Bitto Cheese vs Odenwälder Frühstückskäse 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 Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese is soft, supple and closed with occasional small breaks and made from cow milk.
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 Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
Odenwälder Frühstückskäse is a soft cow's milk cheese with a red smear rind from the Odenwald in Hesse, Germany. It comes in 100 g loaves, smells spicy to piquant, tastes strong, and carries a protected designation of origin.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese (cow)
- Milk treatment: Bitto Cheese (Raw), Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese (pasteurized, skimmed)
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese (soft, supple and closed with occasional small breaks)
- Rind: Bitto Cheese (smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age), Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese (no rind, supple skin with brownish-yellow smear)
- Aging: Bitto Cheese (Minimum of 70 days), Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese (14 days)
- Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese (strong)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Odenwald, Hesse, Germany |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Pasteurized, skimmed |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | Soft, supple and closed with occasional small breaks |
| Rind | Smooth, 2 to 4 mm thick, straw-yellow turning brownish yellow with age | No rind, supple skin with brownish-yellow smear |
| Aging | Minimum of 70 days | 14 days |
| Taste | Mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age | Strong |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese brings strong character. Aging plays into this as well. Bitto Cheese at minimum of 70 days develops a different profile than Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese at 14 days.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Odenwälder Frühstückskäse 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, supple and closed with occasional small breaks. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese brings strong notes.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Odenwälder Frühstückskäse 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, supple and closed with occasional small breaks profile, Odenwälder Frühstückskäse 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 Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese fits dishes calling for strong.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Bitto Cheese is typically aged minimum of 70 days, Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese 14 days.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese is strong.
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 Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese made of?
Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized, skimmed), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 14 days.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Odenwälder Frühstückskäse 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 Odenwälder Frühstückskäse Cheese is soft, supple and closed with occasional small breaks.