Reduced sodium cheeses and methods for making same are provided. The methods include adding rennet to inoculated milk without a delay from inoculation or with less of a delay from inoculation relative to known methods. The rennet is added to the milk within five minutes after addition of the bacteria, preferably within one minute or simultaneously. The methods use a higher pH at inoculation and/or at cutting and draining of curds to enable a reduction in the amount of sodium chloride added to the curds and thus accelerating the ripening of cheese. Delayed acidification achieved by extending a later stage of processing can obtain a similar final pH relative to known methods. The cheeses have reduced sodium without affecting the flavor profile of the cheese.
