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Burrata Cheese vs Queso Manchego
Burrata Cheese
Queso Manchego
In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Burrata Cheese and Queso Manchego, including:
- "What is the difference between Burrata Cheese and Queso Manchego?"
- "Is Burrata Cheese and Queso Manchego the same?"
- "How does Burrata Cheese compare to Queso Manchego cheese?"
- "How does the taste of Burrata Cheese compare to Queso Manchego?"
- "Is Burrata Cheese or Queso Manchego better?"
Burrata Cheese Overview
Burrata is a fresh Italian cheese, similar to mozzarella but with a creamy interior that oozes out when cut open. Made from cow's milk, the outer shell is solid mozzarella while the inside contains both mozzarella and cream, giving it an extraordinarily rich, buttery flavor and soft texture.
Queso Manchego Overview
Manchego is a PDO-protected cheese made in the La Mancha region of Spain, exclusively from the milk of Manchega sheep. It has a firm and compact consistency and a buttery texture, with a distinctive flavor that is well-developed and tangy, often with a slight piquancy in older cheeses. Manchego is aged for a minimum of two months and up to two years, developing a deeper flavor and harder texture with time.
Comparing the Two Cheeses
Country of Origin
Burrata Cheese comes from Italy and United States. Queso Manchego originated from Spain.
Certification
Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Burrata is not a protected cheese. Queso Manchego has a PDO (1996).
Milk Type and Treatment
Burrata Cheese is made with buffalo milk that is typically pasteurized or unpasteurized. Queso Manchego is made with sheep milk that is typically raw or pasteurized.
Composition and Texture
Burrata Cheese has a fat content of 60% fat in dry matter. Burrata's texture can be described as "soft, creamy". Queso Manchego's texture can be described as "compact".
Taste and Aroma
Burrata Cheese has a mild, lactic taste. Queso Manchego has a slightly acidic taste.
Appearance and Aging
Burrata Cheese's appearance is available in pouch-shaped, wrapped and is aged within 48 hours . Queso Manchego has a color of white to yellowish ivory , comes in cylindrical with flat faces and has an aging period of fresco (2 weeks), semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), curado (3-6 months), viejo or anejo (1 year) .
Rind and Rennet Type
Burrata Cheese's rind is described as thin . Queso Manchego's rind is described as pleita and flor imprints , with animal rennet.
Ranking
Burrata is ranked #42 out of 996 types based on community views. Queso Manchego is ranked #27 out of 996 types based on community views.
Pairing Comparison
| Burrata | Queso Manchego | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | No pairings listed. | Albariño, Almonds, Cava, Chorizo, Dried Figs, Dried Fruit, Tequila |
| Other Good Pairings | No additional pairings listed. | Apples, Apricot, Asian Pear, Cabernet Sauvignon, Crackers, Dirty Martini, Fig Jam, Grapes, Green Apple, Grüner Veltliner, Hard Cider, Honey, Honeycomb, Madeira, Malbec, Pear, Port, Scotch |
For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Burrata and Queso Manchego pages.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Burrata Cheese | Queso Manchego | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy And United States | Spain |
| Specific Origin | Andria, Apulia | La Mancha Region |
| Certification | Not Specified | PDO (1996) |
| Milk Type | Water buffalo's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized or unpasteurized | Raw or pasteurized |
| Fat Content | 60% fat in dry matter | Not Specified |
| Rind | Thin | Pleita and flor imprints |
| Texture | Soft, creamy | Compact |
| Taste | Mild, lactic | Slightly acidic |
| Colors | Not Specified | White to yellowish ivory |
| Forms | Pouch-shaped, wrapped | Cylindrical with flat faces |
| Age | Within 48 hours | Fresco (2 weeks), Semi-curado (3 weeks to 4 months), Curado (3-6 months), Viejo or Anejo (1 year) |
| Rennet Type | Not Specified | Animal rennet |
Which One Should You Choose?
If you prefer a soft, creamy cheese, go for Burrata. But if you enjoy a compact consistency, Queso Manchego might be the better pick. Burrata has a mild, lactic taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Queso Manchego offers a slightly acidic profile, ideal for different meals.
