🧀 Cream cheese
Also known as: Frischkäse
A soft cheese made from cream and milk.
Cream cheese is a soft, fresh, unripened cheese made from a mixture of milk and cream, with a mild, creamy taste. The mixture is pasteurised and homogenised, then fermented with lactic acid bacteria (sometimes with a little rennet). The resulting curd is heated and the whey is separated — factories use separators or ultrafiltration for this — after which salt and stabilisers (locust bean gum, carrageenan, etc.) are added and the cheese is packed.
Modern cream cheese is a product of the industrial age: mass production began in the United States in the 1870s. Today it is made all over the world, including with herbs and vegetables and as spreads.
Cream cheese differs from tvorog (curd cheese) and quark in its higher fat content and smooth, paste-like texture. It differs from mascarpone in that mascarpone is made from cream curdled with acid under heat, while cream cheese is fermented with bacteria. It is spread on bread and bagels and used in cheesecakes, frostings, sushi rolls and sauces.
Composition per 100 g
| Fat | 34.4 g |
|---|---|
| Protein | 6.15 g |
| Carbohydrates | 5.52 g |
| Energy | 350 kcal |
| Calcium | 97 mg |
How it connects to milk
🧀 Cream cheese → made from → 🥛 Cream → made from → 🥛 Milk
Links
- Made from
- 🥛 Cream
- Product type
- 🏭 Industrial dairy products
- Part of
- 🧀 Cheese
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cream cheese and mascarpone?
Cream cheese is fermented with bacteria from a mix of milk and cream; mascarpone is made from cream curdled with acid under heat. Mascarpone is usually richer and less tangy.
What cheese is used for cheesecake?
Classic American-style cheesecake is made with cream cheese — dense, rich and smooth.
Is cream cheese the same as curd cheese?
The terms are close: soft cheeses based on tvorog are often called curd cheeses, but classic cream cheese is made from a mix of milk and cream and is richer.
Similar
🧀 Ricotta · 🧀 Halloumi · 🧶 Oaxaca cheese · 🧀 Leipäjuusto · 🧀 Mozzarella · 🧀 Paneer
ℹ️ Dairy products contain lactose and milk proteins: if you are lactose intolerant or allergic to milk protein, ask a doctor.