Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco)
Mexican queso fresco is a soft white cheese, lightly salted with a crumbly texture. It is the most versatile cheese in Mexican cooking, crumbled over enchiladas, tacos, Aztec soup, and nopal salad. It does not melt well but adds creaminess and a clean, milky flavour that brightens any dish it tops.
Estimated retail price
~£4.99 / 200g
Typical price at UK Mexican grocers
Buy online
Can't find Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco) near you? You can also buy it online:
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
How it's used in Mexican cooking
Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco), part of the dairy section of the Mexican pantry, appears in more than 20 recipes in our collection, including Red Chilaquiles, Bean and Chorizo Sopes and Bean Tlacoyos. Each recipe shows step by step how it is added, in what quantity and which other ingredients it is paired with — the most reliable guide to how it is actually used in Mexican cooking.
Recipes with Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco)
Street FoodRed Chilaquiles
Street FoodBean and Chorizo Sopes
Street FoodBean Tlacoyos
Street FoodPressed Pork Crackling Gorditas
Street FoodPambazos
Street FoodChicken Tinga Tostadas
Sopas Y CaldosTortilla Soup
EnchiladasGreen Enchiladas
EnchiladasRed Enchiladas
EnchiladasMole Enchiladas
EnchiladasPotosinas-Style Enchiladas
EnchiladasMiner's Enchiladas
EnchiladasDivorced Enchiladas
BreakfastRanchero Eggs
BreakfastEnfrijoladas
BreakfastEntomatadas
Street FoodChicken Flautas
Street FoodHuaraches
TacosCrispy Potato Tacos
BreakfastGreen Chilaquiles
Storage and substitutes
How to store it
Keep cheese refrigerated and well wrapped, ideally in waxed paper or a container that lets it breathe. Fresh cheeses (panela, queso fresco) last only a few days once opened, while aged ones such as cotija or añejo keep considerably longer.
Substitutes
Common stand-ins outside Mexico: Oaxaca cheese is closest to fresh mozzarella, cotija to aged feta or Parmesan, and queso fresco to a mild white cheese. Not identical, but they work in most recipes.
Frequently asked questions
How many recipes use Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco)?
Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco) is used in more than 20 recipes in our collection, such as Red Chilaquiles and Bean and Chorizo Sopes. The full list, with a photo and link for each recipe, is on this page.
Where can I buy Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco) in the UK?
You can buy Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco) online via the Amazon link on this page, or look for it at Latin American grocers in the UK.
How should Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco) be stored?
Keep cheese refrigerated and well wrapped, ideally in waxed paper or a container that lets it breathe. Fresh cheeses (panela, queso fresco) last only a few days once opened, while aged ones such as cotija or añejo keep considerably longer.
Do you sell Fresh Cheese (Queso Fresco)?
If you run a shop that stocks this product, register and showcase it to thousands of people.
Register my shop