Emmental Cheese vs Soft Cheese
Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny 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 Soft Cheese?
Soft cheese is the moisture category at the wet end of the scale, holding 55 to 80 percent moisture against its dry weight. It covers soft-ripened cheeses like Brie and Camembert, some blue and pasta filata cheeses, and fresh cheeses, and it is known for being spreadable.
What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Soft Cheese?
- Milk type: Emmental Cheese (cow's milk), Soft Cheese (cow, goat, sheep)
- Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Soft Cheese (spreadable, smooth to runny)
- Rind: Emmental Cheese (natural), Soft Cheese (bloomy white mold rind, or washed)
- Aging: Emmental Cheese (4 months to over 1 year), Soft Cheese (unmatured to about 1 month)
- Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Soft Cheese (mild)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Emmental Cheese | Soft Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Switzerland | — |
| Specific Origin | Emmental, Canton Of Bern | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow, goat, sheep |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Hard or medium-hard | Spreadable, smooth to runny |
| Rind | Natural | Bloomy white mold rind, or washed |
| Aging | 4 months to over 1 year | Unmatured to about 1 month |
| Taste | Nutty, sweet | Mild |
Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Soft Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Soft Cheese brings mild character. Aging plays into this as well. Emmental Cheese at 4 months to over 1 year develops a different profile than Soft Cheese at unmatured to about 1 month.
Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Soft Cheese?
Emmental Cheese can stand in for Soft 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 spreadable, smooth to runny. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Soft Cheese brings mild notes.
Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Soft 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 spreadable, smooth to runny profile, Soft Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Soft Cheese fits dishes calling for mild.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emmental Cheese the same as Soft Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk; Soft Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Emmental Cheese is typically aged 4 months to over 1 year, Soft Cheese unmatured to about 1 month.
Is Emmental Cheese similar to Soft Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Soft Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Emmental Cheese taste like Soft Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Soft Cheese is mild.
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 Soft Cheese made of?
Soft Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk. It's typically aged unmatured to about 1 month.
Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Soft Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny.