16 Best Cooper Cheese Substitutes

The best substitute for Cooper cheese is actually a combination of two cheeses: white cheddar and parmesan. The taste of these two cheeses in combination closely approximates the taste of Cooper cheese, which is known for its mild flavor.

As a cheese lover, it’s hard to resist the urge to just go all in when you see a big block of Cooper staring up at you.

But unfortunately, sometimes your budget doesn’t allow for the luxury of buying any cheese at all.

Thankfully, there are plenty of other cheeses that can give you that same nutty, salty flavor—and they won’t break the bank.

In this article, we’ll go over 16 Cooper cheese substitutes that will satisfy your cravings and keep your wallet happy!

16 Best Cooper Cheese Substitutes

Cooper cheese is pretty hard to find and darn expensive.

Lucky for you, we’ve done the work to find the three best cooper cheese substitutes out there!

These cheeses are all similar in texture, flavor, taste, and price.

We’ve also made sure they’re readily available at most major supermarkets.

1. Gouda

Gouda is a versatile cheese with a mild flavor and smooth texture that melts easily into whatever you’re cooking.

It’s also more affordable than Cooper, which means you can use it in more recipes without having to fork over too much money.

2. Parmiggiano-Reggiano (or Parmesan)

This famous Italian hard cheese is another great option for a Cooper substitute.

It has a similar texture to Cooper but more complex flavors, which makes it a good choice if you’re looking to add some extra flavor to your dish.

Parmesan is also easy to find in most grocery stores, making it more accessible than Cooper if you live outside of England.

3. Sbrinz

Sbrinz is a hard cow’s milk cheese from Switzerland with an intense flavor and a firm texture that pairs well with fruit.

It’s also very easy on the wallet compared with other options like parmesan or cooper (though not as easy as Cooper).

4. Havarti

This Danish semi-soft cow’s milk cheese is creamy and soft—a bit like Cooper cheese—but it’s also slightly sweet, which makes it a fun addition to plain dishes like grilled cheese sandwiches or pasta.

5. Bel Paese

A mild Italian cow’s milk cheese that melts easily, Bel Paese has a softer texture than Cooper cheese but is still similar enough in flavor that you can use it to replace Cooper without noticing much of a difference.

6. Fontina

Like Cooper cheese, this Italian cow’s milk cheese has a nutty flavor and velvety-smooth texture that makes it ideal for melting on top of casseroles or slicing up for sandwiches.

7. Mozzarella

A common substitute for Cooper cheese is mozzarella, which is made from buffalo or cow’s milk.

Mozzarella offers similar levels of creaminess, but has a more subtle flavor than Cooper cheese.

Mozzarella is often more cost-effective than Cooper cheese due to its popularity and the ease of production.

8. Cheddar

This is an obvious one: it’s so similar to cooper cheese that we’d argue they’re interchangeable in many ways.

You can find it pretty much anywhere—seriously, everywhere from Walmart to your local grocery store probably carries it. It’s also relatively cheap for its quality.

The only real downside is that depending on what type of cooper cheese you usually use, cheddar might be too sharp or tangy for your recipe (though this is less of a concern if you’re using the yellow kind).

9. Feta

Feta has a very different flavor from cooper cheese—it’s salty, sharp, and tangy; but if that’s what you like about cooper cheese (or if you’re looking for something different), feta makes a great substitute because of its crumbly texture and addicting flavor!

If you want something that’s more like your favorite creamy dairy product but still different enough not to be just another version of goat milk cheese on toast with olive oil drizzled over it then feta might just do the trick!

10. Provolone

Provolone is an Italian mellow cheese that’s close to Cooper’s in terms of taste and texture.

It also has a mild flavor and is available at most grocery stores, but it differs from Cooper in that it has a slightly sharper taste that pairs well with sandwiches and other savory dishes.

It’s available in both shredded and solid varieties, but if you’re looking for something with a more intense flavor, consider getting the solid variety.

