It seems everyone likes one type of cheese or another. Some are good for appetizers, others for cooking and some for pastas. Let’s take a quick peek at some of the most popular.
American Cheese
One of the most common types this is often used in sandwiches and on hamburgers. It is a processed cheese made usually of Colby and cheddar cheese. It comes in a yellow, orange or white and is very mild. The mild taste and slightly firm consistency allows it to melt easily which makes it very popular. It is one of the few cheese first made in the United States.
Provolone Cheese
This is a whole milk cow cheese that usually has a mild taste. It originated in Italy and is often used in sandwiches as well. It has a semi-firm texture.
Swiss Cheese
Another popular cheese most often used on sandwiches. This cheese originated in Switzerland. It is a mild, sweet and firm cheese easy to handle. There are several varieties of Swiss cheese including Jarlsberg, Blarney and Comte. It is often served with fruits such as apples, pears and grapes. Also goes well with salamis and hams.
Mozzarella Cheese
A good mozzarella is very white and moist when cut. It is often served in salads and pizzas. I use it in my eggplant and chicken parmesan dishes because it is less greasy than parmesan. It is semi-soft and stays fresh a long while.
Parmesan Cheese
Parmesan is known to go with pasta. It is best bought hard in chunks and then grated or shaved as needed. It is skimmed cows milk aged from 12 to 16 months.
Ricotta Cheese
Ricotta cheese has a delicate flavor and is both smooth and soft. The Italian cheese is most often used in desserts, manicotti and stuffed shells. It is a whey cheese and is drained from other cheeses. It must be eaten fresh.
Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is preserved in brine. It is very crumbly and comes from Greece. It is perfect for salads or with tomatoes or olives. It is an aged cheese made from Sheep’s milk and is very strong and pungent. It can be grilled and those who love Feta Cheese use it on almost anything for flavor.
Cheddar Cheese
Probably the world’s most popular cheese, it originated from England. It has a variety of colors from yellow to white and can be mild to extra sharp and many in between. It is great for serving as an appetizer with meats, veggies or fruits. It grates easily and grills very nicely. It has a very pleasant taste and melts perfectly when cooked. There are so many things you can do with it, it’s no wonder it is so popular.
Bavarian Smoked Cheese
This has a very distinctive smoky yet delicate flavor. It is good for grilling and tastes great as a pizza topping. It’s commonly used as a topping on crackers. It has a waxy texture and gets its flavor from being naturally smoked over beechwood.
Blue Cheese
Blue cheese is made from cow, sheep or goat milk. It has penicillin cultures added to it making the blue or patched colors in it. It is very strong, sharp and salty. Its smell is very pungent. It can be used with foods that have fruits, nut or wine. I use it most often in a dressing with chicken wings.
Edam Cheese
This is a pale yellow Dutch cheese. It has a mild, nutty salty taste. It is often found in a soft ball shape and makes great kabobs with bell peppers, cucumbers or pineapples. It is also very commonly eaten with crackers.
Gruyère Cheese
This is a very hard yellow cheese with a very distinctive nutty and sweet taste. It is made from cow’s milk and originated in Switzerland. It is considered the best baking cheese as it melts well and mixes well with other flavors.
Goat Cheese
Goat cheeses can be hard or soft, but soft is much more popular. It is often sold in logs or oval shapes. Depending on the cheese it can have a soft flavor or a strong and tangy flavor. It is terrific with roasted vegetables. It originated in France but there are different kinds in many countries including Spain, Greece, Italy and England.
Pecorino
This is an Italian sheep’s milk cheese that is similar to parmesan yet it has a more distinct flavor. It is well aged and very sharp. It is most often used in Italian pasta dishes. It takes 12 months to mature and is a drum shaped cheese that is pressed.
Gorgonzola Cheese
This is a pasteurized veined blue cheese that is buttery, crumbly and salty. It is very good to use in an au gratin or with cauliflower, walnuts and pastas. It is an Italian cheese and very easy to use when cooking.
Brie Cheese
This is a French cheese that is slightly brown. It made of cows milk and should be served at room temperature. It has a white moldy rind which is edible. It is often served like a wheel. It is mild and often served with fruits or breads.
Beaufort Cheese
This is a semi-hard cheese from France. It is made of cow’s milk and can be very sharp. There are three varieties – beaufort de savoie, beaufort d’alpage and beaufort d’hiver. It is most commonly used in fondues as it melts easily. Also goes well with fish especially salmon.
