Cheese
Generic cheese ingredient derived from milk.
About Cheese
Cheese is a milk-derived food made by coagulating milk and separating or retaining curds with varying amounts of whey. It may be fresh or aged, made from different milks, and treated by salting, pressing, ripening, or other processing.
Because the category includes many styles, flavor ranges from mild and fresh to aged and pungent. Texture and appearance range from soft and spreadable to firm or crumbly, with moisture, rind, seasoning, and processing differing substantially.
Cheese is eaten on its own and sold or prepared sliced, grated, crumbled, melted, whipped, or incorporated into sauces, fillings, soups, baked dishes, and desserts. These forms change its texture and use without defining one specific cheese style.
- Ingredient type
- derived ingredient
- Form
- other
Forms & related ingredients
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Where will you meet it?
Explore the dishes that use this ingredient and their country and cuisine connections.
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Find local names and written forms to help recognise this ingredient.
See local namesWhere cheese appears
364 linked foodsFind foods to recognise by country and type. Recipes and products vary; these are recorded ingredient connections.
Showing 25–36 of 364
Main dishes
Empadão goiano
Optional addition
Enchiladas Poblanas
Optional addition
Enfrijoladas Poblanas
Optional addition
Enfrijoladas Veracruzanas
Optional addition
Escondidinho
Optional addition
Ingredient connections awaiting review · Coverage is still growing, including packaged snacks.
Name examples awaiting language review. Confirm the specific food or product.
Local names for cheese
Names and romanised forms to recognise on menus and labels.
queso
fromage
Käse
queijo
Cheese
cheese
formaggio
kaas
formatge
ser
sýr
syr
sir
sir
сир
sir
sir
brânză
sajt
peynir
τυρί
tyrí
сыр
syr
сир
syr
сирене
sirene
جبن
jubn
גבינה
gvina
チーズ
chīzu
치즈
chijeu
奶酪
nǎilào
phô mai
ชีส
chīs
keju
keju
पनीर
panīr
পনির
panir
பாலாடைக்கட்டி
pālāṭaikkaṭṭi
చీజ్
cīj
ചീസ്
cīs
ಚೀಸ್
cīs
jibini
ushizi
kaas
پنیر
panir
پنیر
panīr
պանիր
panir
ყველი
qveli
pendir
ірімшік
irimshik
pishloq
бяслаг
byaslag
tyrí
Romanised form
cīs
Romanised form
chīzu
Romanised form
cheese (blended)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (canned)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (dehydrated)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (extra hard, grating)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (fried)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (frying, low-fat)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (green-colored)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (hard, maturing)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (lowfat)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (made from buffalo milk)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (maturing, rennet)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (maturing)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (melted)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (mold-ripened, packed in hermetically sealed container)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (red marbled)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (rennet, hard, salted, maturing in brine)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (ripened)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (scalded, caroway)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (shredded)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (sliced, prepacked)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (sliced)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (smoked)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (unpasteurized)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (varietal, hard)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (varietal, soft)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (washed curd for maufacturing)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (wax-coated)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (whipped)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese (white)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese asiago fresh
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese asiago medium
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese blended pasteurized
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese granular curd
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese loaf
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese made from pasteurized milk
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese made from reconstituted milk
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese maturing (semi-hard)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese mix (substitute or imitation)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese rind (artificial)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese rind (as part-nature)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese rind (edible)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese soft
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese varietal (pressed)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese varietal semi-hard
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cheese whey (from cow milk)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, processed, slices, reduced fat
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, processed, smoked
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, provolone, reduced fat
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, provolone, sliced
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, ricotta, part skim milk
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, ricotta, whole milk
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, spreadable, full fat, soft, white
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, spreadable, medium fat, soft, white
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, spreadable, soft white, low fat
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, white, average
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Cheese, with wine
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
colby cheese (for manufacturing)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
colby cheese (smoke-flavored)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cold-pack cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cold-pack cheese (alcohol added)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cold-pack cheese food
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cow cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cow milk cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cow milk cheese (nonfat)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cow milk cheese analog
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cow milk cured cheese food product
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cow milk hard cheese food product
