Feta Cheese vs Stracchino Cheese

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

Stracchino, also called crescenza, is an Italian cow's milk cheese made in Lombardy, Tuscany, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia and Liguria. It is eaten very young, with no rind, a soft creamy body and a mild, slightly acidic flavor.

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

• Origin: Feta Cheese (Greece), Stracchino Cheese (Italy)
• Milk type: Feta Cheese (goat's and sheep's milk), Stracchino Cheese (cow)
• Texture: Feta Cheese (Soft, white, aged in brine), Stracchino Cheese (very soft, creamy)
• Rind: Feta Cheese (None), Stracchino Cheese (none)
• Aging: Feta Cheese (2 months to longer), Stracchino Cheese (eaten very young)
• Taste: Feta Cheese (Sharp to mild), Stracchino Cheese (mild, slightly acidic)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Feta Cheese Taste Like Stracchino Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Stracchino Cheese brings mild, slightly acidic character. Aging plays into this as well. Feta Cheese at 2 months to longer develops a different profile than Stracchino Cheese at eaten very young.

Can You Substitute Feta Cheese for Stracchino Cheese?

Feta Cheese can stand in for Stracchino 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 very soft, creamy. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild while Stracchino Cheese brings mild, slightly acidic notes.

Which Is Better, Feta Cheese or Stracchino 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 very soft, creamy profile, Stracchino Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Feta Cheese suits recipes that want sharp to mild notes, while Stracchino Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, slightly acidic.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Feta Cheese the same as Stracchino Cheese?

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

Is Feta Cheese similar to Stracchino Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Feta Cheese for Stracchino Cheese?

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

Does Feta Cheese taste like Stracchino Cheese?

Feta Cheese reads as sharp to mild, while Stracchino Cheese is mild, slightly acidic.

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 Stracchino Cheese made of?

Stracchino Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged eaten very young. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Feta Cheese or Stracchino Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Feta Cheese is soft, white, aged in brine, while Stracchino Cheese is very soft, creamy.