What does 20+ cheese mean? Everything about fat content in cheese

You see it on almost every cheese in the shop: a number followed by a plus sign. 20+, 30+, 48+. But what does it actually mean? And is 20+ cheese really “light”? The answer is more nuanced than you might think.

What does the plus sign mean?

The number on cheese indicates the fat content in the dry matter. That’s not the same as the total fat percentage. Cheese contains a lot of moisture, and during aging some of it evaporates. The fat stays, but the dry matter becomes relatively heavier.

A 48+ cheese therefore contains 48% fat in the dry matter. In practice, that works out to roughly 25–30% fat of the total weight, which is considerably less than the 48 might suggest.

How fat content affects flavor

Fat content has a direct impact on how a cheese tastes and feels in your mouth:

• 20+ cheese: firm and dry, with a pronounced flavor. Because there’s less fat, you taste the cheese itself more intensely. Our Farmhouse Cheese 20+ Sharp is a great example: full of flavor, but lighter.
• 30+ cheese: the happy middle ground. Creamier than 20+ but still more flavorful than full-fat cheese. The Goudse Mature 30+ and Goat Cheese 30+ fall into this category.
• 35+ cheese: lightly creamy with great flavor. Our Noord-Hollands 35+ range is popular here, from mild to aged.
• 48+ cheese: the Dutch standard. Most Goudse and Noord-Hollands cheeses you find in the supermarket are 48+. Rich and creamy.
• 60+ cheese: extra creamy and buttery. Think cream cheeses and certain foreign specialties.

Is 20+ cheese healthier?

Less fat means fewer calories, that’s true. But the differences are smaller than you’d expect. A slice of 20+ cheese (20 grams) contains around 50 calories, while the same slice of 48+ cheese comes in at about 75 calories. That difference of 25 calories is roughly the equivalent of half an apple.

One thing worth noting: 20+ cheese contains relatively more protein per gram. For athletes or anyone keeping an eye on their protein intake, that can be interesting. And of course, all cheese contains calcium, regardless of fat content.

Which 20+ cheese should you try?

A lot of people assume that lighter cheese is bland. That’s a misconception. Precisely because the fat is less dominant, other flavors come through more clearly. A well-aged 20+ farmhouse cheese has an intense, complex flavor that beats many a 48+ variety.

Did you know that farmhouse cheese naturally contains less fat than factory-made cheese? The raw milk and artisanal process result in a different fat profile. Read more about the difference in our article on what makes farmhouse cheese special.

Tips for choosing the right cheese

• On bread: 30+ or 35+ is ideal. Plenty of flavor without feeling too heavy at breakfast.
• On a cheese board: mix different fat levels. A firm 20+ next to a creamy 60+ creates great contrast. Check out our tips for putting together a cheese board.
• For cooking: 48+ melts best thanks to its higher fat content. For gratins and sauces, it’s the better choice.
• Tasting on its own: go with what you enjoy. Fat content isn’t a quality label, it’s a flavor profile.

Discover our lighter cheeses

At Cheese In A Box we have a great selection of cheeses in different fat levels, all freshly cut and vacuum-sealed for delivery to your door: