Hard Cheese Vs. Soft Cheese: Know The Difference, Uses And Health Benefits

Hard cheese

Most hard cheeses begin with being a soft cheese i.e having a moisture content of 50% and higher.

With the use of Rennet and an ageing, a pressing process, the cheeses are then cured for a period ranging from a few days to years even to convert it to hard cheese.

The reason why these cheeses are enjoyed as themselves is the edgy flavour they have.

They can be enjoyed on their own or maybe as salad garnishes.

Some examples are parmesan, pecorino, grana padano, gruyere, aged cheddar, gouda, zerai

Soft cheese

Soft cheese refers to anything with a moisture content of 50% and higher, and is further categorized into soft and semi soft cheeses.

The process of making doesn't require Rennet, but a starter culture and acids which are added upon heating milk.

They are typically used by melting them further to take best out of the cheese.

Some examples are: mozzarella, brie

Health benefits

There is no black-and-white to health benefits. Both could be equally healthy or unhealthy for two different individuals.

Hard cheeses are typically higher on protein and calcium but also have a higher fast content.

Soft cheeses like feta may have a mineral calorie count like 75 calories per 25 g, but at the same time are low in protein and fat.

So being an individual choose what is healthy for you, the nutritional information is available behind the packet of every product

Inputs from: Chef Rishab Gupta, Founder, BURASH, The Casual Dining Mediterranean Restaurant.