Emmental Cheese vs Goat Cheese
Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Goat Cheese is soft, semihard or hard and made from goat 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 Goat Cheese?
Goat cheese, also called chèvre, is cheese made from goat's milk. It is produced around the world in styles ranging from fresh and soft to aged and hard, and is known for the tart, goaty flavor that comes from the milk's medium-chain fatty acids.
What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Goat Cheese?
- Milk type: Emmental Cheese (cow's milk), Goat Cheese (goat)
- Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Goat Cheese (soft, semihard or hard)
- Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Goat Cheese (tart, goaty)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Emmental Cheese | Goat Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Switzerland | — |
| Specific Origin | Emmental, Canton Of Bern | Worldwide |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Goat |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Hard or medium-hard | Soft, semihard or hard |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | 4 months to over 1 year | — |
| Taste | Nutty, sweet | Tart, goaty |
Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Goat Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Goat Cheese brings tart, goaty character. More specifically, Emmental Cheese shows characterized by its holes ("eyes"), sweet and slightly rubbery, crystalline when aged, while Goat Cheese leans toward tart goat character from caproic and caprylic fatty acids.
Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Goat Cheese?
Emmental Cheese can stand in for Goat 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, semihard or hard. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Goat Cheese brings tart, goaty notes.
Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Goat 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, semihard or hard profile, Goat Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Goat Cheese fits dishes calling for tart, goaty.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emmental Cheese the same as Goat Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk; Goat Cheese uses goat.
Is Emmental Cheese similar to Goat Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Goat Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Emmental Cheese taste like Goat Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Goat Cheese is tart, goaty.
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 Goat Cheese made of?
Goat Cheese is made from goat milk.
Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Goat Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Goat Cheese is soft, semihard or hard.