Name |
Flavor |
Color & Texture |
Description & Uses |
Ackawi |
Mild |
White
Semi-firm |
Middle Eastern-style cheese, good as is and with fruit (see also Ackawi under Fresh Cheeses). |
Asiago |
Sharp |
Light yellow
Firm to very firm |
Italian-style cheese with sharp, rich flavor. Used for eating and cooking. Harder, more-aged versions used for grating in ways similar to Dry Jack or Parmesan. |
Baby Swiss |
Medium sharp to sharp |
White
Semi-firm |
Similar to Swiss cheese but with smaller holes. Use as is, for snacks and sandwiches and in cooked dishes. Comes in low-fat variety. |
Carmody |
Medium sharp |
Light yellow
Firm |
A firm, flavorful, smooth-textured table cheese that also melts well. Typically aged four to six months. |
Cheddar |
Ranges from mild to extra sharp
Variations: Caraway, Chili, Chipotle, Dill, Garlic, Hot Pepper, Jalapeño, Pesto, Sage, Salami, Smoked Salmon, Smokey |
Light yellow to orange; may also be white
Firm |
Cheddar describes a family of cheeses — very popular and versatile cheeses available in a range of flavors from mild to very sharp. Good as is and in sandwiches. Melts well and is very good in cooked foods or shredded and sprinkled on top. |
Cheddar (raw milk) |
Sharp, aged |
White
Firm |
Unpasteurized (raw) milk plus aging gives cheddar a delicious sharpness. Eaten as is and with crackers, bread, or fruit. |
Chantaleno |
Salty, flavorful |
White
Semi-firm to firm |
Hispanic-style cheese similar to Cotija. It is used the same way as Cotija in cooked foods. |
Colby |
Mild, similar to Cheddar |
Pale yellow to orange
Semi-firm |
Like Cheddar, but somewhat milder and softer. It is used as is for snacks and in cooked foods. |
Colby/Jack |
Mild to medium sharp |
White and yellow/orange
Firm |
A blend of Colby and Jack used for eating, especially snacks and sandwiches. Also called CoJack and Calico. |
Cotija |
Salty, pungent |
White
Semi-firm to firm, crumbly |
Hispanic-style cheese similar to feta. Crumble and sprinkle over cooked dishes, soups, beans and salads. Also called Queso Anejo (aged cheese). Some types may be very dry and hard (see Very Hard Cheeses section). |
Edam |
Mild |
Yellow with wax coating
Firm |
Similar to Gouda, Edam is very tasty as is, with crackers or other snacks. |
Enchilado |
Aged, slightly spicy coating |
Red spice coating, white interior
Firm, dry, crumbly |
Slightly aged Hispanic-style cheese with mild red chili or paprika coating. When aged longer (Anejo-style), it may be quite hard. Heated, it softens but does not melt. Crumble onto Mexican foods, soups and salads. |
Feta |
Salty, pungent
Variations: Herd, Pepper, Tomato, Basil |
White
Dry, firm to hard, crumbly |
Greek and Bulgarian-style cheese used in many Middle Eastern dishes. Good in many cooked dishes, including pasta, or topping for soups and salads. Comes in fat-free variety. |
Fontina |
Mild, nutty |
Light yellow
Firm |
Mild, pleasant cheese for snacking and sandwiches, similar to Gouda and Edam. (A variation, Fontinella, is firmer and drier.) |
Frying Cheese |
Mild, slightly salty |
White
Firm |
A Middle Eastern-style cheese typically cut into slices and fried. Holds shape when hot. Top with sauces or salsa. Used for saganaki. |
Gouda |
Mild, nutty
Variations: Caraway, Cumin, Garlic, Jalapeño, Smoked, Pepper |
Yellow with wax coating
Firm |
A popular mild cheese, eaten as is for snacks, also in cooked foods, salads and sandwiches. Similar to Edam. |
Gouda (raw milk) |
Sharp |
Light yellow
Firm |
A Dutch-style cheese also called Boere Kaas. Has a sharper, more complex flavor than most Goudas due to the use of raw milk and aging. Used for eating and cooking. |
Havarti |
Mild, slightly tangy
Variations: Dill, Onion, Sweet Red Pepper |
Pale yellow
Semi-firm |
Mild cheese similar to Edam and Gouda. Used both for snacks and in cooked foods and salads. |
Longhorn |
Mild to sharp |
Light yellow to orange
Firm |
A form of Cheddar. Used as is and in cooked foods. |
Manchego |
Mellow, nutty |
White
Semi-firm to firm |
This California interpretation of a traditional Spanish cheese uses cows' milk to create a tasty table cheese. Eaten as is or in sandwiches. Melts well when used for cooking. |
Marble Cheddar |
Mild to sharp |
Orange and white
Firm |
Distinctive-looking blend of orange and white Cheddars, typically mild to medium sharpness. Uses are the same as for Cheddar. |
Menonita |
Mild |
White
Smooth, semi-firm |
Hispanic-style cheese similar in taste and uses to Gruyere or Gouda. |
Monterey Jack |
Mild
Variations: Caraway, Garlic, Garlic & Chive, Green Chili, Habanero, Hot Pepper, Jalapeño, Mediterranean, Mediterranean Olive, Onion, Pesto, Rosemary, Salsa, Smoked, Smoked Salmon, Sun-Dried Tomato |
White
Semi-firm to firm (also a high-moisture form with buttery texture) |
A very popular, versatile cheese that was created in California. Popular as a snack, also good in sandwiches, salads and cooked foods. Also available in an organic version. |
Mozzarella (low moisture, part skim) |
Mild
Variations: Jalapeño Pepper, Smoked |
White
Semi-firm |
Commonly used in cooking, especially pizza, because of its excellent melting properties. While technically a fresh cheese, this Mozzarella is commonly grouped with semi-hard cheeses because of its firm texture. |
Oaxaca |
Mild |
White
Semi-firm |
Hispanic-style cheese similar to Mozzarella but with a distinctive braided appearance. Use as is, in sandwiches or melted on cooked foods, including pizza and nachos. |
Port Salut (also Port du Salut or St. Paulin) |
Mild |
Light yellow
Firm |
A French-style cheese similar to Gouda or Edam in taste and appearance. Eaten as is, but also good for cooking. |
Provolone |
Mild to sharp
Variations: Smoked |
Light yellow
Semi-firm to firm |
Italian-style cheese eaten as is or on sandwiches, also used in cooked foods. |
Queso Blanco |
Mild, slightly |
White
Semi-firm to firm, creamy |
Hispanic-style cheese similar to mild cheddar to tangy Jack. Used in cooked foods and fondues. |
Scamorza |
Mild |
Ivory
Semi-firm |
Mild, Italian-style cheese similar to Mozzarella (low moisture, part skim). Traditionally tied with string at top, which gives it a distinctive pear shape. |
St. George |
Medium sharp |
Light yellow
Firm |
Portuguese-style table cheese with a rich, medium, sharp flavor. |
String |
Mild |
White
Semi-firm, chewy |
A popular snack, especially with children who enjoy the chewy, stringy texture. Also used in cooked foods. |
Syrian (Armenian String) |
Mild |
White
Firm |
A Syrian-style string cheese, similar to regular string cheese. Also for snacks and in cooked foods. |