Feta Cheese vs Parmesan Cheese

Q: Is Feta Cheese the same as Parmesan Cheese?

No. Feta Cheese and Parmesan Cheese are distinct cheeses from Greece and Italy respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Parmesan Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Feta Cheese for Parmesan Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Parmesan Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Feta Cheese

Parmesan Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Parmesan Cheese is hard, artisan and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

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 Is Parmesan Cheese?

Parmesan, or Parmigiano Reggiano, is a hard granular cow's milk cheese from northern Italy, aged at least 12 months. It is known for its sharp, salty, savory taste, which comes from an unusually high level of glutamate.

What's the Difference Between Feta Cheese and Parmesan Cheese?

Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Parmesan Cheese (Italy)
Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Parmesan Cheese (cow's milk)
Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Parmesan Cheese (unpasteurized)
Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Parmesan Cheese (hard, artisan)
Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Parmesan Cheese (natural)
Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Parmesan Cheese (minimum 12 months, average 2 years)
Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Parmesan Cheese (salty, savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Feta Cheese	Parmesan Cheese
Country of Origin	Greece	Italy
Specific Origin	Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture	Parma And Reggio Emilia, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Milk Type	Goat's and sheep's milk	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized, sometimes raw	Unpasteurized
Texture	Soft, white, aged in brine	Hard, artisan
Rind	None	Natural
Aging	2 months to longer	Minimum 12 months, average 2 years
Taste	Sharp to mild	Salty, savory

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Parmesan Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Parmesan Cheese brings salty, savory character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Parmesan Cheese's nutty, strong. More specifically, Feta Cheese shows 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., while Parmesan Cheese leans toward sharp, salty, savory, strong umami. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Parmesan Cheese at minimum 12 months, average 2 years.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Parmesan Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Parmesan Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, white, aged in brine bite and body where the recipe calls for hard, artisan. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Parmesan Cheese brings salty, savory notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Parmesan Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, white, aged in brine cheese, go with Feta Cheese. For a hard, artisan profile, Parmesan Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Parmesan Cheese fits dishes calling for salty, savory.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Parmesan Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Parmesan Cheese comes from Italy. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Parmesan Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Parmesan Cheese minimum 12 months, average 2 years.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Parmesan Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Parmesan Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Parmesan Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Parmesan Cheese is salty, savory. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Parmesan Cheese is closer to nutty, strong.

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.

What is Parmesan Cheese made of?

Parmesan Cheese is made from cow milk (unpasteurized), using animal (calf rennet) rennet. It's typically aged minimum 12 months, average 2 years. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Parmesan Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Parmesan Cheese is hard, artisan.