Feta cheese on a gyro sandwich.
Though both are soft, white cheeses with short maturation times, goat cheese and feta cheese vary quite a bit. The two cheeses differ in the types of milk they contain and in the length of time they mature. The result is two very different cheeses, each with its own unique properties and uses.
Feta Cheese
Feta cheese is a soft Greek sheep's milk cheese. It is generally made either entirely from sheep's milk or from a 70 percent sheep's milk, 30 percent goat's milk mixture. Feta is formed into squares and must be matured in a brine solution for at least two months. Feta is generally a soft cheese, though firmer varieties are made that have a saltier, spicer flavor and a more pronounced aroma. Feta cheese has a maximum moisture content of 56 percent.
Goat Cheese
Goat cheese was first made about 9,000 years ago by nomadic hunters, making it the first cheese known to be produced by humans. As its name suggests, it is made entirely from goat's milk. Goat cheese does not require as long of a maturation process as feta, and can be eaten as soon as the cheese is formed and salted. Goat cheese has a soft consistency and a pale white interior. The rind of goat cheese becomes darker if the cheese is aged.
Flavor and Texture Differences
Despite having a similar appearance, feta cheese and goat cheese have very different flavors. Feta tastes salty, slightly sour and has a distinctive aroma. It is firmer and drier than goat cheese, making it easy to crumble. Goat cheese generally has a milder, sweeter flavor than feta, though its flavor changes with age. As goat cheese ripens, its flavors becomes more intense and complex. Unlike feta, goat cheese is soft and creamy enough to spread.
Uses
Feta is commonly used in Greek cooking. It is often found crumbled onto a Greek salad, used as a topping on a gyro sandwich, baked into a spinach pie or even eaten plain garnished with olive oil. Goat cheese, being soft and spreadable, can be used as a topping for bagels or crackers. It can also be baked into a lasagna, used to make dips and sauces, or served as a potato topping instead of sour cream.
Tags: cheese soft, goat cheese, sheep milk, baked into, cheese generally, entirely from