Cheese Database

Monterey Jack vs Muenster cheese

Monterey Jack, field guide plate
Monterey Jack, photographed

Monterey Jack

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-hard
Type
Pressed
Rind
No rind
Country
United States
Place
California

Monterey Jack is a mild cow's-milk cheese from California. Young Jack is pale, flexible, and one of the reliable melting cheeses of American cooking.

Muenster cheese, field guide plate
Muenster cheese, photographed

Muenster cheese

Facts

Milk
Cow
Texture
Semi-soft
Type
Pressed
Rind
Natural rind
Country
United States

Muenster cheese is a mild semi-soft cheese from the United States, made from cow's milk. The interior is pale yellow to cream, and the outside is often orange from annatto. It slices cleanly and melts well, which made it a deli cheese rather than a long-aged wheel. The American cheese is calm in smell and taste. It should not be confused with French Munster, a washed-rind cheese with a much stronger aroma.