All About Cheese: Feta Facts - Vince's Market - With 4 Locations to Serve You! (2024)

  • Cheese, Comfort Food, Deli, Food, Lunch Recipes, Main Course Recipes, Recipes, Vince's Own

All About Cheese: Feta Facts - Vince's Market - With 4 Locations to Serve You! (1)

Feta Cheese is undoubtedly one of the most famous of the Greek cheeses. In fact, Feta comprises 70% of Greek cheese consumption. The cheese is protected by the European Union legislation and only those cheeses manufactured in Macedonia, Thrace, Thessaly, Central Mainland Greece, the Peloponnese, Lesvos, and Island of Kefalonia can be called feta. Similar cheeses produced elsewhere in the eastern Mediterranean, around the Black Sea, and outside the European Union, are often called white cheese.

In 2013, an agreement was reached between the European Union and Canada in which feta made in Canada would be called ‘Feta style cheese’ but would not depict anything evoking Greece on the label. Canadian companies using the “feta” name before October 2013 can continue to do so.

Why is it So Delicious?

A soft brined, white cheese with either no holes or small holes, Feta has a compact touch, few cuts, and no skin covering it. It’s usually formed into large blocks, which are then submerged in brine, helping to preserve the salty, tangy flavour that ranges from mild to sharp. Feta cheese is traditionally categorized into firm and soft varieties where the firm variety is tangier and considered higher in quality. The soft variety is almost soft enough to be spreadable, mostly used in pies and sold at a cheaper price.

High-quality feta should have a creamy texture when sampled, with aromas of ewe’s milk, butter, and yogourt. On the tongue, it’s tangy, slightly salty, and mildly sour, with a spicy finish reminiscent of pepper and ginger, as well as a hint of sweetness.

Vince’s Market has its own variety of Vince’s Own Feta and it’s delicious!

Feta Facts

Just in case you’re not really up on your Feta Facts, we’ve got you covered!

  • To be called feta, it must be produced in Greece. Feta is a legal designation, similar to Champagne or Roquefort. Romania, Bulgaria, France, and Denmark, among others, make similar cheeses, but they can’t be called feta.
  • The word feta is derived for an ancient Greek word meaning slice.
  • Feta cheese can be made from sheep’s milk or a combination of sheep and goat milks. Most cheese lovers say the best comes from sheep’s milk. But keep in mind, true Feta cheese will contain, at most, 30% goat’s milk.
  • Feta is one of the world’s oldest cheeses. Homer writes about it in The Odyssey.
  • Feta cheese is about 25% fat, of which about two-thirds is saturated fat.
  • Feta is high in calcium and vitamin B12
  • A small cube of feta cheese of around 35g has about 100 calories
  • By Greek law, feta is cured at least three months in brine.

What can you do with Feta that might not be on your radar?

  • Sprinkle over your favourite potato dish—it’s great on roasted potatoes!
  • Add it to your pizza
  • Use it as part of your stuffing when you’re making Stuffed Peppers, Stuffed Mushrooms, or Stuffed Zucchini
  • Try it on your next burger

Oven Baked Macaroni and Feta Cheese

Ingredients:

  • 1 box (454g) Elbow Macaroni, cooked according to the directions on the box
  • butter for greasing the pan
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cups crumbled feta cheese
  • 5 eggs
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • salt and pepper, to taste

For the Topping:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cups fresh breadcrumbs

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F
  2. Cook the macaroni in salted water. Drain.
  3. Generously butter a 13-by-9-inch glass baking dish.
  4. Pour cooked macaroni into baking dish and toss with 1 tablespoon olive oil.
  5. Mix in crumbled feta cheese.
  6. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, and pepper.
  7. Pour the egg mixture over the macaroni; mixture should come about 3/4 of the way up and shouldn’t cover the macaroni completely.
  8. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan.
  9. Add the fresh breadcrumbs to the pan and cook over medium-high heat, stirring frequently, until browned.
  10. Remove from heat and spread the breadcrumbs over the macaroni.
  11. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the custard sets and edges are browned.
  12. Let cool for 15 minutes before serving.

Let’s catch up soon,

Julie

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All About Cheese: Feta Facts - Vince's Market - With 4 Locations to Serve You! (6)

All About Cheese: Feta Facts - Vince's Market - With 4 Locations to Serve You! (7)

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All About Cheese: Feta Facts - Vince's Market - With 4 Locations to Serve You! (9)

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2024

Vince’s Market

All About Cheese: Feta Facts - Vince's Market - With 4 Locations to Serve You! (2024)

FAQs

All About Cheese: Feta Facts - Vince's Market - With 4 Locations to Serve You!? ›

While feta cheese provides you with an excellent source of nutrients like calcium and protein, it also contains high amounts of sodium and saturated fat. Feta is lower in fat than many other cheeses, however, and is considered a reasonable option to eat in moderation.

