Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese vs Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese
Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese is a hard goat or sheep-milk cheese from Italy, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals and made from cow milk.
What Is Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese?
Canestrato di Moliterno is an Italian cheese from Basilicata, particularly noted for its firm texture and sharp, piquant flavor. It is made from a mix of sheep's and goat's milk and is aged in wicker baskets, which imprint a distinctive pattern on its rind. This cheese is often grated over pasta and used in traditional Italian dishes.
What Is Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar is a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) cheese made in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It is crafted using local milk and a unique dry stir technique developed in 1984, which gives it a firm, dense texture. The cheese matures for 6 to 18 months, creating medium, mature, and extra mature varieties with savory, nutty flavors. The production process includes hand-salting the curd for even distribution and controlled maturation for consistent quality. Orkney Cheddar has won multiple awards and is known for its excellent melting properties. It is available in both white and colored forms, with the latter containing a vegetable-based pigment.
What's the Difference Between Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese and Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
- Milk type: Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese (70–90% goat's, 10–30% sheep's), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese (Cow)
- Texture: Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese (Hard), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese (Firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals)
- Rind: Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese (Marked by canestri), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese (None)
- Aging: Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese (Fresh, Primitivo (≤6 months), Stagionato (6–12 months), Extra (>12 months)), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese (6 to 18 months)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese | Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Matera And Potenza, Basilicata | Orkney Islands, North Of Scotland |
| Milk Type | 70–90% goat's, 10–30% sheep's | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | — | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Hard | Firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals |
| Rind | Marked by canestri | None |
| Aging | Fresh, Primitivo (≤6 months), Stagionato (6–12 months), Extra (>12 months) | 6 to 18 months |
| Taste | — | Savory and nutty with varying sharpness depending on aging |
Taste Comparison: Does Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese Taste Like Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese shows sweet and delicate, evolving to complex aromas with age; can be treated with olive oil or soot-water mixture, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese leans toward moderate sharp acid notes, rounded with savory and nutty undertones. Aging plays into this as well. Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese at fresh, primitivo (≤6 months), stagionato (6–12 months), extra (>12 months) develops a different profile than Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese at 6 to 18 months.
Can You Substitute Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese for Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese can stand in for Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard bite and body where the recipe calls for firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals.
Which Is Better, Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese or Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard cheese, go with Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese. For a firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals profile, Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is the better fit.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese the same as Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk; Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese is typically aged fresh, primitivo (≤6 months), stagionato (6–12 months), extra (>12 months), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese 6 to 18 months.
Is Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese similar to Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese for Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese taste like Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
What is Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese made of?
Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese is made from goat or sheep milk. It's typically aged fresh, primitivo (≤6 months), stagionato (6–12 months), extra (>12 months). It originates in Italy.
What is Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese made of?
Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 to 18 months.
Which should I choose, Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese or Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Canestrato di Moliterno Cheese is hard, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals.