Cheese vs. Yogurt — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 18, 2024
Cheese is a solid dairy product produced by curdling milk with enzymes, offering a rich, diverse range of textures and flavors; yogurt is a creamy, fermented dairy product with a smooth texture and slightly tart taste.
Difference Between Cheese and Yogurt
Table of Contents
ADVERTISEMENT
Key Differences
Cheese is made by curdling milk using enzymes or acids, then aging it to develop flavor and texture, resulting in varieties from soft to hard. Yogurt, on the other hand, is produced by fermenting milk with specific bacteria, leading to its characteristic tangy flavor and creamy consistency.
While cheese often has a distinct, sometimes sharp taste depending on the aging process, yogurt maintains a consistent tartness influenced by the type of bacteria used in its fermentation.
Cheese is typically used in cooking, as a snack, or within sandwiches, while yogurt is often consumed as a dessert, a breakfast staple, or used in smoothies.
Cheese contains higher amounts of fat and protein per serving, which contributes to its dense, rich texture. In contrast, yogurt usually has a higher water content, making it lighter and more hydrating.
Cheese's versatility is evident in its various forms such as sliced, shredded, or melted, whereas yogurt is generally enjoyed in its original form or blended with fruits and sweeteners.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Production Method
Curdled with enzymes or acids
Fermented with specific bacteria
Texture
Ranges from soft to hard
Generally creamy and smooth
Flavor
Can be mild to very sharp
Consistently tart
Common Uses
Cooking, snacks, sandwiches
Desserts, breakfasts, smoothies
Nutritional Content
Higher in fat and protein
Higher in water, lighter
Compare with Definitions
Cheese
A type of cheese that has been stored to develop flavor and texture.
Cheddar is a popular aged cheese known for its sharp flavor.
Yogurt
Unsweetened, unflavored yogurt, often used as a base in recipes or sauces.
Plain yogurt can be mixed with herbs to make a refreshing dip.
Cheese
Densely textured cheese, often grated or sliced thin.
Parmesan is used in dishes like pasta for its salty, umami flavor.
Yogurt
Strained yogurt that is thick and creamy with a higher protein content.
Greek yogurt is often used in smoothies for a protein boost.
Cheese
Cheese with a creamy and soft texture.
Brie is a soft cheese that melts beautifully over warm bread.
Yogurt
Yogurt that has been sweetened and flavored with elements like fruit or vanilla.
Strawberry yogurt is a popular snack among children.
Cheese
Cheese that has been emulsified and cooked for uniform melting and flavor.
American cheese is a common choice for burgers.
Yogurt
Yogurt made from non-dairy milks such as almond or coconut.
Coconut yogurt is a great vegan alternative to traditional dairy yogurt.
Cheese
Cheese that contains blue or green mold, giving it a distinctive appearance and taste.
Blue cheese is often crumbled over salads.
Yogurt
Yogurt that is thin enough to drink, often available in various flavors.
Drinkable yogurt is a convenient on-the-go breakfast option.
Cheese
Cheese is a dairy product, derived from milk and produced in wide ranges of flavors, textures and forms by coagulation of the milk protein casein. It comprises proteins and fat from milk, usually the milk of cows, buffalo, goats, or sheep.
Yogurt
Yogurt (UK: ; US: , from Turkish: yoğurt) also spelled yoghurt, yogourt or yoghourt, is a food produced by bacterial fermentation of milk. The bacteria used to make yogurt are known as yogurt cultures.
Cheese
A solid food prepared from the pressed curd of milk, often seasoned and aged.
Yogurt
A semi-solid sourish food prepared from milk fermented by added bacteria, often sweetened and flavoured
Low-fat yogurt
Frozen yogurts
Cheese
A molded mass of this substance.
Yogurt
A custardlike food with a tart flavor, prepared from milk curdled by bacteria, especially Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, and often sweetened or flavored.
Cheese
Something resembling this substance in shape or consistency.
Yogurt
A milk-based product stiffened by a bacterium-aided curdling process, and sometimes mixed with fruit or other flavoring.
Cheese
An important person.
Yogurt
Any similar product based on other substances (e.g. soy yogurt).
Cheese
To stop.
Yogurt
A custard-like food made from curdled milk
Cheese
(uncountable) A dairy product made from curdled or cultured milk.
Cheese
(countable) Any particular variety of cheese.
Cheese
(countable) A piece of cheese, especially one moulded into a large round shape during manufacture.
