Neufchatel cheese vs cream cheese are two kinds of popular cheese. I believe that you have used them in cooking foods in your life, but you have not understood exactly whether they are the same or different.
If you are on the way to find out the profound answer to your question, you should stop at this article. You will have the opportunity to learn more fantastic information about these two kinds of cheese as well as their comparison.
So, sit down and enjoy a cup of tea to explore the practical knowledge about Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese in this post. Trust me! The information that I am about to provide will be helpful for you.
They have some exciting differences, let’s discover now!
Are Neufchatel Cheese And Cream Cheese Different?
Although many people think cream cheese vs Neufchatel cheese are the same, there are some differences between Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese, such as origin, texture, taste, nutritional content, and shelf life.
Before discovering the differences between cream cheese and Neufchatel cheese, I will show you some helpful information about two kinds of cheese. So, keep reading the article carefully.
What Is Neufchatel Cheese?
Neufchatel cheese is a soft and white cheese. This is the oldest cheese and a traditional cheese of French. One interesting thing about this cheese is that it is made in many different shapes and sizes, such as square, round, cylindrical, and even heart-shaped.
It is true that the original Neufchatel cheese was made mainly from raw cow’s milk, but later more Neufchatel cheese appeared with pasteurized milk as the main ingredient.
Today, Neufchatel cheese is widely used in cuisine. You can enjoy cookies and bread with a layer of Neufchatel cheese on top. Or you can use it to spice up your sandwich and pair it with appetizers and desserts.
Let’s listen to some reviews about the Neufchatel cheese to understand more about it.
What Is Cream Cheese?
Cream cheese is a fresh, white, and soft cheese with a characteristic sweet and sour taste. Philadelphia and Anchor are two popular choices of cream cheese because cream cheese is commonly sold at bakeries there
Cream cheese is the main ingredient for making soft and fragrant cheesecake, cheese souffle, red velvet sweet, carrot cake, cherry cheesecake bars… Honestly, the possibilities for desserts featuring cream cheese are endless.
Cream cheese can also be eaten “fresh” with bread, crackers or made into cake frosting. Considering the many applications of cream cheese, it’s no surprise that this ingredient is so widely beloved.
In addition, cream cheese is also used as an ingredient in recipes, making dishes more delicious, moderately greasy, and very attractive such as cream cheese bacon and pasta, cream cheese and chicken stuffed with dried tomatoes.
Cream cheese can also be used as a substitute for various other ingredients. For example, it’s an ideal replacement for goat cheese. And when you’re in a pinch, it’s not a bad idea to opt for cream cheese as a cottage cheese alternative.
What Are The Differences Between Neufchatel Cheese And Cream Cheese?
You have used Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese many times, but have you ever learned about the difference between them? In this section, I will show you some differences in the origin, texture and taste, nutritional content, and shelf life between them.
The Differences About Origin Between Cream Cheese And Neufchatel Cheese
First, let’s start with finding out the differences in the origin of cream cheese and Neufchatel cheese. I hope the information I provide will help you to have more knowledge about these two kinds of cheese.
1. The Origin Of Neufchatel Cheese
The first is about the origin of Neufchatel cheese. Neufchatel is a cheese first produced in the 6th century in Neufchatel-en-Bray (1). Initially, the main ingredient for making Neufchatel cheese was cow’s milk. Neufchatel cheese is white on the inside and soft, covered with a dry edible rind.
After a period of production time, the flavor and texture of Neufchatel cheese start changing. Specifically, this time the N-something food begins to dry and harden than before. In addition, its taste also becomes saltier.
As I mentioned, Neufchatel cheese is a long traditional cheese in French. However, later Americans began to produce this type of cheese, and Americans used another type of milk to replace raw cow’s milk, which is pasteurized cow’s milk.
2. The Origin Of Cream Cheese
If Neufchatel cheese was originally made from cow’s milk, the main ingredients of cream cheese are pasteurized milk and cream. It can be seen that cream cheese is made from the same milk as Neufchatel cheese, but it has an additional combination of cream.
In addition, many cream cheese manufactures have added other ingredients to their cream cheese recipes, such as salt, vinegar, and carrageenan (2) About production time, cream cheese was first produced in 1872 in New York.
So, in terms of origin, it can be seen that both these two kinds of cheese come from 2 different countries as well as 2 different times. In addition, the initial composition of these two kinds of cheese is also completely different.
Discover The Difference About Texture And Taste Between These Two Kinds Of Cheese
Another factor that you can use to compare the differences between these two kinds of cheese is texture and taste. I think this will be easier and more practical because you can do it at home.
1. Texture And Flavor Of Neufchatel Cheese
To learn about the texture and flavor differences between neufchatel and cream cheese, you and I will first study the texture and flavor characteristics of neufchatel. This gives you detailed information about neufchatel cheese and makes it easy to compare.
The Texture Of Neufchatel Cheese
In terms of texture, compared to cream cheese, Neufchatel cheese is softer and lighter. In some cases, chefs often use it as a substitute for cream cheese in the preparation of dishes. However, the use of it for cheesecakes should be limited because this cheese is too soft.
The Flavor Of Neufchatel Cheese
In terms of flavor, because the first Neufchatel cheese was made mainly from whole cow’s milk, the flavor of French Neufchatel cheese will be stronger than that of American Neufchatel.
Therefore, the flavor of real Neufchatel cheese will be stronger than cream cheese because cream cheese is made from pasteurized milk. When you taste Neufchatel cheese, you will feel that it has a slightly salty flavor.
