Cheddar Cheese vs String Cheese
Cheddar Cheese is a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) cow-milk cheese from England, while String Cheese is semi-hard and made from cow milk.
What Is Cheddar Cheese?
Cheddar is a relatively hard, off-white to orange cow's milk cheese from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, South West England. The name is not protected, so it is made worldwide, and it is the UK's most popular cheese at 51% of the national cheese market.
What Is String Cheese?
String cheese is any cheese made so the milk proteins line up and the cheese peels into strings. In the United States that means snack sticks of low-moisture mozzarella, while versions from Mexico, Slovakia, Turkey and Armenia take other shapes.
What's the Difference Between Cheddar Cheese and String Cheese?
- Texture: Cheddar Cheese (Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline)), String Cheese (semi-hard)
- Aging: Cheddar Cheese (A few months to several years), String Cheese (60 days for Georgian tenili)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Cheddar Cheese | String Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | England | — |
| Specific Origin | Southwest (Somerset, Gloucester) | — |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized | — |
| Texture | Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) | Semi-hard |
| Rind | Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic) | — |
| Aging | A few months to several years | 60 days for Georgian tenili |
| Taste | Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Cheddar Cheese Taste Like String Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Cheddar Cheese shows from mild and buttery to brothy and savory, with distinctive sharpness; variations in sweetness and flavor depending on the producer, while String Cheese leans toward black cumin and mahleb seasoning in armenian chechil. Aging plays into this as well. Cheddar Cheese at a few months to several years develops a different profile than String Cheese at 60 days for georgian tenili.
Can You Substitute Cheddar Cheese for String Cheese?
In most recipes, Cheddar Cheese and String Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) bite and body where the recipe calls for semi-hard.
Which Is Better, Cheddar Cheese or String Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) cheese, go with Cheddar Cheese. For a semi-hard profile, String Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Cheddar Cheese the same as String Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Cheddar Cheese is typically aged a few months to several years, String Cheese 60 days for georgian tenili.
Is Cheddar Cheese similar to String Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Cheddar Cheese for String Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Cheddar Cheese taste like String Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Cheddar Cheese made of?
Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, thermized, pasteurized), using animal; microbial chymosin in vegetarian and kosher versions rennet. It's typically aged a few months to several years. It originates in England.
What is String Cheese made of?
String Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged 60 days for georgian tenili.
Which should I choose, Cheddar Cheese or String Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline), while String Cheese is semi-hard.