Cheese
A thick variety of jam (fruit preserve), as distinguished from a thinner variety (sometimes called jelly)
Cheese
A substance resembling cream cheese, such as lemon cheese
Cheese
That which is melodramatic, overly emotional, or cliché, i.e. cheesy.
Cheese
Money.
Cheese
In skittles, the roughly ovoid object that is thrown to knock down the skittles.
Cheese
A fastball.
Cheese
A dangerous mixture of black tar heroin and crushed Tylenol PM tablets. The resulting powder resembles grated cheese and is snorted.
Cheese
Smegma.
Cheese
(technology) Holed pattern of circuitry to decrease pattern density.
Cheese
A mass of pomace, or ground apples, pressed together in the shape of a cheese.
Cheese
The flat, circular, mucilaginous fruit of the dwarf mallow (Malva rotundifolia) or marshmallow (Althaea officinalis).
Cheese
A low curtsey; so called on account of the cheese shape assumed by a woman's dress when she stoops after extending the skirts by a rapid gyration.
Cheese
(slang) Wealth, fame, excellence, importance.
Cheese
The correct thing, of excellent quality; the ticket.
These cheroots are the real cheese.
Cheese
To prepare curds for making cheese.
Cheese
(technology) To make holes in a pattern of circuitry to decrease pattern density.
Cheese
(slang) To smile excessively, as for a camera.
Cheese
(slang) To stop; to refrain from.
Cheese it! The cops!
Cheese your patter! (= stop talking, shut up)
Cheese
(slang) To anger or irritate someone, usually in combination with "off".
All this waiting around is really cheesing me off.
Cheese
To use a controversial or unsporting tactic to gain an advantage (especially in a game.)
You can cheese most of the game using certain exploits.
Cheese
To use an unconventional, all-in strategy to take one's opponent by surprise early in the game (especially for real-time strategy games).
Cheese
(photography) Said while being photographed, to give the impression of smiling.
Say "cheese"! ... and there we are!
Cheese
The curd of milk, coagulated usually with rennet, separated from the whey, and pressed into a solid mass in a hoop or mold.
Cheese
A mass of pomace, or ground apples, pressed together in the form of a cheese.
Cheese
The flat, circular, mucilaginous fruit of the dwarf mallow (Malva rotundifolia).
Cheese
A low courtesy; - so called on account of the cheese form assumed by a woman's dress when she stoops after extending the skirts by a rapid gyration.
Cheese
A solid food prepared from the pressed curd of milk
Cheese
Erect or decumbent Old World perennial with axillary clusters of rosy-purple flowers; introduced in United States
Cheese
Used in the imperative (get away, or stop it);
Cheese it!
Cheese
Wind onto a cheese;
Cheese the yarn
Common Curiosities
What is the primary difference in the production of cheese vs. yogurt?
Cheese is produced by curdling milk, whereas yogurt is made by fermenting milk with bacteria.
Is cheese or yogurt better for a high-protein diet?
Cheese typically has more protein per serving, especially in forms like Parmesan.
Which has a richer texture, cheese or yogurt?
Cheese generally has a richer texture due to higher fat and protein content.
Are there any health benefits specific to yogurt?
Yogurt contains probiotics, beneficial for digestive health.
What is a common feature of all yogurts?
All yogurts share a characteristic tart flavor due to fermentation.
Can lactose-intolerant individuals consume cheese and yogurt?
Some cheeses, particularly aged ones, and certain yogurts with live cultures may be tolerable.
Why might someone choose Greek yogurt over regular yogurt?
For its thicker texture and higher protein content.
Can both cheese and yogurt be used in cooking?
Yes, both can be used in cooking, but cheese is more versatile in applications like melting.
How does the aging process affect cheese?
Aging can enhance the flavor and change the texture of cheese, making it sharper and harder.
What are some common uses of yogurt in meals?
Yogurt is commonly used in breakfasts, desserts, and as a base for smoothies.
What roles do enzymes play in cheese production?
Enzymes help coagulate the milk, forming curds that become cheese.
How does the water content in yogurt affect its texture?
Higher water content makes yogurt smoother and more hydrating than cheese.
What are popular types of cheese for cooking?
Mozzarella and cheddar are popular due to their melting properties.
How are blue cheese and plain yogurt different in taste?
Blue cheese is distinctly sharp and moldy, while plain yogurt is mild and tangy.
What is the calorie content comparison between cheese and yogurt?
Cheese generally has more calories due to higher fat content.
Share Your Discovery
Previous Comparison
Exempted vs. Exempt
Next Comparison
Dandy vs. GoodAuthor Spotlight
Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
