Soft cheeses are very high in moisture, mild-flavored and milky. Many varieties are tasty as a snack. Others, like Ricotta, work especially well in desserts or breakfast dishes — their texture and taste lets them blend with both sweet and savory ingredients.

BLUE

Flavor
Sharp, tangy, salty, peppery, earthy flavor that intensifies with age

Appearance/Color
White or pale yellow body with blue/green veins

Origin
United States

Cooking Tip
Melts well when crumbled.

Serving Suggestions
Excellent when crumbled on salads or placed atop whole-grain crackers. Also delicious in a Blue cheese sauce drizzled over steak.

Pairing Possibilities
Melons, pears, apples, apricots, figs, dried cranberries or raisins, roasted red peppers, plum tomatoes, zucchini, carrots, roasted almonds, walnuts, cashews, crusty bread, nut breads, crackers, bread sticks

Wine/beverage Ideas
Port, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Syrah, Zinfandel, sparkling wine, sherry, fruit juice

MOZZARELLA

Flavor
Delicate, mild, milky

Appearance/Color
Creamy white

Origin
Italy

Cooking Tip
Melts well when sliced or shredded.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious inside sandwiches, as a topper for pizzas, bruschetta, casseroles and soups or in a tomato basil salad. Perfect for Italian dishes like ziti and lasagna. String cheese Mozzarella works well fried and dipped in marinara sauce as an appetizer or snack. All varieties are great for snacking.

Pairing Possibilities
Olives, mushrooms, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, crusty bread

Wine/beverage Ideas
Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, light-bodied Pinot Noir, beer, soda, juice

MUENSTER

Flavor
Mild to mellow and buttery flavor that intensifies with age

Appearance/Color
Ivory to pale yellow with a red, yellow, white or orange rind

Origin
Alsace region of France

Cooking Tip
Melts well when sliced or shredded.

Serving Suggestions
A great sandwich cheese or topping for pizza. Perfect for kids as an after-school snack.

Pairing Possibilities
Rye and whole-grain breads, pita bread, crackers, tomatoes, baby carrots, zucchini

Wine/beverage Ideas
Fruity wines such as White Zinfandel, beer, juice, soda

RICOTTA

Flavor
Very mild and semi-sweet; slightly sweeter than cottage cheese

Appearance/Color
White, resembles cottage cheese with a very fine curd

Origin
Italy

Cooking Tip
Excellent for baking.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious in Italian pasta-based dishes or when served for brunch with sweet berries, croissants and muffins. Works well in dips and as a key ingredient in desserts like cheesecake and cannoli.

Pairing Possibilities
Mild rye bread, water crackers, berries

Wine/beverage Ideas
Riesling, Chardonnay, mimosas, juice

Semi-soft cheeses are usually buttery and mild-flavored and are wonderful for melting and snacking.

AMERICAN

Flavor
Mild and delicate

Appearance/Color
Light yellow or orange

Origin
United States

Cooking Tip
Melts well when sliced.

Serving Suggestions
Great inside grilled cheese sandwiches and cold deli sandwiches. Perfect for the kids as an after-school snack. Works well in omelets.

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, red grapes, tomatoes, crackers, pretzels, English muffins

Wine/beverage Ideas
White wine, beer, tomato juice, soda, milk, lemonade

ASADERO

Flavor
Mild

Appearance/Color
White

Origin
Mexico

Cooking Tip
Excellent for melting. Its flavor adds to the appeal of many baked dishes.

Serving Suggestions
Tasty on sandwiches and melted in quesadillas or enchiladas. Excellent melted over tortilla chips for nachos. Also delicious eaten plain.

Pairing Possibilities
Peaches, apples, pears

Wine/beverage Ideas
Champagne, Chardonnay

COLBY

Flavor
Mild; lightly sweet to sharp and tangy; similar to Cheddar but milder and softer

Appearance/Color
Light yellow to orange with tiny holes

Origin
Colby, Wisconsin
United States

Cooking Tip
Melts best when shredded or grated.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious on hamburgers, tucked inside fajitas and sprinkled on chili. Perfect for the kids as an after-school snack.

