Farmer’s cheese has to be one of the most popular food items in the history of mankind. Its taste and smell are what everyone craves. In fact, this ingredient is one of the most uncomplicated kinds of dairy products to make in your kitchen. It is very similar to one of the popular kinds in the Indian subcontinent known as paneer. Due to their similarities, people often create the paneer vs farmers cheese debate.
You may think that paneer and farmer’s cheese are the same thing. But, Are they? Let’s find out in this article. Before we get into it, let us know about the food item we are dealing with.
What is Farmer’s Cheese?
Farmer’s cheese has cemented its place as a vital ingredient in cooking. As a matter of fact, it is enormously produced in Middle Eastern and European countries.
It is a type of fresh cheese that you can consume immediately after it’s made. Almost every producer uses cow’s milk, goat’s milk, or sheep’s milk to produce this dairy product.
As you may have noticed, this cheesy ingredient has a crumbly and soft texture. You can easily slice through it and make a spread. It is a vital ingredient in popular food items such as blintzes, a few sandwich spreads, smoked meat, pierogi, ravioli, lasagna, etc.
Is Farmer Cheese The Same As Paneer?
Paneer, also known as Indian cheese, is a popular ingredient used to make Indian cuisine and helps give them a creamy texture. In fact, it is one of the simplest cheeses to make at home. In many western countries, it is also referred to as dry cottage cheese.
Like farmer cheese and ricotta, it also has a lovely texture. There’s no doubt that paneer is similar to all other fresh cheeses, including the farmers’ one. It is because the procedure to make these dairy products are almost identical. However, this production process is also the reason for the paneer vs farmers cheese comparison.
What Is The Difference Between Paneer And Farmer’s Cheese?
To make you understand the vital difference between paneer and farmer’s cheese, we have done a breakdown of both the ingredients in detail below:
Production Process
The key point in distinguishing between two ingredients is by looking at their preparation process. Therefore, let’s look at farmer’s cheese and Indian cottage cheese one by one.
Farmer’s Cheese
The production process of cheese is quite simple. You will require some pasteurized whole milk, white or balsamic vinegar, and salt to produce it. Remember that this dairy product only utilizes animal-derived milk for its production.
The process requires you to slowly boil the milk. However, make sure that it doesn’t pass the 190-195 degrees Fahrenheit mark. Once foamy bubbles appear, add white vinegar into the mix for acidification. It will help provide the dairy product with its unique texture and taste. For further directions, you can check this:
When it is produced, it undergoes an emulsification process. It will help the dairy product last for a longer time. You can store it in the freezer for around 6 months, making its life span longer than paneer.
Paneer
Its production is almost identical to farmer’s cheese. But this dairy product has to be heated above 200 degrees Fahrenheit to attain its crumbly texture.
When the paneer’s temperature crosses above this point, you need to add an acidic substance like lemon juice or vinegar to get curdled milk. Here’s how to make paneer in an instant pot, or you can refer to this video:
During its process, the paneer does not go under the emulsification process. If not consumed within a specific time frame, usually 3 days, it can become uneatable. Therefore, it is a highly perishable product.
Calories
Contrary to other types, farmer’s cheese is a low-calorie dense food. This aspect provides it an edge over the paneer vs farmers cheese comparison. For every 28 grams (1 Oz), you will consume just 37 calories. However, it contains less protein than paneer as it will give you only 3.7g of protein for the same consumption amount.
When we try to compare the nutritional value of paneer to farmer’s cheese, there is a big difference. You will consume as high as 91 calories for every 28 grams (1 Oz) of the Indian paneer.
Furthermore, it is more suitable than the latter for muscle building as it gives 7.3g of proteins. However, you can go for other calorie-dense varieties of this dairy product if your primary goal is to gain weight and build muscle.
Health Benefits
You may get confused ascertaining which is a healthier option from paneer vs farmers cheese. Therefore, you need to know the health benefits of both kinds of cheese before making any decision. You can also refer to “Is paneer safe during pregnancy?” for details.
Farmer’s Cheese
Traditionally, this type of cheese has probiotics that are beneficial for your digestive system and improves overall immunity. However, remember that not all farmer’s cheese contains probiotics. This is because cheese can be of prominent two types: Curd cheese and Acid-set cheese. Curd cheese usually has probiotics, whereas acidic cheese does not.
Furthermore, it is a prominent source of calcium. Since farmer’s cheese contains an ample amount of calcium, it is helpful in keeping bones healthy and strong. Just consuming 1 ounce of this soft cheese will ensure about 200 milligrams of calcium. If you want to feel a gluten-free diet, this white cheese will fit into that as well.
Paneer
Similarly, this form of cottage cheese also contains calcium in abundance. Additionally, it contains a sufficient amount of Vitamin D, which helps in reducing the risk of cancer and strengthens your skeletal system.
Diabetes is one of the biggest health problems that many people suffer from. Sometimes, patients are given strict diet charts to keep them healthy. Since paneer contains magnesium that helps control blood sugar levels, it finds its way into the diet plan.
Like farmer’s cheese, it also helps build a strong immune system. Therefore, it is effective in protecting you from various diseases.
Popularity
You may wonder which of these two cheese types is more popular. Well, we feel that cottage cheese is a bit more popular than farmer’s cheese. If we consider India, you would rarely find households using farmer’s cheese. Conversely, Indian cottage cheese is used extensively in households, especially during festivals.
However, in western countries, you will notice a change in trend. It is widely used in preparing the fillings of blintzes and pierogies or as a foundation due to its soft texture. Conversely, cottage cheese has a crumbly texture. That is why it is not so widely used to make sandwiches.
Can I substitute farmer cheese for paneer?
The answer is yes. You can use it as an alternative. But make sure to consider the nutritional values and other factors mentioned above before making any decision.
Finding the Alternatives
If you are not able to choose a side in paneer vs farmer’s cheese, you may want to look for their alternatives. Another scenario could be that you are facing a shortage of these dairy products or may want to switch things up.
Therefore, here are the top substitutes for farmer’s cheese and homemade paneer from the Indian subcontinent: Goat Cheese, Ricotta (Read more: Ricotta Cheese vs Paneer), Queso Blanco (also known as Mexican cheese), Havarti, Creamed Cottage, Quark (For more details, you can refer to Quark vs paneer), Queso Fresco, etc.
