Is salt in cheese bad for you?
Andrew Ramirez
Published Apr 09, 2026
Is salt in cheese bad for you?
The short answer – no. According to Food Standards, only 5 per cent of our salt intake comes from cheese, with other salty foods the likely culprit affecting heart health. But the study is cause for serious consideration – just how good is cheese for our heart health?
Is cheese full of salt?
Dairy Products Some dairy foods like cottage cheese, buttermilk, and processed cheeses can be high in salt. “Cheeses, especially processed cheese like American cheese, can contain up to 400 mg of sodium per ounce,” says Brennan.
How do you remove salt from cheese?
You can soak it overnight in a water, whey or milk solution. Just be sure to acidify the solution to the same pH as is your feta (4.8-5.2). If using water, add calcium chloride (1/4 tsp per quart).
How long soak salty cheese?
Half way through the brining process the cheese should be flipped and re-salted for an even brine. Cheese of different densities and shapes will require varying amounts of time in the brine. A general guide would be one hour per pound, per one inch thickness of cheese.
Why is feta salty?
It was originally produced using sheep’s milk, although now most commercial makers of feta use cow’s milk. Feta is stored and cultured in a whey brine, thus giving the cheese its distinctive salty taste.
Why is it important to use salt in cheese making?
Salt is important in a number of cheesemaking steps: it adds to the flavor of the cheese, it helps to dry the curds during draining by controlling moisture and causing the curds to shrink, it is essential in the development of a good rind, and will help to kill bacteria and other harmful growth when used as a brine.
How does salt affect the aqueous phase of cheese?
The preservative action of NaCl is due to its depressing effect on the water activity of the cheese. Moreover, salt increases the osmotic pressure of the aqueous phase of foods, causing dehydration of bacterial cells, killing them or, at least, preventing their growth.
What does it mean to make cheese with low sodium?
To some, “low-sodium” means “cheese-free.”. Salt, after all, plays a critical role in cheese making, preventing both quick bacteria growth and an overly acidic product.
Which is the saltiest cheese in the world?
The saltiest cheese varieties were the blue cheese Roquefort, with 1.06g of salt in a 30g portion, feta and halloumi. The cheese varieties with the lowest salt levels were mozzarella, emmental and wensleydale. Within cheese varieties there was also a large variation in salt content between products. How salty?
What cheeses have low salt?
Try These Low-Sodium Cheeses. Varieties like Swiss, Monterey Jack, ricotta, and Port de Salut are naturally low in sodium. There are also lower sodium varieties of Colby-Jack, provolone, Muenster, mozzarella and Cheddar on the market.
Is there any cheese without salt?
Mozzarella and Ricotta are two cheeses that do not require salt. All of the soft cheeses may be made without salt. Salt is added to these simply for flavor. The hard cheeses and mold-ripened cheeses do require salt. Salt is used in cheese making, not just for flavor,…
Which cheese has the lowest sodium?
Wensleydale, Emmental, mozzarella, cream cheese, and cottage cheese were found to be the lowest-sodium cheeses in the current study. And while the study didn’t examine them, Swiss, Monterey Jack, ricotta, and Parmesan are also good low-sodium options, says Ficek.
Is cheese low in Salt?
Cheese low in sodium. If you are looking for cheese with low salt levels there is a reason why there are not that many cheese labels that specifically say “low sodium”. Turns out, cheese can be naturally quite low in sodium. Swiss cheese is among the most popular flavors that are known for this quality.