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, pears, mushrooms, tomatoes, pumpernickel and rye breads

Wine/beverage Ideas
Red wines, Port, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, beer, apple cider

COLBY-JACK

Flavor
Mild; lightly sweet to sharp and tangy

Appearance/Color
Marbled with light yellow and orange colors (a combination of Monterey Jack and Colby cheeses)

Origin
United States

Cooking Tip
Melts best when shredded or grated.

Serving Suggestions
Excellent for nachos, salads and sandwiches. Perfect for kids as an after-school snack.

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, pears, mushrooms, tomatoes, pumpernickel and rye breads

Wine/beverage Ideas
Red wines, Port, Bordeaux, Rioja, Pinot Noir, beer, apple cider

FONTINA

Flavor
Mild, nutty, buttery (similar to Gouda)

Appearance/Color
Light yellow, dotted with tiny holes; dark, golden-brown rind

Origin
Fontinaz, Italy

Cooking Tip
Melts easily and smoothly.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious in sandwiches and salads. Great for fondue and in risotto. It also works well as a topping for French onion soup, twice-baked potatoes and pizza. Excellent for snacking.

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, ham, salami, mushrooms and dark or crusty breads

Wine/beverage Ideas
White wines, Gewurztraminer, juices

MONTEREY-JACK

Flavor
Mild and buttery; some versions contain flavorings such as jalapeño pepper and garlic

Appearance/Color
Ivory with tiny cracks; becomes more yellow with age

Origin
Monterey, California,
United States

Cooking Tip
Melts well when shredded or sliced.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious inside grilled or open-faced sandwiches and in a wide variety of cooked dishes. Indispensable for Southwestern and Tex Mex dishes, shredded over tacos, stuffed into enchiladas or melted over refried beans. Perfect for the kids as an after-school snack.

Pairing Possibilities
Plums, peaches, jalapeños, toasted pecans

Wine/beverage Ideas
Sauvignon Blanc, medium-bodied Merlot, fruity Zinfandel, sparkling wine, lemon-lime sparkling water, cider

Semi-hard cheeses are generally medium in flavor. They are delicious as a snack and work well in a wide variety of dishes.

CHEDDAR

Flavor
Rich, robust, nutty, creamy;
flavor ranges from mild to sharp; becomes sharper with age

Appearance/Color
White to yellow-orange

Origin
England

Cooking Tip
Mild Cheddar melts best when shredded and placed under direct heat; Sharp Cheddar melts best when shredded and incorporated into a sauce.

Serving Suggestions
Excellent when stirred into a basic white sauce and tossed with pasta to make macaroni and cheese. Delicious when melted over a hamburger, grilled cheese sandwich or tuna salad sandwich for lunch or dinner. Always popular in soups, sauces, breads, casseroles, salads, omelets, quiches, sandwiches and pizzas. Excellent as an after-school snack.

Pairing Possibilities
Cherries, grapes, pears, red or green apple wedges, cashews, mushrooms, tomatoes, pumpernickel and rye breads, an assortment of crackers

Wine/beverage Ideas
Wine such as Gewurztraminer, Riesling, Syrah, Cabernet, Bordeaux, Port, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay or Zinfandel, light beer, champagne, ale, apple cider

GOUDA

Flavor
Mellow, nutty, buttery; flavor becomes richer and smoky with age (similar to Fontina)

Appearance/Color
Red, yellow or black wax coating

Origin
Holland

Cooking Tip
Melts well when shredded.

Serving Suggestions
Excellent when used in a variety of cooked dishes, in salads and inside sandwiches. A great snacking cheese.

Pairing Possibilities
Baby Gouda: Peaches, melons, apricots, cherries
Aged Gouda: Red apples, pears, toasted almonds, dark or crusty breads
Smoked Gouda: Apples, pears, thinly sliced prosciutto

Wine/beverage Ideas
Baby Gouda: Riesling, fruity Zinfandel, Merlot, lager beer, orange juice, apple juice, flavored tea, citrus-flavored sparkling water
Aged Gouda: Merlot, beer, cider, sparkling red grape juice, coffee
Smoked Gouda: Red wine, beer, sparkling cider, tomato or vegetable juice, cran-grape juice

JARLSBERG

Flavor
Mild, slightly sweet and nutty;
(similar to Swiss)

Appearance/Color
Yellow body with large, irregular holes and a yellow wax rind

Origin
Norway

Cooking Tip
A great melting cheese.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious inside sandwiches, burgers, in salads and quiches. A sweet alternative to Swiss in fondues. Excellent for snacking.

