Feta Cheese vs Stilton Cheese

Feta Cheese is a soft, white, aged in brine goat and sheep-milk cheese from Greece, while Stilton Cheese is hard, blue-veined and made from cow milk, originating in England.

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 Stilton Cheese?

Stilton is an English cheese made in Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, in a blue version and a white one. The blue kind gets its veins from Penicillium roqueforti. Both hold PDO status, so no cheese made elsewhere can use the name.

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

• Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Stilton Cheese (England)
• Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Stilton Cheese (cow's milk)
• Milk treatment: Feta Cheese (Pasteurized, sometimes raw), Stilton Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Stilton Cheese (hard, blue-veined)
• Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Stilton Cheese (natural)
• Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Stilton Cheese (9 to 12 weeks)
• Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Stilton Cheese (spicy, strong)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Stilton Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Stilton Cheese brings spicy, strong character. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Stilton Cheese at 9 to 12 weeks.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Stilton Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Stilton 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, blue-veined. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Stilton Cheese brings spicy, strong notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Stilton 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, blue-veined profile, Stilton Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Stilton Cheese fits dishes calling for spicy, strong.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Stilton Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Feta Cheese originates in Greece, while Stilton Cheese comes from England. Feta Cheese is made from goat and sheep milk; Stilton Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Feta Cheese is typically aged 2 months to longer, Stilton Cheese 9 to 12 weeks.

Is Feta Cheese similar to Stilton Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Stilton Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Stilton Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Stilton Cheese is spicy, 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 Stilton Cheese made of?

Stilton Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 9 to 12 weeks. It originates in England.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Stilton Cheese?

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