Feta Cheese vs Provolone Cheese

Q: Is Feta Cheese the same as Provolone Cheese?

No. Feta Cheese and Provolone 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 Provolone Cheese?

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

Q: Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Provolone 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

Provolone Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Provolone Cheese is semi-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 Provolone Cheese?

Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk with a stretched curd. It runs from the very sharp piccante, aged at least four months, to the mild dolce.

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

Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Provolone Cheese (Italy)
Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Provolone Cheese (cow's milk)
Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan)
Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Provolone Cheese (at least 4 months for piccante)
Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Provolone Cheese (tangy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Feta Cheese	Provolone Cheese
Country of Origin	Greece	Italy
Specific Origin	Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture	Campania, Italy
Milk Type	Goat's and sheep's milk	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	Pasteurized, sometimes raw	—
Texture	Soft, white, aged in brine	Semi-hard, artisan
Rind	None	—
Aging	2 months to longer	At least 4 months for piccante
Taste	Sharp to mild	Tangy

Pairing Comparison

What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.

	Feta Cheese	Provolone Cheese
Pairs well with	Albariño, Asparagus, Avocado, Cod, Dirty Martini, Green Tea, Kiwi, Kolsch, Kombucha, Mangoes, Muscat, Pesto and more	Pastrami, Salami, Chorizo, Grilled Cheese, Ham, Pinot Grigio, Pulled Pork, Roast Beef, Steak, Tomatoes, Tuna, Turkey

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Provolone Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provolone Cheese brings tangy character. On the nose, Feta Cheese offers ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, contrasted with Provolone Cheese's pleasant. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Provolone Cheese at at least 4 months for piccante.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Provolone Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Provolone 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 semi-hard, artisan. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Provolone Cheese brings tangy notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Provolone 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 semi-hard, artisan profile, Provolone Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Provolone Cheese fits dishes calling for tangy.

Which is your favorite?

One click, anonymous. See what others chose.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Provolone Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Provolone Cheese comes from Italy. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Provolone Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Provolone Cheese at least 4 months for piccante.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Provolone Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Provolone Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Provolone Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Provolone Cheese is tangy. Aromas also diverge. Feta Cheese leans ewe's milk, butter, yoghurt, and Provolone Cheese is closer to pleasant.

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 Provolone Cheese made of?

Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged at least 4 months for piccante. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Provolone Cheese?

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