Edam Cheese Substitutes

Edam cheese is a popular semi-hard cheese known for its mild, slightly sweet and nutty flavor.

Originally from the Netherlands, it has a pale yellow interior and is coated with red paraffin wax.

Edam is a versatile ingredient used in many dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches, pasta, baked potatoes, hamburgers and more.

However, you may sometimes need a substitute if you can't find edam cheese or want a more budget-friendly option.

Fortunately, there are several excellent substitutes for edam cheese that can match its flavor and texture.

Here are the best alternatives to use:

Gouda Cheese

Gouda is arguably the closest match and one of the best substitutes for edam cheese. Like edam, gouda is a Dutch cheese made from cow's milk and has a similar pale yellow interior.

Young gouda is soft and mild with a slightly sweet, nutty flavor reminiscent of edam. Aged gouda becomes more intense, developing a sharp, rich caramel flavor and crystalline crunch.

Both young and aged gouda have excellent melting abilities, making them suitable for sandwiches, soups, pasta and baked dishes calling for edam. The similar salty-sweet flavor profile also allows gouda to seamlessly stand in for edam.

Cheddar Cheese

Cheddar is a popular semi-hard cow's milk cheese from England. Mild cheddar has a similar firm yet smooth texture and works well as an edam substitute.

The taste differs somewhat with cheddar being tangier and sharper when aged. However, mild cheddar has a comparably sweet, nutty flavor with salty hints. It also melts smoothly like edam.

For recipes wanting the mildest option, a young, pale yellow cheddar is best. A more aged, sharper white or orange cheddar can be used when a punchier flavor is desired.

Emmental Cheese

Emmental is a good substitute with its distinctively mild, nutty Swiss cheese taste. It has a pale yellow interior dotted with holes from the aging process.

While emmental is slightly firmer than edam, it has a similar sweetness paired with fruity, grassy nuances. It also melts well and won’t overpower other ingredients when substituted for edam.

Emmental adds great flavor to fondues, sandwiches, omelets and salads in place of edam. Its versatility and compatibility make it an easy swap.

Gruyère Cheese

Gruyère is another high-quality Swiss cheese that works for edam. It has a dense, compact texture rather than being especially soft.

When young, gruyère is sweet with a fruity, mild nuttiness like edam. Aged gruyère becomes more intense with prominent roasted, earthy flavors and slight crystallization.

Gruyère has excellent melting properties and a taste that complements other ingredients without dominating. This versatility allows it to effortlessly stand in for edam in fondues, croque monsieurs and numerous baked dishes.

Key Takeaway: Similar Swiss cheeses like emmental and gruyère make excellent edam substitutes with their nutty sweetness and melting abilities.

Fontina Cheese

Fontina cheese originated in the Italian Alps and has PDO status when made in that region. It contains a high butterfat content for a rich, creamy texture when young.

Young fontina is mildly nutty with an herbal, woody aroma. Aged versions develop more intense nuttiness and sweetness, becoming hard and grating well like parmesan. The buttery, umami flavors make fontina a tasty substitute for edam, especially in baked pasta dishes.

Just note that authentic Italian fontina has a bolder, more pungent flavor. Opt for milder Danish or American-made fontina to better match edam’s subtle flavor.

Havarti Cheese

Buttery, smooth havarti is another good option in place of edam, especially when wanting something extremely mild. This semi-soft Danish cheese has a subtle, delicate flavor profile.

It tastes mildly tangy and sweet with a hint of acidity. The creamy, supple texture also resembles edam, allowing it to melt smoothly. Havarti works when desiring an ultra-mild cheese that children enjoy without a complex flavor.

Edam-Style Cheeses

Finally, several cheeses directly emulate edam’s style and flavor. These “edam-style” Goudas accurately recreate textures and tastes associated with traditional edam.

Examples include Leyden from the Netherlands and Amsterdam from Argentina. These copycat cheeses aim to mimic edam as closely as possible, making them seamless substitutes.

Key Takeaway: Fellow melty Dutch cheeses like Gouda along with similar semi-soft Swiss styles nicely stand in for edam’s sweet nuttiness. Mild cheddar also works well.

Now that you know the top replacements for edam in recipes, you can confidently use them instead when needed or desired. With similar textures, meltability, and delicate sweet flavors, these cheeses make fantastic substitutes in sandwiches, baked dishes, charcuterie and cheese boards and more.

So next time a recipe calls for edam but you don’t have it on hand, try using the same amount of creamy gouda, nutty emmental or mild cheddar instead. Your dish will turn out just as delicious.

FAQs

What’s a good vegetarian substitute for edam?

Choose a vegetarian-safe Swiss cheese like emmental or gruyère. Even without animal rennet, they recreate edam's sweet nuttiness. Aged gouda and fontina also work well.

Is gouda a good substitute in mac and cheese?

Yes! Gouda is one of the best edam swaps for mac and cheese thanks to its similar creamy texture, meltability and lightly nutty flavor.

Can I replace edam with mozzarella?

You can substitute some mozzarella for edam in baked dishes or sandwiches wanting a nice melt. Choose fresh mozzarella for the mildest flavor closest to edam.

What cheese equals edam?

Gouda shares the most similarities being a Dutch cheese with comparable salty-sweet flavors. Mild Swiss cheeses like emmental and gruyère also have a similar vibe. Young cheddar works too.

Is Monterey Jack a good substitute?

Monterey Jack can sometimes work as its often mildly nutty and melty like edam. But flavor and texture differences vary quite a bit between manufacturers.

Conclusion

Edam cheese is appreciated worldwide for its pale yellow interior, subtle sweetness and versatile melting abilities. Fortunately, finding an edam cheese substitute for your recipe isn’t difficult thanks to several solid options.

Whether you prefer another Dutch cheese like creamy gouda, subtly nutty Swiss styles or mild cheddar, these all make fantastic substitutes. Their similarities in rich yet delicate flavor and texture profiles allow them to effortlessly stand-in when edam cheese is unavailable or undesirable.