Beaufort Cheese vs Stelvio Cheese

Q: Is Beaufort Cheese the same as Stelvio Cheese?

No. Beaufort Cheese and Stelvio Cheese are distinct cheeses from France and Italy respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Beaufort Cheese for Stelvio Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Beaufort Cheese for Stelvio Cheese, though the result will shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Q: Does Beaufort Cheese taste like Stelvio Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. See the side-by-side table above for details.

Q: Which should I choose, Beaufort Cheese or Stelvio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Beaufort Cheese

Stelvio Cheese

Beaufort Cheese is a hard cow-milk cheese from France, while Stelvio Cheese is compact, pliable, and springy and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

What Is Beaufort Cheese?

Beaufort is a smooth, creamy cheese from the Savoie region of France. Known for its distinct concave wheel shape, it is produced from raw cow's milk and aged in mountain caves for a minimum of five months. Beaufort has a strong, sweet taste and is often used in fondue due to its excellent melting properties.

What Is Stelvio Cheese?

Stelvio, also known as Stilfser, is a type of cheese that holds a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status. It is produced in Italy, specifically in the Autonomous Province of Bolzano. The cheese is made from cow's milk, which is sourced from cows fed mainly on local fodder. Stelvio cheese is known for its cylindrical shape, although it can be produced in other shapes for pre-packaging purposes. The cheese has a fat content in dry matter of at least 50% and a moisture content not exceeding 44%. It has a compact, pliable, and springy texture with a pale yellow to straw yellow color. The rind of Stelvio cheese ranges from yellow to orange-brown, and it has an aromatic and marked flavor, sometimes pungent. The cheese is aged for a minimum of sixty days before being released for consumption.

What's the Difference Between Beaufort Cheese and Stelvio Cheese?

Origin: Beaufort Cheese (France), Stelvio Cheese (Italy)
Milk treatment: Beaufort Cheese (Raw), Stelvio Cheese (Lightly skimmed to regulate fat content)
Texture: Beaufort Cheese (Hard), Stelvio Cheese (Compact, pliable, and springy)
Rind: Beaufort Cheese (Even yellow color), Stelvio Cheese (Yellow to orange-brown)
Aging: Beaufort Cheese (5 to 12+ months), Stelvio Cheese (Minimum of sixty days)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Beaufort Cheese	Stelvio Cheese
Country of Origin	France	Italy
Specific Origin	Beaufortin Valley, Savoie Region	Autonomous Province Of Bolzano
Milk Type	Cow's milk	Cow
Milk Treatment	Raw	Lightly skimmed to regulate fat content
Texture	Hard	Compact, pliable, and springy
Rind	Even yellow color	Yellow to orange-brown
Aging	5 to 12+ months	Minimum of sixty days
Taste	—	Aromatic and marked, sometimes pungent

Taste Comparison: Does Beaufort Cheese Taste Like Stelvio Cheese?

Their flavor profiles are distinct. On the nose, Beaufort Cheese offers fruity, nutty, contrasted with Stelvio Cheese's boiled milk, butter, mature hay. More specifically, Beaufort Cheese shows ivory or slightly yellow color, occasional small eyes and thin slits, while Stelvio Cheese leans toward typical of the mountain cheeses, small irregular eyeholes. Aging plays into this as well. Beaufort Cheese at 5 to 12+ months develops a different profile than Stelvio Cheese at minimum of sixty days.

Can You Substitute Beaufort Cheese for Stelvio Cheese?

In most recipes, Beaufort Cheese and Stelvio Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect hard bite and body where the recipe calls for compact, pliable, and springy.

Which Is Better, Beaufort Cheese or Stelvio Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard cheese, go with Beaufort Cheese. For a compact, pliable, and springy profile, Stelvio Cheese is the better fit.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Beaufort Cheese the same as Stelvio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Beaufort Cheese originates in France, while Stelvio Cheese comes from Italy. Aging also differs: Beaufort Cheese is typically aged 5 to 12+ months, Stelvio Cheese minimum of sixty days.

Is Beaufort Cheese similar to Stelvio Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Beaufort Cheese for Stelvio Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Beaufort Cheese taste like Stelvio Cheese?

They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.

What is Beaufort Cheese made of?

Beaufort Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using dried calves’ abomasum in recuite rennet. It's typically aged 5 to 12+ months. It originates in France.

What is Stelvio Cheese made of?

Stelvio Cheese is made from cow milk (lightly skimmed to regulate fat content), using calf rennet or other rennet including plant origin, not genetically modified rennet. It's typically aged minimum of sixty days. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Beaufort Cheese or Stelvio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Beaufort Cheese is hard, while Stelvio Cheese is compact, pliable, and springy.