2. Texture And Flavor Of Cream Cheese
Although considered as substitutes for each other, cream cheese and Neufchatel cheese actually boast different textures and flavors. Let’s find out useful information about the texture and taste of cream cheese.
The Texture Of Cream Cheese
Cream cheese has a somewhat denser texture than Neufchatel cheese. Therefore, it is used a lot by chefs in making cheesecake. In my experience, I also recommend using cream cheese to make this wonderful dessert.
The Flavor Of Cream Cheese
Compared to Neufchatel cheese, all cream cheese types have a sweeter flavor. And the taste of cream cheese is also milder than that of Neufchatel cheese. When you taste the cream cheese, you can think of the flavor of herbs or fruits because they are quite similar.
Try tasting weird cream cheese flavors to have a realistic view of them.
Let’s move to the next part to compare the nutritional content between Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese.
Compare Nutritional Content Between Neufchatel Cheese And Cream Cheese
One factor that you can rely on to find the differences between cream cheese and Neufchatel cheese is the nutritional content. Let’s explore the nutritional differences between these two pieces of cheese.
1. Nutritional Content Of Neufchatel Cheese
First, let’s talk about the milk fat content of Neufchatel cheese. Although real Neufchatel cheese is made from raw cow’s milk, it has less milk fat than cream cheese. Specifically, the milk fat content of Neufchatel cheese is about 23 grams.
Because of the low milk fat content, today, Neufchatel cheese is chosen by many people. Low-fat content should be better for health, especially for those who lose weight.
Regarding moisture, the moisture content of Neufchatel cheese is also higher so Neufchatel cheese is softer than cream cheese. Specifically, the moisture of it is 55 percent higher. So, if you want to eat soft cheese, you can choose Neufchatel cheese.
In addition, in terms of protein content, Neufchatel cheese has a higher protein content with about 2.8 grams. Therefore, this cheese is chosen by many people who need to supplement protein for the body.
2. Nutritional Content Of Cream Cheese
Because cream cheese is made up of cream and milk, cream cheese has a higher milk fat content than Neufchatel cheese by about 34 grams. Because of the high-fat content, this cheese is less chosen by people who want to lose weight.
The factor that makes you feel a little dry and slightly firmer when enjoying cream cheese is its lower moisture content. The moisture content of cream cheese is 55 percent or less. Because of this, it is used a lot for cheesecakes.
Contrary to the high milk fat content, the protein in cream cheese is not high. The protein content is only about 2.1 grams, and this probably comes from the ingredients that make up the cream cheese.
How Long Do Neufchatel And Cream Cheese Last?
Have you ever wondered about the shelf life of these two kinds of cheese? Do you think their shelf life could be the same? In fact, there is a slight difference in shelf life between them. The shelf life of Neufchatel cheese is slightly longer than cream cheese.
1. The Shelf Life Of Neufchatel Cheese
Like other foods, you can extend the shelf life of Neufchatel cheese when you store it properly. Normally, the expiration day of Neufchatel cheese is about 2 to 3 weeks.
If you store it in the refrigerator, the shelf life of Neufchatel cheese is about 4 to 5 weeks. It can be kept for about 1 to 2 weeks after the expiry date printed on the package has passed. Moreover, if you store it in the freezer, the shelf life of cheese is about 1 month.
2. The Shelf Life Of Cream Cheese
Compared to Neufchatel cheese, cream cheese has a slightly longer shelf life. The shelf life of cream cheese when stored in the refrigerator is about 3 to 4 weeks after the expiry day printed on the package.
In addition, its shelf life is about 2 months when stored in the freezer. And I highly recommend you should use cheese before the expiration day printed on the package.
The total time cream cheese stays fresh outside the fridge is usually quite short. This is why I always recommend that, for safety reasons, you should not leave the cream cheese outside the fridge for longer than 2 hours.
The below table will give you a quick view of the shelf life comparison between Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese.
What Are The Similarities Between Cream Cheese And Neufchatel Cheese?
When comparing any two things, there will always be differences between them, but there are still some similarities. Let’s take a look at some of the similarities between these two kinds of cheese.
First, in terms of scent, perhaps the common point that you can easily notice from these two kinds of cheese is their scent. Since both have milk as the main ingredient, their signature scent is that of milk. Therefore, both are considered perfect substitutes for each other.
Regarding nutritional composition, both have the same carbohydrate value. Furthermore, both are a common ingredient in culinary, especially baking, and are used to spread cakes or bread to eat and ingredients to accompany appetizers and desserts.
To have a good comparison between Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese, let’s taste both of them.
FAQs
After reading this article, I believe that you will have many questions related to Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese. In this part, I will answer some frequently asked questions about two kinds of cheese.
Are There Any Other Differences?
In this life, between two objects, there are always similarities and differences, more or less, and so are Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese. With the above analysis, I hope you will have a clearer view of the differences and similarities between these two kinds of cheese.
In the past, when you did not understand them well, you could substitute them in any case. However, after reading this article, I think you should be more careful in choosing these two pieces of cheese to better suit the purpose of use and the dish you want to combine.
Furthermore, If you have any other ideas about the Neufchatel cheese and cream cheese, do not hesitate to share via comments. Also, like and share this helpful article because 1 share is one more person to know this great information. Thanks for reading.
References
- En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Neufchâtel-en-Bray – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neufch%C3%A2tel-en-Bray>.
- En.wikipedia.org. 2021. Carrageenan – Wikipedia. [online] Available at: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrageenan>.