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, red bell pepper, cantaloupe, honeydew melon, crusty bread

Wine/beverage Ideas
White wine, beer, sparkling water

PROVOLONE

Flavor
Mild to sharp, slightly tart, smoky flavor that becomes more pronounced with age

Appearance/Color
Ivory to light golden-yellow as it matures

Origin
Southern Italy

Cooking Tip
An excellent melting cheese.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious inside sandwiches or as a topping for soups, pizzas and salads. Excellent as an after-school snack.

Pairing Possibilities
Red grapes, pears, pineapple, figs, olives, tomatoes, roasted red peppers, hearty breads

Wine/beverage Ideas
Merlot, light-bodied Pinot Noir, Syrah, ale, tomato juice

Hard cheeses are very low in moisture, robust in flavor and many, like Parmesan, are ideal to shred or grate over pasta or salads. Their taste and texture are dramatically altered by the amount of time they are aged.

ASIAGO

Flavor
Mild when young; becomes nutty and semi-sharp with age

Appearance/Color
Light yellow with tiny holes; clear/white to black coating

Origin
Italy

Cooking Tip
Melts well when shredded or grated.

Serving Suggestions
Great in pastas, soups, sauces, salads, salad dressings, stuffing, bread crumbs and casseroles. Delicious on bagels.

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, pineapple, pears, red or green grapes, figs, crusty breads, salami, pasta

Wine/beverage Ideas
Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Rioja, Merlot, Port, Syrah, cider, sherry, cranberry juice, sparkling red grape juice

GRUYÈRE

Flavor
Mild, buttery, toasty, slightly sharp flavor that intensifies with age

Appearance/Color
Shiny yellow with small holes

Origin
Switzerland

Cooking Tip
A wonderful melting cheese.

Serving Suggestions
Delicious when used in rich sauces for pasta, grilled meats, poultry and fish. Excellent for fondue.

Pairing Possibilities
Prosciutto, thinly sliced ham or salami, red apples, figs, melon, dates, walnuts, hazelnuts, hearty breads

Wine/beverage Ideas
Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, red wines, beer, ale, tomato juice, cranberry juice, cider

PARMESAN

Flavor
Sharp, robust, nutty, buttery flavor that intensifies with age

Appearance/Color
Ranges in color from very light yellow to a deeper yellow

Origin
Parma, Italy

Cooking Tip
Melts when shredded or grated

Serving Suggestions
Shredded or grated, Parmesan can be melted into soups or sauces. It also can be sprinkled over salads, pizza and pasta or mixed with breadcrumbs for a flaky, flavorful breading for chicken. (Same as for Romano.)

Pairing Possibilities
Figs, pears, raisins, red grapes, walnuts, crusty breads, hearty crackers

Wine/beverage Ideas
Champagne, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, Gewurztraminer, Merlot, Cabernet, warm cappuccinos

ROMANO

Flavor
Sharp, tangy, robust flavor that intensifies with age (similar to Parmesan, but slightly richer)

Appearance/Color
Ivory to pale yellow

Origin
Rome, Italy

Cooking Tip
Melts when shredded or grated.

Serving Suggestions
Perks up a wide variety of pizza and pasta dishes. Excellent for breakfast when sprinkled on scrambled eggs or used in quiches or frittatas. Works well when shredded atop soup or salads or added to casseroles and macaroni and cheese. (Same as for Parmesan.)

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, pears, dried fruit, walnuts, thinly sliced prosciutto, ham or salami

Wine/beverage Ideas
Hearty red wines such as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon, beer, tomato or vegetable juice, cran-raspberry juice

SWISS

Flavor
Mild to sharp; sweet, nutty flavor that intensifies with age

Appearance/Color
Ivory to pale yellow; small to large holes

Origin
Switzerland

Cooking Tip
Excellent for melting.

Serving Suggestions
Perfect for melting in fondue, casseroles or quiche. It's delicious inside sandwiches — from clubs to turkey subs to Reubens.

Pairing Possibilities
Apples, cherries, pears, green grapes, toasted almonds, pumpernickel bread, thinly sliced prosciutto

Wine/beverage Ideas
Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, light-bodied Pinot Noir, cran-raspberry juice, tomato or vegetable juice