Casu marzu Cheese vs Cheddar Cheese

Q: Is Casu marzu Cheese the same as Cheddar Cheese?

No. Casu marzu Cheese and Cheddar Cheese are distinct cheeses from Italy and England respectively. See the side-by-side table for the specific differences in milk type, texture, and aging.

Q: Can I substitute Casu marzu Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?

In most recipes you can swap Casu marzu Cheese for Cheddar Cheese, though the result will shift in richness and milk character.

Q: Which should I choose, Casu marzu Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture and flavor rows in the table above are the best guide. Pick the one whose profile fits your recipe or board.

Casu marzu Cheese is a soft, soft-ripened sheep-milk cheese from Italy, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) and made from cow milk, originating in England.

What Is Casu marzu Cheese?

Casu marzu is a Sardinian sheep milk cheese fermented by live cheese fly larvae, which eat through a pecorino wheel and break down its fats until the paste turns very soft. Its sale is banned in Italy and the EU, and Guinness World Records called it the world's most dangerous cheese.

What Is Cheddar Cheese?

Cheddar is a relatively hard, off-white to orange cow's milk cheese from the village of Cheddar in Somerset, South West England. The name is not protected, so it is made worldwide, and it is the UK's most popular cheese at 51% of the national cheese market.

What's the Difference Between Casu marzu Cheese and Cheddar Cheese?

Origin: Casu marzu Cheese (Italy), Cheddar Cheese (England)
Milk type: Casu marzu Cheese (sheep's milk), Cheddar Cheese (cow's milk)
Texture: Casu marzu Cheese (soft, soft-ripened), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline))
Rind: Casu marzu Cheese (natural), Cheddar Cheese (Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic))
Aging: Casu marzu Cheese (3 months), Cheddar Cheese (A few months to several years)
Taste: Casu marzu Cheese (intense, spicy), Cheddar Cheese (Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Casu marzu Cheese	Cheddar Cheese
Country of Origin	Italy	England
Specific Origin	Sardinia (Italy), Southern Corsica (France)	Southwest (Somerset, Gloucester)
Milk Type	Sheep's milk	Cow's milk
Milk Treatment	—	Raw, Thermized, Pasteurized
Texture	Soft, soft-ripened	Varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline)
Rind	Natural	Varies (natural, cloth, wax, plastic)
Aging	3 months	A few months to several years
Taste	Intense, spicy	Mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory

Taste Comparison: Does Casu marzu Cheese Taste Like Cheddar Cheese?

Casu marzu Cheese reads as intense, spicy, while Cheddar Cheese brings mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory character. More specifically, Casu marzu Cheese shows mediterranean, pastoral and spicy notes, with an aftertaste that lasts for hours, while Cheddar Cheese leans toward from mild and buttery to brothy and savory, with distinctive sharpness; variations in sweetness and flavor depending on the producer. Aging plays into this as well. Casu marzu Cheese at 3 months develops a different profile than Cheddar Cheese at a few months to several years.

Can You Substitute Casu marzu Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?

Casu marzu Cheese can stand in for Cheddar Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect soft, soft-ripened bite and body where the recipe calls for varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline). Flavor-wise, Casu marzu Cheese reads as intense, spicy while Cheddar Cheese brings mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory notes.

Which Is Better, Casu marzu Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft, soft-ripened cheese, go with Casu marzu Cheese. For a varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline) profile, Cheddar Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Casu marzu Cheese suits recipes that want intense, spicy notes, while Cheddar Cheese fits dishes calling for mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory.

Which is your favorite?

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is Casu marzu Cheese the same as Cheddar Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Casu marzu Cheese originates in Italy, while Cheddar Cheese comes from England. Casu marzu Cheese is made from sheep milk; Cheddar Cheese uses cow. Aging also differs: Casu marzu Cheese is typically aged 3 months, Cheddar Cheese a few months to several years.

Is Casu marzu Cheese similar to Cheddar Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Casu marzu Cheese for Cheddar Cheese?

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

Does Casu marzu Cheese taste like Cheddar Cheese?

Casu marzu Cheese reads as intense, spicy, while Cheddar Cheese is mild to sharp, buttery to brothy and savory.

What is Casu marzu Cheese made of?

Casu marzu Cheese is made from sheep milk. It's typically aged 3 months. It originates in Italy.

What is Cheddar Cheese made of?

Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (raw, thermized, pasteurized), using animal; microbial chymosin in vegetarian and kosher versions rennet. It's typically aged a few months to several years. It originates in England.

Which should I choose, Casu marzu Cheese or Cheddar Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Casu marzu Cheese is soft, soft-ripened, while Cheddar Cheese is varies (rubbery to friable and crystalline).