Feta Cheese vs Soft Cheese
Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk.
Buy Feta Cheese
Buy Soft Cheese
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 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 Feta Cheese and Soft Cheese?
- Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Soft Cheese (cow, goat, sheep)
- Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Soft Cheese (spreadable, smooth to runny)
- Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Soft Cheese (bloomy white mold rind, or washed)
- Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Soft Cheese (unmatured to about 1 month)
- Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Soft Cheese (mild)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feta Cheese | Soft Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Greece | — |
| Specific Origin | Mainland Greece And Lesbos Prefecture | — |
| Milk Type | Goat's and sheep's milk | Cow, goat, sheep |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized, sometimes raw | — |
| Texture | Soft, white, aged in brine | Spreadable, smooth to runny |
| Rind | None | Bloomy white mold rind, or washed |
| Aging | 2 months to longer | Unmatured to about 1 month |
| Taste | Sharp to mild | Mild |
Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Soft Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Soft Cheese brings mild character. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Soft Cheese at unmatured to about 1 month.
Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Soft Cheese?
Feta Cheese can stand in for Soft 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 spreadable, smooth to runny. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Soft Cheese brings mild notes.
Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Soft 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 spreadable, smooth to runny profile, Soft Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Soft Cheese fits dishes calling for mild.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Feta Cheese the same as Soft Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Soft Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Soft Cheese unmatured to about 1 month.
Is Feta Cheese similar to Soft Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Soft Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Feta Cheese taste like Soft Cheese?
Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Soft Cheese is mild.
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 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, Feta Cheese or Soft Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny.