Andy Montoya
Feta cheese is a Greek-style cheese made from sheep's or goat's milk. It is known for its salty, tangy, and sharp flavour, although some varieties can be milder. While feta is often described as having a strong taste, some people find that it has an unpleasant bitter aftertaste. This bitterness could be due to the type of milk used, the aging process, or the presence of certain compounds formed during maturation. To reduce bitterness, some suggest soaking the cheese in water or milk, while others recommend pairing it with sweet or savoury accompaniments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Taste | Salty, sharp, tangy |
| Bitterness | Caused by aging, the type of milk used, or the presence of acetic acid |
| Texture | Crumbly, moist, slightly grainy |
| Type | Greek, Bulgarian, French |
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What You'll Learn
- Feta cheese can taste bitter due to aging
- Feta cheese made from goat's milk is milder and less tangy
- Soaking bitter feta in water or milk can reduce bitterness
- Feta cheese has a strong, salty, sharp, and tangy flavour
- Feta cheese made from sheep's milk has a stronger flavour than that made from cow's milk
Feta cheese can taste bitter due to aging
Feta cheese is a Greek-style cheese made from sheep or goat's milk. It is white and crumbly, with a strong, salty, sharp, and tangy flavor. The taste of feta cheese can vary depending on the type of milk used and the length of time it is aged. For example, Bulgarian feta, made from cow's milk, has a milder flavor and a creamier texture than Greek feta. French feta, made from goat's milk, has a tangy and slightly sweet flavor with a smooth texture similar to cream cheese.
Some people have reported that the feta cheese they purchased from grocery stores had a bitter taste. This could be due to the aging of the cheese, as cheese can become too bitter with age. The bitterness may also be due to the milk used or the specific production process. Soaking bitter feta cheese in water or milk can help reduce its bitterness.
It is worth noting that the quality of feta cheese can also affect its taste. Lower-quality feta cheeses found in regular grocery stores may have a more bitter and less appealing flavor. High-quality, small-batch, or local feta cheeses are less likely to have bitter aftertastes.
Additionally, the way feta cheese is consumed can impact its taste. Feta cheese is often used as an accent rather than the main ingredient. It can be crumbled on salads, pasta, or pizzas, adding a salty and tangy flavor to the dish without overwhelming the other ingredients. When paired with other flavors, such as honey, olive tapenade, or extra virgin olive oil, the bitterness of feta cheese may be mitigated.
Overall, while feta cheese is known for its strong and salty flavor, aging can contribute to bitterness in some cases. The variability in the taste of feta cheese due to factors such as milk type, production methods, aging, and quality highlights the diverse sensory experiences it can offer.
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Feta cheese made from goat's milk is milder and less tangy
Feta cheese is a Greek-style cheese that is cured in brine. It has a strong, salty, tangy, sharp, and creamy flavour. The taste of feta cheese can vary depending on the type of milk used to make it and the length of time it is aged. While traditional feta is made from sheep's milk, it can also be made from goat's milk or cow's milk, or a combination of these.
The difference in taste and texture between feta cheese made from goat's milk and sheep's milk can be attributed to the differences in the milk itself and the production processes used. Goat's milk has a naturally sweeter and milder flavour than sheep's milk, which is reflected in the taste of the feta cheese. In terms of production, feta cheese is typically aged in brine, which gives it a salty and tangy flavour. However, goat's milk feta may not be aged in the same way as sheep's milk feta, resulting in a milder and less tangy flavour.
It's important to note that the quality of feta cheese can also affect its taste. Lower-quality feta cheese, such as those found in regular grocery stores, may have a more bitter and unappetizing flavour. High-quality, small-batch, local feta, or upper-end products tend to have a better taste and should not have a bitter aftertaste. Additionally, some people suggest soaking bitter feta in water or milk to reduce its bitterness.
Overall, feta cheese made from goat's milk is a milder and less tangy alternative to the traditional sheep's milk feta. It has a slightly sweet flavour and a smoother, creamier texture, making it a versatile ingredient that can be used in both sweet and savoury dishes.
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Soaking bitter feta in water or milk can reduce bitterness
Feta cheese is a Greek-style cheese that is brined and curdled, made from sheep or goat's milk. It is white, crumbly, and has a strong, salty, tangy, sharp and creamy flavour. The taste of feta cheese can vary depending on the type of milk used and the length of time it is aged. For example, Bulgarian feta, made from cow's milk, has a milder flavour than Greek feta, while French feta, made from goat's milk, has a tangy and slightly sweet flavour.
Some people find the taste of feta cheese bitter or metallic, especially the lower-quality feta found in grocery stores. If you find the taste of feta cheese bitter, you can try soaking it in water or milk to reduce the bitterness. This technique is also used to reduce the saltiness of feta cheese.
To reduce bitterness and saltiness, you can soak the feta in a mixture of half water and half milk for about an hour before consuming it. You can also store feta cheese in a milk bath in the refrigerator for up to three months. The milk bath will reduce the saltiness and keep the cheese moist and mild in flavour. However, it is important to note that this technique is not recommended for long-term storage as it can affect the texture and taste of the cheese.
If you are not consuming the feta cheese immediately, it is best to store it in a brine solution or olive oil. To make a brine solution, mix one part kosher salt with one part water, ensuring the cheese is fully submerged to limit its exposure to air.
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Feta cheese has a strong, salty, sharp, and tangy flavour
Feta cheese is known for its strong, salty, sharp, and tangy flavour. The taste of feta cheese can vary depending on the type of milk used and the length of time it is aged. For example, Greek feta, made from sheep's milk, has a stronger and saltier flavour than Bulgarian feta, which is made from cow's milk and has a milder, creamier texture. French feta, made from goat's milk, has a tangy and slightly sweet flavour with a smooth texture similar to cream cheese.
The sharp and tangy flavour of feta cheese is often attributed to its high salt content and the presence of acids formed during the maturation process. Some people describe the taste of feta as having a bitter or metallic aftertaste, especially with lower-quality grocery store feta. However, high-quality, small-batch, or local feta is less likely to have this bitter taste.
The bitterness in feta cheese may be due to the formation of certain compounds during the maturation process, such as acetic acid, which can give it a vinegar-like taste. Additionally, the type of milk used and the ageing process can influence the presence of certain acids, affecting the overall flavour profile of the cheese.
To mitigate bitterness, some people suggest soaking the feta in water or milk. Others recommend using feta as a flavour accent rather than the main ingredient, such as crumbling it over salads, pasta, or pizzas, or using it in recipes like spanakopita or moussaka.
Overall, feta cheese is valued for its strong, salty, sharp, and tangy flavour, which can enhance various dishes, adding a distinct character to both fresh and cooked meals.
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Feta cheese made from sheep's milk has a stronger flavour than that made from cow's milk
Feta cheese is a Greek-style brined curd cheese with a strong, salty, sharp, tangy, and creamy flavour. It is made from sheep's milk or goat's milk, and the length of time it is aged affects its taste. Feta cheese has a crumbly texture with small, uneven holes throughout. It is moist, slightly grainy, and melts in the mouth quickly.
The difference in flavour between sheep's and cow's milk feta can be attributed to the diet of the animal, the breed of sheep or cow, and the production process of the cheese. Cows typically eat ground cover grasses and sometimes take up soil with the grass, which can give their cheese an earthier flavour. In contrast, goats have strong stomachs and eat plants that cows avoid, like brambles and thorny grasses, which impart acrid flavours to their milk and, subsequently, the cheese.
The fat molecules in cow's milk are larger, which can make cow's milk cheese harder to digest than cheese from sheep's milk. Additionally, the higher fat content in sheep's milk means that it has the most solid content, so less milk is needed to make cheese compared to cow's or goat's milk. As a result, feta cheese made from sheep's milk may have a more concentrated flavour, contributing to its stronger taste compared to cow's milk feta.
Some people find the taste of feta cheese bitter, especially the variety typically found in grocery stores. This bitterness can be reduced by soaking the cheese in water or milk.
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Frequently asked questions
Feta cheese can taste bitter due to the chemical reaction that occurs during the maturing process in brine. The type of milk used to make the cheese can also affect its taste.
Yes, lower-quality feta cheese from regular grocery stores tends to be more bitter than high-quality, small-batch, local feta.
Yes, the type of milk used can influence the taste of feta cheese. Feta made from sheep's milk tends to have a stronger and saltier flavor, while Bulgarian feta made from cow's milk has a milder flavor, and French feta made from goat's milk has a tangier and slightly sweeter flavor.
Yes, cheese can become more bitter with age.
You can try soaking bitter feta cheese in water or milk to reduce its bitterness.
