Emmental Cheese vs Frinault Cheese

Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Frinault Cheese is soft, soft-ripened and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Emmental Cheese?

Emmental is a yellow, medium-hard Swiss cheese from the Emme Valley, known for the natural holes that run through it. The taste is savoury but mild. It is eaten cold in chunks or slices and melted into dishes such as gratins.

What Is Frinault Cheese?

Frinault is a soft cheese from the countryside around Orléans in France, made with pasteurized whole cow's milk at 50% fat. It comes as a small 120 g disc in three versions: plain, ash-ripened Frinault cendré, and the longer-aged Frinault sec.

What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Frinault Cheese?

• Origin: Emmental Cheese (Switzerland), Frinault Cheese (France)
• Milk treatment: Emmental Cheese (Raw), Frinault Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Frinault Cheese (soft, soft-ripened)
• Aging: Emmental Cheese (4 months to over 1 year), Frinault Cheese (about 2 weeks)
• Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Frinault Cheese (spicy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Frinault Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Frinault Cheese brings spicy character. More specifically, Emmental Cheese shows characterized by its holes ("eyes"), sweet and slightly rubbery, crystalline when aged, while Frinault Cheese leans toward fruity and more perfumed in the cendré version, close to olivet cendré. Aging plays into this as well. Emmental Cheese at 4 months to over 1 year develops a different profile than Frinault Cheese at about 2 weeks.

Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Frinault Cheese?

In most recipes, Emmental Cheese and Frinault Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect hard or medium-hard bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, soft-ripened. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Frinault Cheese brings spicy notes.

Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Frinault Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a hard or medium-hard cheese, go with Emmental Cheese. For a soft, soft-ripened profile, Frinault Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Frinault Cheese fits dishes calling for spicy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emmental Cheese the same as Frinault Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Emmental Cheese originates in Switzerland, while Frinault Cheese comes from France. Aging also differs: Emmental Cheese is typically aged 4 months to over 1 year, Frinault Cheese about 2 weeks.

Is Emmental Cheese similar to Frinault Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Frinault Cheese?

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

Does Emmental Cheese taste like Frinault Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Frinault Cheese is spicy.

What is Emmental Cheese made of?

Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 4 months to over 1 year. It originates in Switzerland.

What is Frinault Cheese made of?

Frinault Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged about 2 weeks. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Frinault Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Frinault Cheese is soft, soft-ripened.