Does Feta Melt?

We always assume that all cheese melts at least in some capacity. We enjoy melted cheese on pizzas, sandwiches, quesadillas, and a whole slew of other types of dishes as well.

There are so many different types of cheese out there and they are all different and unique in many ways.

Did you know that there are actually some cheeses that will not fully melt? Some cheeses don’t melt well, some cheeses melt really well, and some cheeses simply don’t melt at all!

You might even be surprised at the different types of cheese that really are not meant to melt as opposed to the melting gooeyness we are used to with some of the most common cheese options.

Does feta melt? Feta is actually one of those cheeses that really doesn’t melt. At least, it won’t melt like the cheese you use for your everyday cooking that melts quickly and easily. It does change when heat is applied but it doesn’t melt completely.

In this guide, we will walk you through the question of whether or not feta melts. We will talk about what it is that causes it to be different from melting cheeses.

You can find the details about what to expect if you try to melt it and even some really awesome uses that are great since it doesn’t really melt.

Keep reading to learn more about the melting details of feta cheese!

Does Feta Melt?

We can quickly answer that feta cheese doesn’t melt but there is far more to this question than just whether or not the cheese is going to melt.

While feta doesn’t really melt, it does respond to heat so it’s not going to just stay a hard, solid block (or crumbles) when you heat it up.

However, it takes quite a bit of heat to really affect the cheese so it’s important to know all of the little details.

Most cheese will melt down to an almost liquid nature. It won’t maintain its primary shape but rather just change to an oozing cheesy sauce almost. Feta is not quite like that.

The makeup of feta is very different from that of cheddar cheese or even something like mozzarella.

The short answer is that feta does not melt because it has a much higher acid content than a lot of other cheeses out there. The fact that it softens and gets just slightly gooey makes it very useful for things.

For example, you could use feta cheese with your grilled kabobs and not have to worry about a melted mess when you do.

The catch is that you might be able to slightly melt feta cheese in certain ways but it won’t actually melt like other cheese does.

Why Feta Cheese Doesn’t Melt

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So let’s dive into the details just a little bit more. We already established that feta cheese won’t really melt but why? I mean, it is cheese after all.

The reason that feta cheese doesn’t just melt into a puddle of cheesiness is because it has a high level of acidity in the cheese. Cheese that has a high acidic level will soften and might even get stringy.

Some other cheeses in this category that won’t just melt include cotija, ricotta, queso panela, paneer, and queso fresco.

The acidity levels in this cheese cause the calcium to dissolve. In the process, water from the cheese is evaporated and the proteins in the cheese actually harden in a sense.

The process leaches moisture out of the cheese so it won’t melt.

However, it will soften some for you. It will also primarily keep its shape, even though it might soften slightly.

There are some ways to encourage your feta cheese to melt slightly but they are not fool proof. They also may not make it melt completely so be aware of that.

Tips To Soften Or Melt Feta Cheese

If you really want your feta cheese to melt more than just that slight softening, you might be able to pair it with something that will help fight the conflict with the calcium and bring extra moisture to the cheese.

Both lemon juice and white wine might be able to help with this to soften the cheese.

Obviously, this could produce a different effect on the cheese but it does add that moisture and might make a significant difference.

One common method for melting feta cheese is to use a small serving of whole milk and crumble up the feta or use feta crumbles so it’s easier for it to melt.

In this case, it’s best to try to do it over a double broiler but some people also use the microwave.

This will become more of a sauce than just a melted cheese but it could be an option for you if you need melted feta.

One other option is to combine your feta cheese with a melting cheese.

The thing is, it still won’t really melt but if you crumble it up and mix it together while melting the other cheese, it will soften and mix together and give you a slightly melted effect.

The Benefits Of Feta Not Melting

So since you know that feta isn’t going to really melt for you, you should take advantage of it!

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Have you ever made a warm cheese dip that you could season and dip veggies, crackers, and more in? It’s amazing because it doesn’t just become a liquid cheese but rather just slightly softens for you.

This means you can do a lot of really great things that include heat but won’t liquefy your cheese while you’re at it.

We mentioned earlier that you can use feta cheese to add cheese to your favorite kabobs. This is so awesome if you love cheese!

You can also stuff chicken or pork chops with feta and it will actually stay in the meat and not just melt right out.

Thanks to feta cheese not actively melting, you can do so much more with it. While it won’t conform to some of the same things that other cheese does, it gives you different options.

You can use this cheese to bake delicious cheese balls or dips. You can also grill the cheese and that is something you definitely need to put on your list to try!

Finally, feta cheese is great to crumble up and use on salads or with your favorite Greek or Mediterranean dish as well. Feta is relatively healthy as far as cheese goes so you might as well enjoy what it has to offer.

Related Questions

We hope that this guide to understanding why feta cheese doesn’t melt is useful for you. While it won’t melt as some cheese does, it can be softened and it is extremely versatile.

There are so many things you can do with feta since it doesn’t melt outright.

We invite you to take a look at the following question and answer section for some additional details that could be helpful for you as well.

Will crumbled feta cheese melt in the oven?

The oven will not melt your feta cheese. However, if you used crumbles on top of or as part of a dish, it will make the crumbles soft and creamy rather than just a solid crumble.

It will also be nice and warm and easy to work with. But it won’t actually be melted. It’s like the perfect middle ground!

What other cheese doesn’t melt?

You can do some research and look for highly acidic cheeses or even semi-firm cheese for some good options.

Cheeses that won’t just melt include ricotta, halloumi, cotija, paneer, queso fresco, and queso panela.

Can you force feta to melt?

You can’t really force it to melt but you can coerce it to be more melted than normal. The best way to do this is to combine it with milk, lemon juice, or white wine.

These additions will make it more likely to melt more but it does take some work and stirring to get there. Keep in mind that this will change your feta cheese and will also affect the flavor.

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