Bitto Cheese vs Dovedale cheese
Bitto Cheese
Dovedale cheese
Bitto Cheese is a fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year cow and goat-milk cheese from Italy, while Dovedale cheese is soft and made from cow milk.
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What Is Bitto Cheese?
Bitto is a raw-milk PDO cheese from the alpine pastures of Sondrio in Lombardy, made only between 1 June and 30 September from cow's milk, sometimes with up to 10 percent goat's milk. Young wheels taste mild and sweet, and some are aged for years.
What Is Dovedale cheese?
Dovedale, sold as Dovedale Blue, is a soft blue cheese made from full fat cow's milk near the Dovedale valley in the Peak District. It holds PDO status and is dipped in brine instead of dry-salted, which is rare for a British cheese.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Dovedale cheese?
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Dovedale cheese (Cow)
- Milk treatment: Bitto Cheese (Raw), Dovedale cheese (Pasteurized)
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Dovedale cheese (Soft)
- Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Dovedale cheese (mild blue)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Dovedale cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Within Fifty Miles Of Dovedale, England |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | Soft |
| Rind | Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age | — |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | — |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | Mild blue |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Dovedale cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Dovedale cheese brings mild blue character. More specifically, Bitto Cheese shows cooked at 118–126°f, finely cut curd, matured for a minimum of 70 days, while Dovedale cheese leans toward mild and creamy, with a continental character from brine dipping.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Dovedale cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Dovedale cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year bite and body where the recipe calls for soft. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Dovedale cheese brings mild blue notes.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Dovedale cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year cheese, go with Bitto Cheese. For a soft profile, Dovedale cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese suits recipes that want mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age notes, while Dovedale cheese fits dishes calling for mild blue.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Dovedale cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Dovedale cheese uses cow.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Dovedale cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Dovedale cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Dovedale cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Dovedale cheese is mild blue.
What is Bitto Cheese made of?
Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk (raw), using calf rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 70 days. It originates in Italy.
What is Dovedale cheese made of?
Dovedale cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized).
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Dovedale cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Bitto Cheese is fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year, while Dovedale cheese is soft.