Comté Cheese vs Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese

Comté Cheese is a smooth; semi-hard cow-milk cheese from France, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy and made from cow milk.

What Is Comté Cheese?

Comté is a hard cheese from eastern France, made daily from raw cow's milk in village dairies called fruitières. It holds PDO status, has the largest production of any French PDO cheese, and tastes mild, nutty, salty and slightly sweet.

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 Comté Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

• Texture: Comté Cheese (Smooth; Semi-hard), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy)
• Taste: Comté Cheese (Nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Comté Cheese reads as nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory character. More specifically, Comté Cheese shows nutty, creamy, sweet through more meaty and roasted flavors, smooth texture, range of ages from 4 months to 3 years, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese leans toward strong umami from a high glutamate content.

Can You Substitute Comté Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

In most recipes, Comté Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect smooth; semi-hard bite and body where the recipe calls for hard, dry and grainy. Flavor-wise, Comté Cheese reads as nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory notes.

Which Is Better, Comté 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 smooth; semi-hard cheese, go with Comté Cheese. For a hard, dry and grainy profile, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Comté Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted notes, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp, salty and savory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Comté Cheese the same as Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses.

Is Comté Cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Comté Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Does Comté Cheese taste like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Comté Cheese reads as nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is sharp, salty and savory.

What is Comté Cheese made of?

Comté Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 4 months to 3 years. It originates in France.

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, Comté Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Comté Cheese is smooth; semi-hard, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy.