Edam Cheese vs Feta Cheese
Edam Cheese
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 that is recognizable by its typically red or yellow wax coating. Made from partially skimmed cow's milk, it has a mild, slightly salty flavor and a firm but creamy texture. Edam ages well and does not spoil; instead, it hardens, which makes it an excellent cheese for long-term storage.
What Is Feta Cheese?
Feta is a brined curd white cheese from Greece, made traditionally from sheep's milk, or from a mixture of sheep and goat's milk. It is crumbly with a slightly grainy texture and has a salty, tangy flavor. Feta is commonly used in salads, pastries, and as a table cheese, and is central to Greek cuisine.
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
| Edam Cheese | Feta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Netherlands | Greece |
| Specific Origin | North Of Holland | Throughout Greece |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat's and sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Pasteurized, sometimes raw |
| Texture | Rubber-textured to crystalline | Soft, white, aged in brine |
| Rind | Smooth, waxed | None |
| Aging | 3 months to longer | 2 months to longer |
| Taste | Sweet, milky, nutty, buttery | Sharp to mild |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Edam Cheese | Feta Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | — | Albariño, Asparagus, Avocado, Cod, Dirty Martini, Green Tea, Kiwi, Kolsch, Kombucha, Mangoes, Muscat, Pesto, Pinot Grigio, Pistachios, Pumpkin, Riesling, Roasted Vegetables, Salmon, Sauvignon Blanc, Seaweed, Shrimp, Sweet Potato, Tomatoes |
| Other Good Pairings | Chardonnay | Beaujolais, Cabernet Franc, California Viogniers, Chicken, Dried Cranberries, Fruit Compote, Gamay, German Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, Muscat, Pinot Gris, Prosecco, Raspberry, Sparkling Rosé, Strawberries, Tacos, Tequila, Tuna, Viognier |
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Where to buy Edam Cheese and Feta Cheese
Edam Cheese
Feta Cheese
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. 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.
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). 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.
See full profiles: Edam Cheese and Feta Cheese.