Blue Cheese vs Provolone Cheese
Blue Cheese
Provolone Cheese
Blue Cheese is a crumbly, creamy, semi-soft cow, goat, or sheep-milk cheese from France, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.
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 Provolone Cheese?
Provolone is an Italian semi-hard cheese made from cow's milk with a stretched curd. It runs from the very sharp piccante, aged at least four months, to the mild dolce.
What's the Difference Between Blue Cheese and Provolone Cheese?
- Origin: Blue Cheese (France), Provolone Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Blue Cheese (Cow, Sheep, Goat), Provolone Cheese (cow's milk)
- Texture: Blue Cheese (Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft), Provolone Cheese (semi-hard, artisan)
- Aging: Blue Cheese (Typically aged 2-6 months), Provolone Cheese (at least 4 months for piccante)
- Taste: Blue Cheese (Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent), Provolone Cheese (tangy)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Blue Cheese | Provolone Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | France | Italy |
| Specific Origin | — | Campania, Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow, Sheep, Goat | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or Raw | — |
| Texture | Crumbly, Creamy, Semi-Soft | Semi-hard, artisan |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | Typically aged 2-6 months | At least 4 months for piccante |
| Taste | Sharp, Tangy, Savory, Salty, Pungent | Tangy |
Pairing Comparison
What works with each cheese: wines, foods, breads and more.
| Blue Cheese | Provolone Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Pairs well with | Amaro, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Dirty Martini, Dried Figs, Fig Jam, German Riesling, Green Apple, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb and more | Pastrami, Salami, Chorizo, Grilled Cheese, Ham, Pinot Grigio, Pulled Pork, Roast Beef, Steak, Tomatoes, Tuna, Turkey |
Taste Comparison: Does Blue Cheese Taste Like Provolone Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Provolone Cheese brings tangy character. On the nose, Blue Cheese offers strong, pungent, earthy, funky, contrasted with Provolone Cheese's pleasant. Aging plays into this as well. Blue Cheese at typically aged 2-6 months develops a different profile than Provolone Cheese at at least 4 months for piccante.
Can You Substitute Blue Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
Blue Cheese can stand in for Provolone 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 semi-hard, artisan. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent while Provolone Cheese brings tangy notes.
Which Is Better, Blue Cheese or Provolone 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 semi-hard, artisan profile, Provolone Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Blue Cheese suits recipes that want sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent notes, while Provolone Cheese fits dishes calling for tangy.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blue Cheese the same as Provolone Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Blue Cheese originates in France, while Provolone Cheese comes from Italy. Blue Cheese is made from cow, goat, or sheep milk; Provolone Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Blue Cheese is typically aged typically aged 2-6 months, Provolone Cheese at least 4 months for piccante.
Is Blue Cheese similar to Provolone Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Blue Cheese for Provolone Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Blue Cheese taste like Provolone Cheese?
Blue Cheese reads as sharp, tangy, savory, salty, pungent, while Provolone Cheese is tangy. Aromas also diverge. Blue Cheese leans strong, pungent, earthy, funky, and Provolone Cheese is closer to pleasant.
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 Provolone Cheese made of?
Provolone Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged at least 4 months for piccante. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Blue Cheese or Provolone Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Blue Cheese is crumbly, creamy, semi-soft, while Provolone Cheese is semi-hard, artisan.