An ounce of natural cheese is about the size of a 9-volt battery, according to the McKinley Health Center and the USDA My Pyramid. Processed cheese such as American cheese goes by a different size. An ounce of processed cheese is about the size of your thumb or a couple of dice. Cheese is an excellent source of protein, although not all cheeses provide the same amount.
Soft Cheeses
Soft cheeses such as brie and mozzarella contain less protein than hard cheeses. They average about 6.2 g of protein per ounce. Goat cheese also falls into this group. Other soft cheeses contain even less. For example, 1 oz of feta contains only 4 g of protein. Cream cheese is at the bottom of the list, with just 2 g of protein per ounce.
Hard Cheeses
The hardest cheeses are the ones that contain the most protein. Parmesan tops the list at 12 g of protein per ounce. Romano cheese contains 9 g of protein. At 8 g to 8.5 g of protein, you can find Swiss and gruyere cheeses. Most other firm cheeses are around 7 to 7.5 g of protein per ounce.
Other Cheeses
Ricotta cheese is very high in protein compared to other types of cheese. A single ounce of ricotta contains 27.5 g of protein. Cottage cheese made with 2 percent milk contains 31 g of protein, while the version made with 1 percent milk contains 28 g of protein.
Imitation Cheeses
Imitation cheeses, generally made with soy, are lower in protein than real cheese. The amount varies according to brand and type of cheese, but generally contains between 2 g and 7 g of protein per ounce, according to registered dietitian Kim Galeaz, a consultant for the Indiana Soybean Board.
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