Emmental Cheese vs Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese
Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product' and made from cow milk.
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 Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Noord-Hollandse Gouda is a cow's milk Gouda from North Holland and one of three Dutch Goudas with EU protected status. It is made only in the Netherlands, from milk of Dutch cows, and ranges from mild and elastic at four weeks to hard and sharp past a year.
What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
- Milk treatment: Emmental Cheese (Raw), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Pasteurized)
- Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product')
- Rind: Emmental Cheese (natural), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Closed, smooth, yellow, no visible mold growth)
- Aging: Emmental Cheese (4 months to over 1 year), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months)
- Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese (Aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Emmental Cheese | Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Switzerland | — |
| Specific Origin | Emmental, Canton Of Bern | North Holland |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Hard or medium-hard | Pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product' |
| Rind | Natural | Closed, smooth, yellow, no visible mold growth |
| Aging | 4 months to over 1 year | Minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months |
| Taste | Nutty, sweet | Aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp |
Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese brings aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp character. More specifically, Emmental Cheese shows characterized by its holes ("eyes"), sweet and slightly rubbery, crystalline when aged, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese leans toward less salty than other gouda cheeses, cumin may be added. Aging plays into this as well. Emmental Cheese at 4 months to over 1 year develops a different profile than Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese at minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months.
Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
In most recipes, Emmental Cheese and Noord-Hollandse Gouda 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 pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product'. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese brings aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp notes.
Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Noord-Hollandse Gouda 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 pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product' profile, Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese fits dishes calling for aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emmental Cheese the same as Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Emmental Cheese is typically aged 4 months to over 1 year, Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months.
Is Emmental Cheese similar to Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Emmental Cheese taste like Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is aromatic, pleasant, mild to sharp.
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 Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese made of?
Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized), using calf or microbial rennet, no genetically modified organisms used rennet. It's typically aged minimum of 4 weeks to over 18 months.
Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Noord-Hollandse Gouda Cheese is pliable, fills the borer, termed a 'soft dairy product'.