11. Edam

Edam is another type of Dutch cheese that is similar to cooper cheese in many ways.

It has a sweet, slightly tangy flavor; it’s also fairly firm and melts well.

The one downside to edam is that it doesn’t have the same salty, nutty taste as cooper cheese, and it’s a bit more expensive on average—but if you’re in a pinch, you can use it as an alternative.

12. Colby

This one’s closer to Cooper in terms of its price and availability, so it might be perfect if those are your main concerns.

The biggest difference is that Colby is far more crumbly than smooth, creamy Cooper cheese.

But when it comes down to taste and flavor?

It’s virtually identical!

13. Ricotta

Ricotta is another good option.

It has a similar texture and taste to cooper cheese, but its flavor is much milder than cooper cheese.

This means that it won’t overpower other flavors in your dish, so you can use it in many different recipes without worrying about it changing the overall taste of your meal too much.

14. Kalak cheese

This Indian semi-hard cow’s milk cheese has a sour taste and salty flavor which is similar to cooper cheese.

It also melts well and can be used in grilled dishes. However, it will be harder to find than the other options on this list.

15. Emmental

Also known as Swiss cheese, this hard cow’s milk cheese has fruity undertones, a nutty flavor, and a mild aroma that’s similar to that of cooper cheese.

See Also: 20 Emmental Cheese Recipes I Can’t Resist

It melts well but can also be eaten as is.

16. Romano

Romano is another good substitute for cooper cheese.

It has the same hard consistency and similar saltiness. Romano can be used in the same way as cooper cheese, but it has an even more distinctive flavor than parmesan does—it’s often described as being sharper and spicier.

How to Pick the Best Cooper Cheese Substitute

There are plenty of options that can fill the void in your soul left by a lack of cooper cheese in your life.

Here are 6 tips for choosing the perfect substitute:

1. Try to find a substitute that has a similar flavor profile

If you’re going to replace something as good as cooper cheese, you need to make sure that the replacement can carry its weight on taste alone.

While no other cheese will be exactly like cooper cheese (because let’s be honest—who would want that?), there are other cheeses out there that have a similar tangy bite and creamy texture.

Some good options? Gouda, Monterey jack, and cheddar all fit the bill!

2. Look for a cheese that complements different flavors

Cooper cheese is very versatile—it can be used in anything from sweet to savory dishes. When picking your substitute, consider what types of foods you’ll be using the cheese with and pick something that will complement the dish.

For example, goat’s cheese works well in sweet dishes like pie or ice cream because it has tangy undertones that help balance out the sugariness of dessert foods.

On the other hand, if you want to use your substitute in more savory dishes like pasta or pizza, try Swiss or Gouda for their nuttier tones.

3. Choose a cheese that melts well

Cooper cheese has a lovely, oozy, mild flavor. If you’re looking for the perfect substitute, start with a soft cheese that melts easily and coats your food in a blanket of rich, creamy goodness. Brie, Camembert, or chevre are all ideal options.

4. Consider the nutritional value

If you’re looking for a cheese substitute that has similar nutritional properties to the original, consider what you’re compromising.

Cooper’s is low in calories and fat but high in protein and calcium, so if you’re looking for a replacement that’s also high in protein, you’ll need to consider other nutritional aspects—you can’t just pick the cheese with the highest amount of protein.

5. Think about your allergies

If you have an allergy to Cooper’s cheese, it’s likely that your allergy is more general than specific—you may be allergic to all dairy products, which means any cheese substitute needs to be dairy-free.

Most soy substitutes are also gluten-free, so if you’re looking for a soy substitute and happen to have both a lactose and gluten allergy, you can rest assured that you’re covered on both fronts.

6. Don’t forget about taste!

Of course, when it comes to food, taste is one of the most important factors—and while most people don’t find Cooper’s particularly tasty, it does have its own unique flavor profile, so consider which other cheeses have similar flavors (or totally different ones!) before settling on a replacement.

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