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
cow's cheese with chives
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
dietetic cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Firm brined cheese (ricotta salata type)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Firm cheese around 27% fat Maasdam-type cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Firm-ripened bloomy (white mould) or washed rind cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Firm-ripened blue mould-veined cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Firm/semi-hard cheese (gouda and edam type)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Fresh cheese (as part-nature)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Fried cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
fromage au lait cru
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Fromage au lait cru de vache
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
fromage au lait de vache bio thermisé
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
fromage au lait de vache pasteurisé
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
fromage au lait pasteurisé
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
fromages râpées séchés
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
granular cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
grated cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
grated cheese (italian-style)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
grated cheese (lowfat)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Imitation cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
melted cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
melted grated cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
melted powdered cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
mold-ripened cheese
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
Molkeneiweißkäse
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
obsolete: cheese made from cow's milk
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
pasteurized blended cheese (us cfr)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
pasteurized blended cheese with fruits vegetables or meats
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
pasteurized cheese food product
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
pasteurized cheese product (us cfr)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
pasteurized cheese spread (us cfr)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
pasteurized cheese spread food product
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
uncured cheese (eurofir)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
uncured cheese (us cfr)
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
uncured cheese food product
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
uncured cow milk cheese food product
Search alias · Not a confirmed translation
pālāṭaikkaṭṭi
Romanised form
jubn
Romanised form
syr
Romanised form
chijeu
Romanised form
panir
Romanised form
irimshik
Romanised form
nǎilào
Romanised form
panīr
Romanised form
byaslag
Romanised form
cīs
Romanised form
panīr
Romanised form
syr
Romanised form
sirene
Romanised form
panir
Romanised form
gvina
Romanised form
panir
Romanised form
sir
Romanised form
qveli
Romanised form
chīs
Romanised form
cīj
Romanised form
Available names only. Languages may be spoken in other countries; a name alone does not identify every ingredient in a dish.
Name not available yet.
A name in English has not been added for cheese. Choose another language to see its available names.
Cheese nutrition & diet
Cheese nutritional value
Cheese, NFS
Per 100 g of the edible portion in the recorded USDA food form.
- Calories
- 381kcal
- Protein
- 20.7g
- Carbs
- 4.3g
- Fat
- 31.3g
Reference values per 100 g for the displayed USDA form. Varieties, recipes, brands and preparation can differ.
Portions & preparation
“Cheese” is too broad for a single precise reference: establish the animal or plant source, style, maturity, moisture, processing, and edible form. Sliced, grated, melted, fresh, aged, processed, and spreadable products are not interchangeable. Evaluate plain cheese separately from the recipe in which it appears.
Compare the right form: Establish exact cheese identity, source, style, maturity, processing, and edible form before selecting a reference; generic cheese cannot represent every product.
Diet considerations
Cheese may be animal-derived, plant-based, or an unclear blend, so origin must be established rather than assumed. Animal additions, milk ingredients, and processing aids can change compatibility. Sandwiches, coatings, sauces, and casseroles may include cereals, meat, egg, or other ingredients. Dietary interpretation depends on the exact product and portion.
AI-authored reading notes · Awaiting editorial review. Measured values, where available, have a separate source above.
Dietary compatibility
- VeganTypically incompatible
- VegetarianDepends on the version
- PescatarianDepends on the version
- KetoDepends on the version
- PaleoTypically incompatible
- Low-carbDepends on the version
- HalalNot established
- KosherNot established
What these diet assessments mean
- Vegan · Typically incompatible
- The ingredient profile identifies an animal-derived food or derivative.
- Vegetarian · Depends on the version
- Check the coagulant or rennet source: animal rennet and vegetarian alternatives are both relevant to this category.
- Pescatarian · Depends on the version
- Check the coagulant or rennet source: animal rennet and vegetarian alternatives are both relevant to this category.
- Keto · Depends on the version
- Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
- Paleo · Typically incompatible
- This profile falls outside the conventional paleo pattern used here (grains and pseudograins, legumes, dairy or refined sugar).
- Low-carb · Depends on the version
- Compatibility depends on the portion and preparation. A sourced carbohydrate amount for a defined serving is not available.
- Halal · Not established
- Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish halal status.
- Kosher · Not established
- Sourcing, processing and any applicable certification have not been verified. A food name alone does not establish kosher status.
For the plain ingredient · Awaiting review. Diet compatibility is not allergy suitability or halal/kosher certification. Keto and low-carb depend on the portion.
AI-generated illustration for visual context. It does not identify a particular product or establish allergen content.
Sources & review
Nutrition reference: USDA FoodData Central — Cheese, NFS ↗. Values are scaled from 100 g of the recorded edible form. Individual portions have no assumed fixed weight.
Expanded overview, name examples and nutrition notes are database drafts awaiting editorial review. Numeric nutrition values, where shown, have their own source and food-form reference.
The ingredient description and dish connections come from the draft catalogue and may change after review.
Last recorded verification: .