Cream Cheese -v- Cheese Spread

PasturesNew

I went out today intending to buy cream cheese. Upon arriving at Lidl I saw a package that said clearly on the front "cream cheese". The shelf tag/price said "cheese spread".

I bought it anyway ...... its intended use is to make a cheese quiche.

Is there any significant difference between the two?

Given unlimited funds and a laissez faire attitude towards money, I'd have gone to a main shop and bought that branded Philadelphia.

To date my only experience of cream cheese/variants has been to buy dairylea triangles. My only experience of buying cheese has been blocks of mature cheddar. So I've no knowledge/experience of stuff between those two.

Is cream cheese, cheese spread? Is Dairylea like Philadelphia? Are they the same/interchangeable?

Any info/thoughts/etc appreciated.

Chris25

I think, in the past, I've bought a round tub of what was labelled cream cheese, only to find it's what I would call cheese spread - like dairylea. I couldn't have used it for a cheesecake (what I wanted it for) but I suppose I could have used it in a quiche.

Cream cheese is much milder than cheese spread and has a thicker texture.

The one I bought before may also have come from Lidl & that's possibly why it was different from what I thought it would be but sounds similar to what you have bought.

I usually buy supermarket's own cream cheese unless Philly is on offer -but then the supermarkets often have offers too.

Cheese spread is good on crackers though

peachyprice

Cream cheese (philadelphia) ingredients will be cheese and very little else, cheese spread (Dairylea) will have all sorts of emulsifiers, flavours, thickeners etc., added.

Jacksmummy

I was always led to believe that cheese spread and soft cream cheese were totally different

I always use soft cheese in my hm cheese cakes, Its a white watery soft cheese... my dh calls this cream cheese??? I don't think the cheesecakes would taste as nice if dairy lea was used in place of soft cheese.

I shall be watching this thread as I too am quiet confused now lol

savingqueen

We get through tons of cream cheese (Aldi version of Philly in rectangular plastic tubs) as my kids love it. Once it is opened it has a limited fridge shelf life (think pack says 3 days but ours keeps fine for longer). Can use it added to cooked pasta as a very quick and simple "sauce" and I have added it to a homemade cheese sauce to use it up/thicken the sauce a bit.


Cheese spread to me is the yellow stuff that comes in triangles, circular tubs or even tubes and is heavily processed. Kids have cheese triangles once in a while for a treat but no more.

Steve059

Another vote for cream cheese = Philadelphia, cheese spread = Dariylea. Other brands are available.

If anyone needs to use up a tub of cheese spread, mix it with a similar sized tub of single cream to make a cheese dip.

maman

Steve059 wrote: »

If anyone needs to use up a tub of cheese spread, mix it with a similar sized tub of single cream to make a cheese dip.

Or use in savoury sandwiches (e.g. ham or salad) instead of spread or butter.

PasturesNew

I just looked, it's called Goldessa, Cream Cheese with Herbs.

I can't google an image of the pack, it's 200g and the ingredients say "Full fat soft cheese with herbs. Added ingredients Salt, dried herbs, spices, dried onion, dried garlic, thickeners, locust bean gum, carageeran,

Sounds like it might do the job .... but doesn't really answer the main question of what's the difference....

shearnejohn

Cream cheese or cheese spread best for chelestrial & Diabetes 

-taff

I wouldn't cook with a cheese spread. It;ll just go to liquid. Cream cheese is completely different. You wouldnt make a cheesecake with cheese spread, but you would with cream cheese.

Apintplease

-taff said:

I wouldn't cook with a cheese spread. It;ll just go to liquid. Cream cheese is completely different. You wouldnt make a cheesecake with cheese spread, but you would with cream cheese.

I actually use dairy lea ( or should I say the Lidl looky likey ) as a base for a chillie cheese sauce for pasta  - it works really well

But for cheesecakes - its cream cheese - philly and the likes