Fresh cheese means cheeses made from fresh curds that have not been pressed or aged.
The curds are salted, mixed and may be stretched or shaped.
Because they have not aged, they have not developed rinds and have a uniform consistency throughout.
They have a high moisture content.
Typically, they are bright white and have a mild, lemony, milky tang.
Their texture feels wet and varies from creamy to grainy, to stringy to firm.
Some fresh cheeses are rolled in ash, wrapped in leaves or covered in herbs.
Examples of fresh cheeses are:
cottage cheese - USA
cream cheese - USA
ricotta - Italy
mascarpone - Italy
feta - Greece
mozzarella - Italy
halloumi - Cyprus
chèvre (fresh goats’ cheese) - France