Muenster cheese has a distinct nutty yet sweet flavor that literally melts in your mouth. Unfortunately, even though it’s a pretty well-known type of cheese, you may not find it readily available in local delis or markets.
What’s a good substitute for Muenster cheese when you don’t have any around? Luckily, there are six types of cheese that taste just as delicious. Here’s a quick rundown if you’re pressed for time:
- Edam Cheese
- Gouda
- Havarti
- Monterey Jack
- Port Salut
- Provolone
Each of these options has the same delicious taste and smooth texture, yet they also differ in some minor aspects. Read ahead to find out more about these substitutes!
6 Good Substitutes for Muenster Cheese
Muenster cheese, made from pasteurized cow’s milk, is famous for its nutty, semi-mild flavor. This means its substitutes should have the same qualities.
This is why we picked these six kinds of cheese. They all have a similar semi-soft consistency, as well as a pleasant elasticity when they melt.
The best part is that they’re easier to come by than Muenster cheese. So, you’ll have no trouble finding them in any of your local stores.
Here’s a brief rundown of each cheese type and some of its highlights. We’ll also talk about the best way to use each one to create that perfect meal.
Edam Cheese
Edam cheese is a semi-hard, light yellow cheese. It comes from a small Dutch town that’s also called Edam, which lies to the north of Holland.
It’s usually sold in spheres and is marked by its mild, somewhat salty flavor. This savory cheese is made from skimmed or semi-skimmed cow’s milk. It’s one of the healthiest cheese types on our list, mainly because of its low-fat, high protein contents.
Edam makes a great Muenster cheese substitute because of its ability to melt well. Use it in baked dishes, different kinds of pasta, salads, and sauces — Edam won’t disappoint. You can also cube it or thinly slice it and serve it with a fruit platter or some crackers.
Gouda
Gouda cheese is one of those versatile types of cheese that seem to go well with everything. You can enjoy it grated, cubed, sliced, or melted. In fact, Gouda is best known for its amazing ability to melt perfectly, just like Muenster cheese.
Also prepared using cow’s milk, this mild-flavored Dutch cheese has a semi-hard consistency. It goes great in salads, fondues, and sauces. You can also add it to macaroni and pasta dishes for a creamy topping.
Not only that, but Gouda also makes an amazing addition to any vegetable dish, whether melted on top or grated. You can also use it to make a flavorful grilled cheese sandwich.
One of the unique features of Gouda is that it can be aged from four weeks to a year or even longer. Some Gouda varieties have been left to age for up to five years!
The young cheese variety has a mild flavor and a semi-soft consistency. The longer it’s left to age, the denser it becomes. The taste is also enhanced, resulting in a sharper, more savory flavor.
Havarti
Havarti is a well-known type of cheese from Denmark. It’s similar to Muenster cheese in that it’s made of cow’s milk and has a semi-soft consistency. Havarti is marked by its mild flavor, which borders on being slightly sweet with a bit of nuttiness.
One of Havarti’s unique qualities is that you can find it in a wide range of flavors, thanks to the added herbs and spices. You can serve it as a table cheese with bread, crackers, or fruits. Make sure you slice it really thin to make the most of that light, buttery taste.
Havarti cheese has a wonderful taste when it melts. So, you can add it to your favorite baked dishes for more flavor and texture.
Its aging time ranges around three months. This gives it its distinct semi-soft texture. If left for longer, Havarti becomes saltier with an increased nutty flavor.
Monterey Jack
Monterey Jack cheese is a classic American cheese. It is pale yellow with a buttery, creamy texture, and it has a firm and compact consistency.
It’s available as either large blocks of cheese or pre-packaged slices. Known for its mild flavor, similar to the Muenster, Monterey is also prepared from pasteurized cow’s milk.
You can use it to make grilled sandwiches, quesadillas, or just simply eat it with crackers. One of its best qualities is that it can melt perfectly, making it a good substitute for Muenster cheese. It also makes an excellent choice for many baked dishes and appetizers.
Monterey Jack cheese requires from two weeks to one month to reach a semi-soft consistency. For the dry version, it should be aged at least six months, or preferably nine months. This gives it a richer, fuller flavor, together with a harder consistency.
Port Salut
Port Salut cheese is one of the oldest known cheese types, dating as far back as the mid-1800s. It was first made by monks at the Port-du-Salut abbey of Notre Dame.
This French cheese is prepared from pasteurized, partially skimmed cow’s milk. It has a semi-soft consistency with a savory yet somewhat sweet flavor.
One reason why it’s such a good substitute for Muenster cheese is its ability to easily melt. It makes the perfect Mornay sauce, which is the French equivalent of bechamel sauce.
Port Salut is also great for fondues and grilled cheese sandwiches. You can also slice it, shred it, or cube it to enjoy with crackers or fruits. Plus, this creamy, buttery cheese will give your baked dishes the perfect finish. Just melt, and drizzle on top of any veggies, pasta, or meat dish, and you’re all set!
Port Salut has one of the shortest aging times out of the six varieties on our list. It’s typically left for anywhere between three to six weeks.
Provolone
Provolone cheese is known for its pale yellow color and sharp, distinct flavor. It has a smooth, semi-firm consistency, which grates easily and melts perfectly.
Made from whole cow’s milk, this cheese first originated in the south of Italy. Nowadays, it’s mainly produced in the Po valley region in northern Italy.
This unique cheese is often used to make salad dressing. It also goes well with almost all types of baked dishes, soups, and sandwiches. Yet, it’s most famous for its wonderful flavors. It’s best suited for pasta dishes, such as stuffed manicotti shells, ziti, and much more.
Mild provolone cheese is typically aged for two to three months. Then, there’s the darker Provolone, which is aged starting from six months up to two years. The long aging time gives it a spicier, richer flavor.
[Related Article: Can You Use Ricotta Cheese Instead Of Sour Cream?]The Takeaway
What’s a good substitute for Muenster cheese? Any of the six types of cheese we talked about would be perfect. They’re all known for their mildness, smooth consistency, and characteristic nutty flavor.
Best of all, they can melt flawlessly, allowing you to work them perfectly into almost any dish. You can also use them in appetizers, sandwiches, and cheese platters. Diced, sliced, grated, cubed, melted — the options are endless!
Take a tour around your local stores and markets to see which of these cheese types are readily available. Then, take your pick and get to it. These six are guaranteed to never let you down. Whether eaten cold or hot, you’ll always have a deliciously awesome meal (or fun snack) to enjoy!