Is feta cheese healthy or unhealthy? ›

While feta cheese provides you with an excellent source of nutrients like calcium and protein, it also contains high amounts of sodium and saturated fat. Feta is lower in fat than many other cheeses, however, and is considered a reasonable option to eat in moderation.

What is the difference between feta and Greek feta? ›

She explained that French feta, made of 100% sheep's milk, is the least salty of the three. Bulgarian may be made of sheep and/or goat, while Greek feta will be primarily sheep's milk and sometimes up to 30% goat's milk ― both are a little saltier than French.

Does feta cheese need to be refrigerated? ›

Cook's Tip: Always Keep Feta Cheese In Your Refrigerator.

When not to eat feta cheese? ›

If you have high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, or diabetes, you may need to limit or even avoid eating feta cheese. Contains lactose: Feta cheese is unripened, meaning that it contains more lactose than matured cheese. As a result, you may need to avoid it if you are lactose intolerant or allergic.

Can you eat feta everyday? ›

Feta is easier to digest and much less allergenic and inflammatory than cheeses from cow's milk, which is encouraging to those of you who may be sensitive to dairy products. However, it's important to also remember that feta cheese, high in sodium and saturated fat, should be used sparingly, not every day.

How can you tell if feta has gone bad? ›

Signs Your Feta Has Gone Bad

If you notice your feta has picked up a funny taste, like if it's overly sour or suddenly has bitter notes, this means that something's not right. Additionally, noticeable signs of mold growth, such as dark or green discoloration on the cheese, are clues that something is amiss.

What is the liquid in feta cheese? ›

Feta is a white crumbly cheese traditionally made of sheep's or goat's milk. It's cured and stored in brine (a solution of salt dissolved in water), but once opened, it can dry out or spoil quickly. To make it last longer, here's how to make your own brine.

Can you eat feta cheese left out overnight? ›

Generally, feta cheese should not be left unrefrigerated for more than two hours. This is because feta cheese is a perishable dairy product that can promote bacterial growth at room temperature. Extended exposure to warm temperatures increases the risk of contamination and spoilage, compromising its quality and safety.

What is the best type of feta? ›

Although it isn't the saltiest, Greek feta packs the most flavor of the three, which makes it a transformative addition to simple, one-dimensional dishes. Marinated feta is a go-to appetizer around here. At the end of the day, though, the most important thing to look for when buying feta is how it's packaged.

Does Aldi sell feta? ›

Emporium Selection Feta Block Assortment | ALDI US | Feta, The selection, Cheese tasting.

What is the healthiest cheese? ›

Which cheese is healthiest? Cottage cheese is probably the healthiest cheese, Rizzo says. “It's lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than most other cheese,” she explains.

Can you cut mold off feta cheese? ›

With white, fuzzy mold, tinged with green, the flavor effect is minimal and the mold can be safely cut away without incident. Black or gray mold is less desirable, and you should cut away more of it to remove any cheese that might be impacted.

Do you rinse feta cheese? ›

Give your cheese a rinse to control its salt content

The addition of water will help balance out some of your feta's saltiness. The Spruce Eats recommends briefly washing your cheese under water to give the feta a mild, palatable taste. This rinsing step is beneficial if your feta comes in brine.

Can you eat 2 year old frozen cheese? ›

How long does cheese last in the freezer? Freezing cheese stops bacterial growth completely. Frozen cheeses should be used within six months of freezing and then used within two to three days of thawing.

What is the healthiest cheese to eat? ›

Which cheese is healthiest? Cottage cheese is probably the healthiest cheese, Rizzo says. “It's lower in saturated fat and higher in protein than most other cheese,” she explains.

What's healthier feta or cheddar? ›

What's more, feta is lower in fat and calories than aged cheeses like cheddar or parmesan. One ounce (28 grams) of cheddar or parmesan contains more than 110 calories and 7 grams of fat, while 1 ounce of feta has only 74 calories and 6 grams of fat (2, 3, 4).

Is feta cheese a carb or fat? ›

Carbs per serving: Per ¼ cup of crumbled feta cheese, 1.5 grams of carbs (none of that is fiber, so it's 1.5 grams net). Per ¼ cup, you'll also get 4 grams of protein and 6 grams of fat. Use it in… These Greek-style burgers - or any Mediterranean-inspired salad, like this one.

Is feta an inflammatory cheese? ›

Improves heart health: Moderate consumption of feta cheese has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease, thanks to its healthy fats and anti-inflammatory properties. Enhances brain function: Feta is a source of vitamin B12, which supports brain health and cognitive function.

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