Ossau-Iraty Cheese vs Soft Cheese

Ossau-Iraty Cheese is a homogeneous, uncooked, pressed sheep-milk cheese from France, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk.

What Is Ossau-Iraty Cheese?

Ossau-Iraty is a sheep's milk cheese from the Northern Basque Country and Béarn in south-western France. Uncooked and pressed, it is smooth, creamy and firm, and has held appellation d'origine contrôlée status since 1980.

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 Ossau-Iraty Cheese and Soft Cheese?

• Milk type: Ossau-Iraty Cheese (sheep's milk), Soft Cheese (cow, goat, sheep)
• Texture: Ossau-Iraty Cheese (Homogeneous, uncooked, pressed), Soft Cheese (spreadable, smooth to runny)
• Rind: Ossau-Iraty Cheese (Natural, smooth, orange to gray), Soft Cheese (bloomy white mold rind, or washed)
• Aging: Ossau-Iraty Cheese (Minimum 80-120 days), Soft Cheese (unmatured to about 1 month)
• Taste: Ossau-Iraty Cheese (fruity, herbaceous, nutty), Soft Cheese (mild)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Ossau-Iraty Cheese Taste Like Soft Cheese?

Ossau-Iraty Cheese reads as fruity, herbaceous, nutty, while Soft Cheese brings mild character. Aging plays into this as well. Ossau-Iraty Cheese at minimum 80-120 days develops a different profile than Soft Cheese at unmatured to about 1 month.

Can You Substitute Ossau-Iraty Cheese for Soft Cheese?

Ossau-Iraty Cheese can stand in for Soft Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect homogeneous, uncooked, pressed bite and body where the recipe calls for spreadable, smooth to runny. Flavor-wise, Ossau-Iraty Cheese reads as fruity, herbaceous, nutty while Soft Cheese brings mild notes.

Which Is Better, Ossau-Iraty Cheese or Soft Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a homogeneous, uncooked, pressed cheese, go with Ossau-Iraty Cheese. For a spreadable, smooth to runny profile, Soft Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Ossau-Iraty Cheese suits recipes that want fruity, herbaceous, nutty notes, while Soft Cheese fits dishes calling for mild.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Ossau-Iraty Cheese the same as Soft Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Ossau-Iraty Cheese is made from sheep milk; Soft Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Ossau-Iraty Cheese is typically aged minimum 80-120 days, Soft Cheese unmatured to about 1 month.

Is Ossau-Iraty Cheese similar to Soft Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Ossau-Iraty Cheese for Soft Cheese?

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

Does Ossau-Iraty Cheese taste like Soft Cheese?

Ossau-Iraty Cheese reads as fruity, herbaceous, nutty, while Soft Cheese is mild.

What is Ossau-Iraty Cheese made of?

Ossau-Iraty Cheese is made from sheep milk (raw). It's typically aged minimum 80-120 days. It originates in France.

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, Ossau-Iraty Cheese or Soft Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Ossau-Iraty Cheese is homogeneous, uncooked, pressed, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny.