Emmental Cheese vs Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese

Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy 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 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 Emmental Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

• Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (hard, dry and grainy)
• Taste: Emmental Cheese (Nutty, sweet), Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese (sharp, salty and savory)

Side-by-Side Comparison

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

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory character. More specifically, Emmental Cheese shows characterized by its holes ("eyes"), sweet and slightly rubbery, crystalline when aged, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese leans toward strong umami from a high glutamate content.

Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

In most recipes, Emmental Cheese and Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio 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 hard, dry and grainy. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese brings sharp, salty and savory notes.

Which Is Better, Emmental 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 hard or medium-hard cheese, go with Emmental Cheese. For a hard, dry and grainy profile, Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Emmental Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, sweet notes, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese fits dishes calling for sharp, salty and savory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Emmental Cheese the same as Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses.

Is Emmental Cheese similar to Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

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

Does Emmental Cheese taste like Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

Emmental Cheese reads as nutty, sweet, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is sharp, salty and savory.

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 Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese made of?

Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is made from cow milk (raw), using animal (calf) rennet.

Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Parmigiano Reggiano Stravecchio Cheese is hard, dry and grainy.