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Raw-Milk Cheese

Cheese Made With Unpasteurized Milk

By Jennifer Meier, About.com

Constant Bliss, raw cows' milk

Photo by Jennifer Meier
Raw-milk cheese is made with milk that is unpasteurized. Since 1949, the US government has forbidden the sale of cheeses made from unpasteurized milk unless the cheese is aged at least 60 days. The 60-day ban is meant to protect consumers from potentially harmful pathogens. After 60 days, the acids and salts in raw-milk cheese naturally prevent listeria, salmonella, and E. coli from growing.

Some cheesemakers believe that using raw milk creates more flavorful and more healthful cheeses. Many cheesemakers believe there is no reason to be fearful of raw-milk and no reason to wait 60 days to eat cheese made from it.

Below are some, but by no means all, raw-milk cheeses found frequently in cheese stores across the country. Many domestic cheesemakers are making raw-milk cheeses that are not listed here, simply because they do not have wide distribution and are difficult to find outside the local area where they are made. There are also many imported soft cheeses that are not on the list below, although they are traditionally made with raw milk. This is because these cheeses are aged less than 60 days, and so when sold in the U.S. are always pasteurized versions (Brie, Camembert, Reblochon, Epoisses, and Chèvre are a few). Some of the imported cheeses listed (like Manchego, Gruyere and Fontina) are also sold in pasteurized versions. When buying cheese, either ask the salesperson to point out some raw-milk cheeses, or check the list of ingredients on wrapped cheeses. If milk is simply listed as "milk" this means it is pasteurized. If the milk is unpasteurized, it should be clearly listed as such on the label.

Raw Milk Blue cheeses

Great Hill Blue , Bartlett Blue, Bayley Hazen Blue, Maytag Blue, Rogue Creamery Blues, Pt. Reyes Blue, Beenleigh Blue, Harbourne Blue, Blue de Gex, Fourme d'ambert, Blue de Causses, Blue de Auvergne, Roquefort, Cabrales

Raw Milk Washed Rind Cheeses

Big Bang, Grayson, Winnimere, Morbier, Raclette, Tete de Moine, Gabietou

Raw Milk Bloomy Rind and Soft Cheeses

Juniper Grove Bouche, Constant Bliss, St. Nectaire, Torta del Casar,Serra da Estrella

Raw Milk Semi-hard and Hard Cheeses

Silver Mountain, Sally Jackson cheeses, Beecher's Flagship Reserve, Trade Lake Cedar, Vermont Shepherd, Grafton Cloth-bound Cheddar, Bravo Cheddar, Pepato, San Andreas, Vella Dry Jack, Ouray, Pleasant Ridge Reserve, Tarentais, Berkswell,most English Cheddars, Cheshire, Spenwood,Caerphilly, Beaufort, Comte, Tomme de Savoie, Abbaye de Belloc,Fontina, Gruyere, Appenzeller, Asiago, Bra, Parmigiano-Reggiano, many Pecorinos, Azeitao, Manchego, Idiazabal,Evora, Zamarano, Ibores, Val Bagner, Prattigauer, Hoch Ybrig, Appenzeller

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