Feta Cheese vs Provel Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft goat or sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Provel Cheese is soft, processed and made from cow milk, originating in United States.

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 Provel Cheese?

Provel is a white processed cheese that blends cheddar, Swiss and provolone with liquid smoke. It melts at a low temperature, tastes buttery, and is the traditional cheese on St. Louis-style pizza.

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

• Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Provel Cheese (United States)
• Milk type: Feta Cheese (Sheep's milk, sometimes with goat's milk), Provel Cheese (Cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Provel Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft), Provel Cheese (Soft, processed)
• Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Provel Cheese (plastic)
• Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Provel Cheese (buttery)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Provel Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provel Cheese brings buttery character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Provel Cheese's smokey. 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 Provel Cheese leans toward buttery, smoky; a blend of cheddar, swiss and provolone with liquid smoke.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Provel Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Provel Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, processed. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Provel Cheese brings buttery notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Provel Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Feta Cheese. For a soft, processed profile, Provel Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Provel Cheese fits dishes calling for buttery.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Provel Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Provel Cheese comes from United States. Feta Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk; Provel Cheese uses cow.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Provel Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Provel Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Provel Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provel Cheese is buttery. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Provel Cheese is closer to smokey.

What is Feta Cheese made of?

Feta Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk (pasteurized, sometimes raw), using rennet. It's typically aged 2 months to longer. It originates in Greece.

What is Provel Cheese made of?

Provel Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It originates in United States.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Provel Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, while Provel Cheese is soft, processed.