Blue Cheese vs Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese is granular or crumbly to clammy and made from cow milk.
What Is Blue Cheese?
A type of cheese injected or inoculated with Penicillium mold to create blue or green veins, resulting in a tangy, sharp flavor and creamy or crumbly texture.
What Is Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
Ennstaler Steirerkas is a traditional cheese from Austria, specifically from the district of Liezen in the north-western part of Styria. It is a sour milk cheese made from raw or pasteurized skimmed cow's milk. The cheese is formed into a truncated cone weighing up to 4 kg and is made without rennet, using only acid coagulation. It is known for its crumbly texture and distinctive aroma, with a sour, strong, and piquant flavor. The cheese matures over at least three weeks, developing a dry, brownish or greyish surface with a layer of green or white mold. The interior is marbled, pale brown to brown-grey, with a granular or crumbly texture. The cheese is influenced by the local alpine flora, which contributes to its unique flavor and aroma.
What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese (Cow's milk)
- Milk treatment: Blue Cheese (Pasteurized or Raw), Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese (Raw or pasteurized skimmed milk)
- Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese (Granular or crumbly to clammy)
- Rind: Blue Cheese (Natural), Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese (Dry, brownish or greyish, covered with green or white mold)
- Aging: Blue Cheese (Typically aged 2-6 months), Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese (At least three weeks)
- Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese (Sour, strong, piquant, spicy to sharp)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | — |
| Specific Origin | — | District Of Liezen, North-Western Part Of Styria |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | Raw or pasteurized skimmed milk |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | Granular or crumbly to clammy |
| Rind | Natural | Dry, brownish or greyish, covered with green or white mold |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | At least three weeks |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | Sour, strong, piquant, spicy to sharp |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese — wines, foods, breads, and more.
| Blue Cheese | Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Amaro, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dirty Martini, Dried Figs, Fig Jam, German Riesling, Green Apple, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb, IPA, Malbec, Muscat, Pear, Pecans, Port, Scotch, Steak | — |
| Other Good Pairings | Almonds, Apples, Belgian Blonde, Bordeaux, Burgundy Red, California Viogniers, Dried Cranberries, Grapes, Merlot, Mushrooms, Olives, Prosciutto, Roast Beef | — |
Which would you pick?
One click, anonymous — see what others chose.
Where to buy Blue Cheese and Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese
Blue Cheese
Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese brings sour, strong, piquant, spicy to sharp character. On the nose, Blue Cheese offers strong, pungent, earthy, funky, contrasted with Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese's robust and spicy, with an earthy odor and mild ammonia note. Aging plays into this as well. Blue Cheese at typically aged 2-6 months develops a different profile than Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese at at least three weeks.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect crumbly, creamy, semi-soft bite and body where the recipe calls for granular or crumbly to clammy. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese brings sour, strong, piquant, spicy to sharp notes.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cheese, go with Blue Cheese. For a granular or crumbly to clammy profile, Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese fits dishes calling for sour, strong, piquant, spicy to sharp.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Cheese the same as Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Blue Cheese is typically aged typically aged 2-6 months, Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese at least three weeks.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese is sour, strong, piquant, spicy to sharp. Aromas also diverge. Blue Cheese leans strong, pungent, earthy, funky, and Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese is closer to robust and spicy, with an earthy odor and mild ammonia note.
What is Blue Cheese made of?
Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk (pasteurized or raw), using traditional (animal rennet) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. It's typically aged typically aged 2-6 months. It originates in France.
What is Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese made of?
Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese is made from cow milk (raw or pasteurized skimmed milk), using not used rennet. It's typically aged at least three weeks.
Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese is granular or crumbly to clammy.
See full profiles: Blue Cheese and Ennstaler Steirerkas Cheese.