Blue Cheese vs Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese

Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy and made from cow milk.

What Is Blue Cheese?

Blue cheese is any cheese made with edible mold cultures that form blue-green spots and veins through the paste. It ranges from mild and slightly sweet to salty and sharp, and from almost liquid to hard.

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 Blue Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

• Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (cow)
• Milk treatment: Blue Cheese (Pasteurized or Raw), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (raw)
• Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy)
• Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory character. More specifically, Blue Cheese shows earthy, spicy, peppery, slightly sweet, umami, nutty, bitter, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese leans toward strong umami from a high glutamate content.

Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Blue Cheese can stand in for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio 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 hard, dry and grainy. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory notes.

Which Is Better, Blue 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 crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cheese, go with Blue Cheese. For a hard, dry and grainy profile, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp, salty and savory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Blue Cheese the same as Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese uses cow.

Is Blue Cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Does Blue Cheese taste like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is sharp, salty and savory.

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 Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese made of?

Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal (calf) rennet.

Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy.