Emmental Cheese vs Mont d'Or Cheese

Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft 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 Mont d'Or Cheese?

Mont d'Or is a seasonal soft cow's milk cheese from the Jura region of France and Switzerland, wrapped in a band of spruce that gives it its flavor. It sells from September 10 to May 10 and is usually warmed in its spruce box and eaten like fondue.

What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Mont d'Or Cheese?

• Origin: Emmental Cheese (Switzerland), Mont d'Or Cheese (France)
• Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Mont d'Or Cheese (Soft)
• Rind: Emmental Cheese (natural), Mont d'Or Cheese (Washed rind)
• Aging: Emmental Cheese (4 months to over 1 year), Mont d'Or Cheese (21 to 60 days)
• Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Mont d'Or Cheese (Resinous, mild to pungent)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent character. More specifically, Emmental Cheese shows characterized by its holes ("eyes"), sweet and slightly rubbery, crystalline when aged, while Mont d'Or Cheese leans toward known for its creamy taste and powerful aroma; gets resinous flavor from spruce bark. Aging plays into this as well. Emmental Cheese at 4 months to over 1 year develops a different profile than Mont d'Or Cheese at 21 to 60 days.

Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

In most recipes, Emmental Cheese and Mont d'Or 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. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Mont d'Or Cheese brings resinous, mild to pungent notes.

Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Mont d'Or 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 profile, Mont d'Or Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Mont d'Or Cheese fits dishes calling for resinous, mild to pungent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emmental Cheese the same as Mont d'Or Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Emmental Cheese originates in Switzerland, while Mont d'Or Cheese comes from France. Aging also differs: Emmental Cheese is typically aged 4 months to over 1 year, Mont d'Or Cheese 21 to 60 days.

Is Emmental Cheese similar to Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Mont d'Or Cheese?

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

Does Emmental Cheese taste like Mont d'Or Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Mont d'Or Cheese is resinous, mild to pungent.

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 Mont d'Or Cheese made of?

Mont d'Or Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal rennet. It's typically aged 21 to 60 days. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Mont d'Or Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Mont d'Or Cheese is soft.