Bitto Cheese vs Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio 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 Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy 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 Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio is a long-aged Parmigiano Reggiano, the hard granular cow's milk cheese of Parma and Reggio Emilia. It is dry and grainy, with the sharp, salty, savory taste that makes it a grating cheese.
What's the Difference Between Bitto Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
- Milk type: Bitto Cheese (Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10%), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (cow)
- Texture: Bitto Cheese (fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy)
- Taste: Bitto Cheese (mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Bitto Cheese | Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Province Of Sondrio, Lombardy, Including Neighboring Upland Pastures Of Lecco And Bergamo | Parma And Reggio Emilia, Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk primarily, with non-mandatory addition of raw goat’s milk up to 10% | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Raw |
| Texture | Fine-grained, sometimes with very few small holes; hard cheese from one year | Hard, dry and grainy |
| 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 | Sharp, salty and savory |
Taste Comparison: Does Bitto Cheese Taste Like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory character. More specifically, Bitto Cheese shows cooked at 118–126°f, finely cut curd, matured for a minimum of 70 days, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese leans toward strong umami from a high glutamate content.
Can You Substitute Bitto Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Bitto Cheese can stand in for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio 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 hard, dry and grainy. Flavor-wise, Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory notes.
Which Is Better, Bitto Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio 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 hard, dry and grainy profile, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio 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 Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp, salty and savory.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Bitto Cheese the same as Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Bitto Cheese is made from cow and goat milk; Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese uses cow.
Is Bitto Cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Bitto Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Bitto Cheese taste like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?
Bitto Cheese reads as mild and sweet when young, stronger and spicier with age, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is sharp, salty and 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 Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese made of?
Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal (calf) rennet.
Which should I choose, Bitto Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio 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 Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy.