Caciocavallo Cheese vs Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese

Caciocavallo Cheese is a firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy and made from cow milk.

What Is Caciocavallo Cheese?

Caciocavallo is a stretched-curd cheese from southern Italy, made with sheep's or cow's milk and shaped like a teardrop. It has a hard edible rind and tastes much like the aged provolone of the same region.

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 Caciocavallo Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

• Texture: Caciocavallo Cheese (Firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy)
• Taste: Caciocavallo Cheese (Slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory character. More specifically, Caciocavallo Cheese shows sweet when young; intensifies and becomes piquant and complex with age, dotted with small crystals, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese leans toward strong umami from a high glutamate content.

Can You Substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

In most recipes, Caciocavallo Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for hard, dry and grainy. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory notes.

Which Is Better, Caciocavallo 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 firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly cheese, go with Caciocavallo Cheese. For a hard, dry and grainy profile, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Caciocavallo Cheese suits recipes that want slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex notes, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp, salty and savory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Caciocavallo Cheese the same as Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses.

Is Caciocavallo Cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.

Can I substitute Caciocavallo Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.

Does Caciocavallo Cheese taste like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Caciocavallo Cheese reads as slightly sweet to sharp, piquant, complex, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is sharp, salty and savory.

What is Caciocavallo Cheese made of?

Caciocavallo Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged 2 to 12 months, up to 5 years. 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, Caciocavallo Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Caciocavallo Cheese is firm to semihard, chewy to crumbly, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy.