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Are you planning to cook with old English cheese? Can’t find any? Keep reading for a list of the best old English cheese substitutes.
With so few companies still making old English cheese, the product can be challenging to get your hands on. Here are some of the best foods if you need a substitute for old English cheese.
So, what are the best substitutes for old English cheese?
The cheeses and foods listed below are the best alternatives for old English cheese. They include:
- Stilton
- Mild Cheddar
- Halloumi
- Buffalo Mozzarella
- Labneh
- Graceburn Cheese
- Cheez Whiz
Each is explained in more details below.
Best ways to substitute for old English cheese
Stilton
Stilton has the same sharp and creamy taste as old English cheese, though it is a little sweet. You can choose between two different types of Stilton: Blue or White. The blue has blue cheese veins and has a much stronger flavor, while the white is more comparable to a creamy cheddar.
This is a cheese with a ratio of 1:1 for blue, old English cheese to Stilton, and 1:2 for white.
Mild Cheddar
If you’re looking for a substitute for old English cheese in a recipe, mild cheddar is an excellent way to go. It isn’t as creamy or spreadable but still blends well and melts well. The flavor will be very similar, except mild cheddar isn’t as strong.
This cheese has a 1:3/2 ratio of old English cheese to mild cheddar.
Halloumi
This cheese is popular in Mediterranean dishes for its mildly salty flavor and firmer texture. You definitely won’t be spreading this on any crackers! However, it does have a more robust flavor similar to old English cheese – the difference being that Halloumi is made from buffalo or goat milk.
It isn’t easy to ratio because the textures are so different, but per volume, it’s most likely 1:3/2 of old English cheese to Halloumi.
Buffalo Mozzarella
It’s easy to overlook buffalo mozzarella because it’s just mozzarella . . . Right? Well, not really. This mozzarella has slightly more flavor than your cow’s milk variety and has a firmer and creamier texture. It’s great to slice up and put on crackers as a substitute for old English cheese.
The main difference is that old English cheese will still have more “zing” to it. If the idea of buffalo milk makes you nervous, regular mozzarella is highly similar – it just has less flavor than buffalo. This is a 1:1 ratio.
Labneh
Most of my friends didn’t know about this growing up, but it’s another common Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cheese. Labneh is for you if you’re looking for a salty, tangy, flavorful cheese. It comes in various forms and is used in cold salads, hot dishes, and even on crackers.
The most common type you’ll find in US stores is marinated labneh or seasoned labneh. The cheese is suspended in an olive oil and seasonings mixture to keep the cheese fresh. If you let this cheese sit out for about twenty minutes, it’ll spread like old English cheese (but is much saltier! A little goes a long way).
We recommend a 1:1/2 ratio of old English Cheese to Labneh until you’re familiar with the taste.
Graceburn Cheese
Graceburn is a company that specializes in marinated cheese. It’s a lot like feta or labneh but with a milder flavor and made with cow’s milk. It’s a great choice if you’re interested in trying labneh but aren’t ready for the whole experience. You would spread it the same or eat it as is.
Graceburn has a ratio of 1:¾ old English cheese to Graceburn.
Cheez Whiz
Alright, alright, hear us out! We know this can be a sensitive choice, but we’re standing by it. If you’re looking to duplicate the flavor of old English cheese or want an easily spreadable cracker cheese, Cheez Whiz is a great option.
We don’t recommend cooking with it, of course. This is purely for snacking on and is not a recipe substitute! There’s a manageable ratio of 1:1 on this cheese.
How to make your own old English cheese
A fantastic homemade version of old English cheese is blending some shredded sharp cheddar with softened cream cheese in a food processor. It’ll have the same texture and spreadability as the original. There are a lot of recipes out there and plenty of methods to try!
Final thoughts
Nothing can replace the tangy, sharp flavor of old English cheese on a cracker, but we hope these eight options have given you a great place to start. If there’s a cheese on the list you’ve never heard of, give it a try. You may just find out you love it!
