Cheese-nutrition, let's take a closer look at what that means to you and I.

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Cheese-nutrition

Cheese-nutrition ~ Kitchen Tricks

Cheese-nutrition 101

Ah, cheese.

Whether served as a garnish, a topping, or paired with wine, cheese satisfies cheese-lovers' taste buds while adding a nutritional component, too.

Have you ever wondered about the basic characteristics of the cheeses found in your local supermarket or specialty shop?

Comparing the nutrition values and characteristics may help you navigate the ever-expanding cheese offerings available today.

A Quick Comparison

The following table compares the Cheese-nutrition values of some cheeses based on 1 oz. servings:

Cheese ~ Type ~ Calories (kcal) ~ Total Fat (g) ~ Calcium (mg) ~ Sodium (mg)

Blue Semi-Soft ***** 100 *********** 8.2 ********* 150 ********** 395

Brick Semi-Soft ***** 105 *********** 8.4 ********* 191 ********** 159

Brie Semi-Soft* ***** 95 ************ 7.9 ********* 52 *********** 178

Camembert S-Soft* ** 85 *********** 6.9 ********* 110 *********** 239

Cheddar Semi-Hard ** 114 ********** 9.4 ********* 204 *********** 176

Colby Semi-Soft ***** 112 ********** 9.1 ********* 194 *********** 171

Cream Fresh ******** 97 *********** 9.7 ********* 28 ************ 91

Cottage Fresh ******* 26 *********** 0.5 ******** 19.6 *********** 115

Edam Semi-Soft ***** 101 *********** 7.9 ******** 207 *********** 274

Feta Fresh ********* 75 ************ 6.0 ******** 140 *********** 316

Goat Semi-Soft ***** 103 ************ 8.5 ********* 84 *********** 146

Gouda Hard ******* 101 ************ 7.8 ********* 198 ********** 232

Gruyere Semi-Hard ** 117 *********** 9.2 ********* 287 *********** 95

Havarti Semi-Soft **** 110 *********** 10 *********** 6 *********** 180

Monterey Semi-Hard ** 106 *********** 8.6 ******** 211 *********** 152

Mascarpone Fresh *** 125 *********** 13 ********* 30 ************ 16

Mozza, p/skim Fresh ** 72 *********** 4.5 ********* 222 *********** 175

Mozza, w/milk Fresh ** 85 *********** 6.3 ********* 143 *********** 178

Muenster Semi-Soft *** 104 ********** 8.5 ********* 203 *********** 178

Parmesan Hard ***** 111 *********** 7.3 ********* 336 *********** 454

Provolone Semi-Soft ** 100 *********** 7.6 ********* 214 ************ 248

Ricotta, p/skim Fsh. *** 39 *********** 2.2 ********** 77 ************ 35

Romano Hard ***** 110 ************ 7.6 ********* 302 ************ 340

Swiss Semi-Hard *** 108 ************ 7.9 ********* 224 ************* 4

No two types of cheese are exactly alike, thus, the cheese-nutrition, plus, the quality and flavor of most cheeses depend on skillful aging and appropriate storage.

Cheese aging is reflected in its moisture content and may move a cheese variety from one category to another.

Cheese: Let's Have a Closer Look

Cheese is categorized by texture.

Four common categories are included within the cheese-nutrition comparison table.

Let's take a closer look at what they mean.

* Fresh cheeses, such as mozzarella, feta, and cottage, are unripened and have not been aged.

Fresh cheeses have a high moisture content with a creamy taste and a soft texture.

Cheeses in the "fresh" category have slightly lower calories than other categories, with the exception of Mascarpone.

* Semi-soft cheeses are popular with cheese enthusiasts, and most soft cheeses are included in this category.

Cheeses in the semi-soft category include Colby and Havarti and the average calorie count for a 1 oz serving is 101.5 k/cals.

Brie and Camembert are often included in the semi-soft category, but we prefer to include them in their own category of "soft-ripened".

Basically, this is 'because of their distinct flavors and texture' and because of the white rind created around the cheese during ripening.

* Semi-hard cheeses (also called semi-firm cheeses) include the ever-popular cheddar, swiss cheese and Monterey Jack.

Semi-hard cheeses are the most readily available at your local retailer since their shelf life is longer and, the relative lack of moisture in these cheeses tends to equate to comparatively mild aromas.

Semi-hard cheeses contain over 200 mg. of calcium per 1 oz. serving and, for the most part, have a slightly higher calorie count compared to the other cheese-nutrition categories.

* Hard cheese is a broad category of cheeses and may include textures that range from elastic at room temperature, to hard cheeses that can be grated.

Hard cheeses have less moisture content and a lot of flavor added, reflected in the higher sodium content.

They also have some of the higher levels of calcium per 1 oz. serving.

Examples of hard cheeses are Gouda, Parmesan, and Romano.