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, Edam Cheese or Feta Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Edam Cheese is rubber-textured to crystalline, while Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine.