Emmental Cheese vs Pecorino Cheese
Emmental Cheese
Pecorino Cheese
Emmental Cheese is a hard or medium-hard cow-milk cheese from Switzerland, while Pecorino Cheese is hard and made from sheep milk, originating in Italy.
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 Pecorino Cheese?
Pecorino is an Italian hard cheese made from sheep's milk, and its name comes from pecora, the Italian word for sheep. Six main varieties carry PDO status, with Pecorino Romano the best known outside Italy.
What's the Difference Between Emmental Cheese and Pecorino Cheese?
- Origin: Emmental Cheese (Switzerland), Pecorino Cheese (Italy)
- Milk type: Emmental Cheese (cow's milk), Pecorino Cheese (sheep's milk)
- Texture: Emmental Cheese (Hard or medium-hard), Pecorino Cheese (hard)
- Aging: Emmental Cheese (4 months to over 1 year), Pecorino Cheese (fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Emmental Cheese | Pecorino Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Switzerland | Italy |
| Specific Origin | Emmental, Canton Of Bern | Italy |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Sheep's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw | — |
| Texture | Hard or medium-hard | Hard |
| Rind | Natural | — |
| Aging | 4 months to over 1 year | Fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato |
| Taste | Nutty, sweet | — |
Taste Comparison: Does Emmental Cheese Taste Like Pecorino Cheese?
Their flavor profiles are distinct. More specifically, Emmental Cheese shows characterized by its holes ("eyes"), sweet and slightly rubbery, crystalline when aged, while Pecorino Cheese leans toward buttery, nutty, mild cream and milk. Aging plays into this as well. Emmental Cheese at 4 months to over 1 year develops a different profile than Pecorino Cheese at fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Can You Substitute Emmental Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
Emmental Cheese can stand in for Pecorino Cheese in many dishes, but the switch will shift the overall character of the recipe. Expect hard or medium-hard bite and body where the recipe calls for hard.
Which Is Better, Emmental Cheese or Pecorino 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 profile, Pecorino Cheese is the better fit.
Which is your favorite?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Emmental Cheese the same as Pecorino Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Emmental Cheese originates in Switzerland, while Pecorino Cheese comes from Italy. Emmental Cheese is made from cow milk; Pecorino Cheese uses sheep. Aging also differs: Emmental Cheese is typically aged 4 months to over 1 year, Pecorino Cheese fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato.
Is Emmental Cheese similar to Pecorino Cheese?
Not closely. They use different milk bases and have distinct profiles.
Can I substitute Emmental Cheese for Pecorino Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in richness and milk character.
Does Emmental Cheese taste like Pecorino Cheese?
They have distinct flavor profiles. The taste row in the table above is the best direct comparison.
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 Pecorino Cheese made of?
Pecorino Cheese is made from sheep milk. It's typically aged fresco, semi-stagionato or stagionato. It originates in Italy.
Which should I choose, Emmental Cheese or Pecorino Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Emmental Cheese is hard or medium-hard, while Pecorino Cheese is hard.