I Asked 3 Experts to Name the Best Feta Cheese—They All Said the Same Thing

One of my all-time favorite dishes? Greek salad. Why? It’s crunchy, refreshing, and sharp. I love the combination of the cucumber’s coolness, oregano’s earthiness, tomato’s sweetness, and the creamy tang of feta cheese. It is the feta that makes Greek salad so delightful.

The use of feta is not limited to Greek salad. From the one-pan feta bake dinners that dominated the Covid-era to unexpected applications like watermelon salad and whipped feta dip, feta proves versatile and delicious time and time again. And with summer slowly creeping up, I plan on finding a ton of ways to sneak the block of cheese into my cooking. 

To find the absolute best feta cheese brand, I turned to some of my most trusted culinary experts.  

The Best Feta

The three chefs concur that one brand surpasses others when it comes to quality, consistency, and taste: Mt. Vikos. “Having spent over a month in Greece eating feta every day,” says Randhawa, “I can confidently say that my favorite widely available store-bought brand is Mt. Vikos. It’s a traditional Greek feta made from sheep’s and goat’s milk, and the flavor is rich and creamy.” 

Stevens agrees, emphasizing the importance of the type of milk used: “Traditional feta is made from sheep’s milk or a blend of sheep and goat’s milk.” This blend of milk is especially important in achieving the signature feta taste as the sheep’s milk contributes the buttery, velvety flavor, and the goat’s adds the sharp, tangy taste. Cameron says, “Mt. Vikos is real feta—a good tangy, Greek feta whose blend of sheep’s and goat’s milk has so much more flavor than cow’s milk feta.”

Speaking to the texture of quality feta, Stevens explains: “A good block of feta will have a few crevices and subtle texture changes from edge to center,” a quality Mt. Vikos possesses. “Without being overly sharp or crumbly, it’s ideal for both crumbling and slicing,” adds Randhawa. “I also appreciate that it comes in a brine, which helps preserve both texture and flavor.” 

The experts agree—the fact that this brand packages its feta in sealed bags surrounded in brine is a huge plus. “Feta packed in brine holds onto its flavor and moisture much better than pre-crumbled versions, which dry out fast,” says Stevens, “That little container of liquid really matters.”

How to Keep Your Feta Fresh

As it turns out, brining liquid is not only important for preserving the flavor and texture of the cheese when it's packaged, but it’s also essential in maintaining the freshness of the cheese once it's been opened. 

To keep feta from going bad, Stevens suggests: “The key is keeping it submerged in brine. If it comes packed in brine, just keep it in the original container. If not, or if you've used up the liquid, you can mix two teaspoons of kosher salt with one cup of water to make your own.” Easy!