9 Muenster Cheese Substitutes

Edam cheese is a semi-hard cheese that is produced in a small Dutch town of the same name. Edam is most frequently sold pressed into a spherical shape, which makes it very easy to recognize in the shops.

Edam has a very mild flavor but is also more on the salty side of the spectrum. Even though it is a semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk, it is a great substitute for Muenster cheese since it has a very good melting ability.

Edam is a good substitute for Muenster cheese in baked recipes, various pasta fillings, grated or sliced into salads, or even incorporated into cheese sauces.

Havarti cheese is another of the popular store-bought cheeses that can match the creamy texture and mild taste of muenster cheese. Havarti is a semi-soft cheese and is frequently found in multiple varieties including herbed, or with hot pepper added.

Just like Edam, Havarti cheese is a great alternative to Muenster cheese in pasta dishes and grilled cheese recipes. It can be found in block form, wedges, and even in pre-packaged slices.

With an aging time of about 3 months, it does have a more noticeable taste than American muenster, so be aware of that if you plan to bake it to the point of browning.

Another signature American cheese, Monterey Jack cheese has a pale yellow appearance combined with a creamy texture, and a buttery aroma and taste. Monterey Jack is often found in both blocks for grating cheese, as well as slices for sandwiches.

It is harder than muenster, but because it melts wonderfully it can be a great muenster cheese substitute. It can melt so well, that it is often a choice for quesadillas, appetizer dishes, and baked recipes.

Gouda cheese is one of the most popular cheeses on the planet, and if you've had it before you probably have an idea why. It is made from cow's milk, is considered semi-hard, and is a very aromatic cheese with a lightly sweet flavor.

It's very dense and can be a challenge to grate, so it's best used in recipes where it can be cubed or sliced, then melted. Gouda cheeses are aged in three different stages, so if you're looking to use gouda as a muenster cheese alternative, be sure you're sticking with younger gouda.

Older gouda will be much firmer and will have a very tangy taste, with some also noting that it has a much more pungent aroma as it ages as well.

Provolone cheese is often pale yellow through white and has a relatively sharp flavor. Provolone is a very smooth and delightful cheese that first appeared in Italy. It is generally aged for anywhere between 2 months up to 2 years, which will determine the flavor profile and its suitability as a muenster cheese substitute.

Provolone is an ideal substitute for Muenster cheese good for nearly any baked recipe you can throw it in, as well as soups and sandwiches. Since provolone is semi-firm, it can also be grated with ease, enabling it to be used easily as a salad dressing or as a component for pasta dishes and fillings.

Port Salut is a cheese with a long history, going back more than 200 years, originating with the monks of the famous Notre Dame cathedral's Port-du-Salut abbey. It is made from pasteurized cow's milk and is considered a semi-soft cheese.

The flavor of Port Salut is savory, with a lighter flavor that is slightly sweet. If you are looking for a cheese to use in place of muenster in a bechamel or Mornay sauce, Port Salut would be a great substitute for muenster cheese.

Another very common cheese with a mild flavor is the Italian mozzarella cheese. It is a fresh, soft cheese that is made from cow's milk, not aged and has a delicate aroma of fresh cream.

When looking for a low-fat alternative to Muenster cheese with a very mild flavor, mozzarella is one of the best.

It can be found in large blocks, sliced, and shredded, and has a wide range of uses. It makes great tuna melts, melted on pizza, and added to pasta recipes like lasagna and ravioli filling.

Brick cheese is a great choice if you're specifically looking for an alternative to muenster that is good for melting. Brick cheese is another American-made cheese and comes in a very obvious brick-shaped form.

Brick cheese is another cheese that changes color and flavor as it ages. Younger brick cheese is generally white, while older brick becomes a pale yellow color. The flavor starts as a mild, sweet flavor, which becomes much more tangy and sharp as the cheese ages.

Tilsit cheese, also known as Tilsiter cheese, is a pale yellow cheese that is semi-hard and was created in the 19th century by the Prussians in what is now Switzerland. The interior of the cheese has cracks and irregular holes.

Tilsit is a great option for recipes that need sliced cheese, as the elastic texture slices very easily. Tilsit is known for having a more intense flavor than muenster and even Havarti, so it's perfect for recipes that call for muenster but need more punch.