Neufchatel vs cream cheese: Unraveling the ultimate soft spread!
– Neufchâtel and cream cheese are similar in appearance and sold in similar packages, but they have differences in taste and ingredients.
– Neufchâtel is an unripened cheese made with cow’s milk, with a soft, slightly grainy texture. The French version uses only milk, while the American version includes milk and cream.
– Cream cheese, defined by the FDA, contains at least 33% fat and a moisture content of 55% or less. It is smooth and mild in flavor.
– Philadelphia Cream Cheese was invented in New York in 1872 and was named in 1880 as part of a marketing strategy to align it with the high-quality food and dairy farming associated with Philadelphia at the time.
– Neufchâtel cheese is technically lower in fat content than cream cheese, making it often regarded as “light cream cheese.”
– Neufchâtel originated in 6th century France and is one of the oldest known cheeses in the country. It is made with cow’s milk and can develop a soft rind similar to Brie or Camembert.
– French Neufchâtel is salty in flavor and becomes more pungent with aging. It is spreadable and used as a topping, ingredient in recipes, and for dips and spreads.
– Neufchâtel must contain more than 20% milkfat but less than 33%. It also has a maximum moisture content of 65%.
– Neufchâtel cheese is named after the hamlet of Neufchâtel-en-Bray in northern Normandy, and it dates back to the year 1035.
– French Neufchâtel is made using raw cow’s milk.