Gouda Vs. Cheddar: What's The Difference?

We know cheese has been a part of our diets for a good long while — so much so that the Greeks have a god of cheese, Aristaios, a mythological shepherd, beekeeper, and hunter (via Theoi). The National Historic Cheesemaking Center says that the true origin is so ancient that it's hard to pinpoint a specific place or year that cheese was first created. It's safe to say, though, that cheese-making is intrinsically tied to the domestication of animals, which occurred somewhere around 8,000 to 10,000 years ago. Cheesemaking began with the introduction of rennet to milk, which was then curdled and salted. It could have been a pure accident or an outcome of some experiment. Either way, cheesemaking was born and the world never looked back.

Today, Wisconsin Cheese claims that there are an average of 1,800 different kinds of cheese differentiated by age, milk type, producer, flavor, etc. According to Chef Spencil, the largest producers of cheese in the world are the United States, Germany, France, and Italy, but when it comes to producers per capita Denmark, New Zealand, and Ireland are the world's leaders in 2021. Cheese is a deliciously complex food group with many varieties comparable in look and flavor, like gouda and cheddar. But though these two kinds of cheese seem alike, they have some distinct differences that set them apart.

Cheddar is a cheese-board classic. You'll easily find it shredded, sliced, or in large bulk blocks at your local grocery store or deli. Believe it or not, cheddar with its bright orange looks, buttery texture, and sharp nutty taste is older than every supermarket chain that it's sold in today. Cheese Culture Magazine reports that cheddar has been around since the 12th century in England. Like gouda, cheddar was named after a town well known for its production: Cheddar Village. The small town used natural caves to store milk before refrigeration. It is believed that at some point, someone left some milk in the cave to age into the first known cheddar cheese. The English were huge fans of the stuff, and many a king fell in love with its unique flavor.

According to Food52, cheddar cheese is made from cow milk like gouda is and with age, becomes crumbly in texture. Cheddar is not a protected namesake, meaning that anyone can make cheddar — anywhere in the world — if they are so inclined. Cheddar is made by cutting the cheese curds and stacking them, and then milling them into what we know as "squeaky cheese." But what makes cheddar so unique is the layering process that gives aged cheddar its texture.