What Makes Cheese Have Different Textures?

There are not that many dishes on the planet which are as creative as cheese. There are many different types of cheeses and a lot of them have different textures and flavors. The texture of a cheese is mostly determined by the manufacturing process. You can tell a few things about the cheese itself because of the texture. Some of the things that the texture will tell you are origin, age, ripeness and taste. Texture also influences the pairings with wine and food. Keep in mind that the texture of cheese can be similar between one type of cheese and another and still have very different taste. If you are looking to buy something for a dinner party then knowing the difference between textures is very important.

Hard Cheeses

If you are thinking of Italian cheeses you are probably thinking of dry and hard cheeses. Some of the hard cheeses include parmesan-reggiano, pecorino-romano and asiago. Hard cheeses get the texture because of a longer aging process which usually lasts anywhere between nine months all the way to two years. Hard cheeses usually have a saltier taste when they are tasted from the block. If you are to heat up hard cheeses, usually the texture changes to become creamier. Usually a hard cheese will be made of milk from cows but some are made from sheep’s milk. The best example would be manchego which is highly recommended for cheese lovers. Those trying manchego should expect a mild nutty and sharper taste.

Soft Cheeses

Soft cheeses ripen rather quickly, usually in a couple of months. The texture of soft cheeses is oozy and creamy and is mostly dependent on butterfat amounts. The lower the butterfat is the more firm the cheese will be. One of the best examples of that would be Cour de Lion cheese. Formage de Affionios on the other hand has a higher amount of butterfat so its texture is softer. Countries like Spain and Switzerland produce great soft cheeses but most of the best are made in France. Brie is probably the most popular of all soft cheeses being made today.  Fresh Mozzarella is often considered a ‘soft’ cheese as well.

Semi-soft Cheeses

The texture of cheeses which qualify as semi-soft will be just a bit harder than soft cheeses. However, they will be less moist and creamy. Semi-soft cheeses need to be properly kept as their moisture retention is somewhere between 62 and 67 percent. That means that if they are not kept properly mold can develop. The most famous semi-soft cheeses are cheddar and Gouda.

Crumbly

Crumbled cheeses are malleable and soft but their flavor is crisp and sharp. Crumbly cheeses are perfect for dressings, dips and salads. Gorgonzola is one of the cheeses that qualify as crumbly. Crumbly cheeses are usually made of sheep and cow’s milk and they have a deep and very rich flavor. Usually you will be able to see mold spores on the cheese’s surface. That is where they get the spotted colors. Another popular crumbly cheese is stilton which is almost sticky.