Bitto Cheese vs Murazzano Cheese

Q: Is Bitto Cheese the same as Murazzano Cheese?

No. Bitto Cheese and Murazzano Cheese are distinct cheeses. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Murazzano Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Bitto Cheese for Murazzano Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Murazzano 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.

Bitto Cheese

Murazzano 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 Murazzano Cheese is fresh and made from cow and sheep milk, originating in Italy.

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 Murazzano Cheese?

Murazzano is a PDO cheese from the Alta Langa hills in the province of Cuneo, Piedmont. It is made mostly from the milk of a native Langhe sheep breed, with up to 40 percent cow's milk, and can be eaten after only four days of ripening.

What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Murazzano Cheese?

Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Murazzano Cheese (Ewe’s (up to 60%) and Cow’s (up to 40%))
Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Murazzano Cheese (Fresh)
Rind: Bitto Cheese (smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age), Murazzano Cheese (washed, very thin, sometimes bloomy)
Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), Murazzano Cheese (4–10 days to 2 months)
Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Murazzano Cheese (Sweet to savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Bitto Cheese	Murazzano Cheese
Country of Origin	Italy	Italy
Specific Origin	Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo	Piedmont Region, Specifically Murazzano Town
Milk Type	Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%	Ewe’s (up to 60%) and Cow’s (up to 40%)
Milk Treatment	Raw	Raw
Texture	Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year	Fresh
Rind	Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age	Washed, very thin, sometimes bloomy
Aging	Minimum of 70 days	4–10 days to 2 months
Taste	Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age	Sweet to savory

Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Murazzano Cheese?

Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Murazzano Cheese brings sweet to savory character. More specifically, Bitto Cheese shows cooked at 118–126°f, finely cut curd, matured for a minimum of 70 days, while Murazzano Cheese leans toward pleasant, with milk and cream characteristics. sweet for fresh products, more savory and intense when aged.. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than Murazzano Cheese at 4–10 days to 2 months.

Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Murazzano Cheese?

Bitto Cheese can stand in for Murazzano 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 fresh. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Murazzano Cheese brings sweet to savory notes.

Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Murazzano 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 fresh profile, Murazzano 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 Murazzano Cheese fits dishes calling for sweet to savory.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bitto Cheese the same as Murazzano Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Murazzano Cheese uses cow and sheep. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, Murazzano Cheese 4–10 days to 2 months.

Is Bitto Cheese similar to Murazzano Cheese?

Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.

Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Murazzano Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.

Does Bitto Cheese taste like Murazzano Cheese?

Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Murazzano Cheese is sweet to savory.

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 Murazzano Cheese made of?

Murazzano Cheese is made from cow and sheep milk (raw), using liquid rennet. It's typically aged 4–10 days to 2 months. It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Murazzano 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 Murazzano Cheese is fresh.