Emmental Cheese vs Farmer's Cheese
Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Farmer's Cheese is soft and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk.
What Is Emmental Cheese?
Emmental is a yellow, medium-hard Swiss cheese from the Emme Valley, known for the natural holes that run through it. The taste is savoury but mild. It is eaten cold in chunks or slices and melted into dishes such as gratins.
What Is Farmer's Cheese?
Farmer's cheese is pressed curds, an unripened cheese made by adding rennet and a bacterial starter to milk. It comes from cow, sheep or goat milk, and the style ranges from pressed cottage cheese to a firm wheel close to Monterey Jack.
What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Farmer's Cheese?
- Milk type: Emmental Cheese (cow's milk), Farmer's Cheese (cow's, goat's or sheep's milk)
- Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Farmer's Cheese (soft)
- Aging: Emmental Cheese (4 months to over 1 year), Farmer's Cheese (unripened)
- Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Farmer's Cheese (creamy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Emmental Cheese | Farmer's Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Switzerland | — |
| Specific Origin | Emmental, Canton Of Bern | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's, goat's or sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Hard or medium-hard | Soft |
| Rind | Natural | Natural |
| Aging | 4 months to over 1 year | Unripened |
| Taste | Nutty, sweet | Creamy |
Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Farmer's Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Farmer's Cheese brings creamy character. Aging plays into this as well. Emmental Cheese at 4 months to over 1 year develops a different profile than Farmer's Cheese at unripened.
Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Farmer's Cheese?
Emmental Cheese can stand in for Farmer's Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard or medium-hard bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Farmer's Cheese brings creamy notes.
Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Farmer's Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard or medium-hard cheese, go with Emmental Cheese. For a soft profile, Farmer's Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Farmer's Cheese fits dishes calling for creamy.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emmental Cheese the same as Farmer's Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk; Farmer's Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Emmental Cheese is typically aged 4 months to over 1 year, Farmer's Cheese unripened.
Is Emmental Cheese similar to Farmer's Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Farmer's Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Emmental Cheese taste like Farmer's Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Farmer's Cheese is creamy.
What is Emmental Cheese made of?
Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 4 months to over 1 year. It originates in Switzerland.
What is Farmer's Cheese made of?
Farmer's Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk, using animal rennet. It's typically aged unripened.
Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Farmer's Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Farmer's Cheese is soft.