White Cheese

What Is White Cheese (Beyaz Peynir)?

White cheese is a type of cheese made from cow, sheep, goat milk, or a mixture of these, curdled and then matured in brine. It is produced in nearly every region of Turkey and is one of the staple components of the breakfast table.

It is classified by fat content as full-fat, half-fat, and light; depending on the milk source and ripening time, its texture can range from soft to firm and its taste from mild to sharp.

Nutritional Values of White Cheese

While the exact values vary by brand and fat ratio, white cheese contains, similar to comparable brined cheeses, about 264 kcal of energy and 14.2 g of protein per 100 g. It is rich in calcium, but because of the brining process, its sodium (salt) content is also high.

What Are the Benefits of White Cheese?

With its protein and calcium content, white cheese stands out as a dairy product that is part of a balanced diet. There is a broad body of literature on calcium's role in bone health.

This information is general; white cheese is a food, not a substitute for medical treatment. Because of its high salt content, those monitoring blood pressure are advised to pay attention to portion size.

How to Choose White Cheese?

Fresh white cheese should have a clear brine and a mildly sour-milky smell.

• There should be no yellowing, mold, or ammonia smell on the surface.
• Its texture should be whole enough not to fall apart in the hand, not overly dried out or watery.
• Check the production and expiration date on the label, as well as the fat ratio.

How to Store White Cheese?

White cheese can be stored in its own brine in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks; the brine both preserves freshness and maintains salt balance. An opened package should be stored in an airtight container, preferably with a little added brine.

Using White Cheese in the Kitchen

White cheese is mostly eaten raw, sliced or cubed, at the breakfast table; it is also used as an ingredient in börek filling, salads, and oven recipes. Because of its high salt content, it is recommended to taste before adding extra salt when including it in a recipe.

How Is Cheese Börek Made?

Crumbled white cheese is mixed with parsley and, optionally, egg, then wrapped in phyllo sheets and baked in the oven or cooked in a pan to prepare cheese börek.

How Is the Saltiness of White Cheese Reduced?

Cheese slices can have some of their excess salt removed by soaking them in milk or water for a few hours or overnight; this method is especially preferred for very salty cheese.

Which Recipes Use White Cheese?

Cheese börek, cheese-filled mantı, shepherd's salad, and cheese omelet are among the most loved uses. On breakfast plates it forms a classic trio with olives and tomato.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is white cheese good for?

White cheese is a dairy product rich in protein and calcium, and stands out as part of a balanced diet. It does not claim to cure any disease.

Should open or sealed-package white cheese be preferred?

Sealed-package products can be a more reliable choice since production conditions and expiration date are clear; if buying open cheese, reliable, hygienic points of sale should be preferred.

What do white cheese's fat ratios mean?

The fat ratio is determined by the fat content of the milk used to make the cheese; full-fat is creamier and richer, while light/half-fat is lighter and lower in calories.

Can white cheese be frozen?

Freezing is not recommended, as it can make the texture crumbly and cause water loss; white cheese gives the best results when stored in the refrigerator in its brine.

Are Ezine cheese and white cheese the same?

Ezine cheese is a geographically protected special type of white cheese produced in a specific region from a mixture of sheep, goat, and cow milk; it is essentially a registered sub-variety of the general "white cheese" category.