Brie Cheese vs Soft Cheese
Brie Cheese is a soft cow-milk cheese from France, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny and made from cow, goat, or sheep milk.
What Is Brie Cheese?
Brie is a soft cow's milk cheese named after the French region it comes from, pale under a white mould rind. It runs 60 to 75 percent butterfat and tastes creamy, nutty and mushroom-like, with a faint acidity. The rind is eaten along with the paste.
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 Brie Cheese and Soft Cheese?
- Milk type: Brie Cheese (cow's milk), Soft Cheese (cow, goat, sheep)
- Texture: Brie Cheese (Soft), Soft Cheese (spreadable, smooth to runny)
- Rind: Brie Cheese (Bloomy), Soft Cheese (bloomy white mold rind, or washed)
- Aging: Brie Cheese (at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir), Soft Cheese (unmatured to about 1 month)
- Taste: Brie Cheese (Nutty, Mushroom), Soft Cheese (mild)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Brie Cheese | Soft Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | Brie | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow, goat, sheep |
| Milk Treatment | Raw, Pasteurized | — |
| Texture | Soft | Spreadable, smooth to runny |
| Rind | Bloomy | Bloomy white mold rind, or washed |
| Aging | At least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir | Unmatured to about 1 month |
| Taste | Nutty, Mushroom | Mild |
Taste Comparison: Does Brie Cheese Taste Like Soft Cheese?
Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Soft Cheese brings mild character. Aging plays into this as well. Brie Cheese at at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir develops a different profile than Soft Cheese at unmatured to about 1 month.
Can You Substitute Brie Cheese for Soft Cheese?
Brie Cheese can stand in for Soft Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft bite and body where the recipe calls for spreadable, smooth to runny. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom while Soft Cheese brings mild notes.
Which Is Better, Brie Cheese or Soft Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft cheese, go with Brie Cheese. For a spreadable, smooth to runny profile, Soft Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Brie Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, mushroom notes, while Soft Cheese fits dishes calling for mild.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Brie Cheese the same as Soft Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Brie Cheese is made from cow milk; Soft Cheese uses cow, goat, or sheep. Aging also differs: Brie Cheese is typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir, Soft Cheese unmatured to about 1 month.
Is Brie Cheese similar to Soft Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Brie Cheese for Soft Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Brie Cheese taste like Soft Cheese?
Brie Cheese reads as nutty, mushroom, while Soft Cheese is mild.
What is Brie Cheese made of?
Brie Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, pasteurized), using animal rennet. It's typically aged at least 4 to 5 weeks; several months to a year for brie noir. 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, Brie Cheese or Soft Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Brie Cheese is soft, while Soft Cheese is spreadable, smooth to runny.