Fontina Cheese vs Red Leicester Cheese

In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Fontina Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese, including:

• "What is the difference between Fontina Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese?"
• "Is Fontina Cheese and Red Leicester Cheese the same?"
• "How does Fontina Cheese compare to Red Leicester Cheese cheese?"
• "How does the taste of Fontina Cheese compare to Red Leicester Cheese?"
• "Is Fontina Cheese or Red Leicester Cheese better?"

Fontina Cheese Overview

Fontina is a classic Italian cheese from the Aosta Valley, with a dense, smooth texture and a nutty, earthy flavor. It is made from cow's milk and has a slightly elastic feel. Fontina is excellent for melting and is often used in dishes like risotto, fonduta, and as a table cheese.

Red Leicester Cheese Overview

Red Leicester is a traditional English cheese made from cow's milk, similar to cheddar but with a more moist, crumblier texture and a milder flavor. It's notable for its vibrant orange color, achieved by adding annatto to the milk. Aged Red Leicester develops a slightly nutty taste, making it a favorite for cheese platters and grating over dishes.

Comparing the Two Cheeses

Country of Origin

Fontina Cheese comes from Italy. Red Leicester Cheese originated from United Kingdom.

Certification

Many cheeses have some kind of protected status that makes it so they can only be produced in a certain manner and location. Fontina Cheese has a PDO (1996). Red Leicester is not a protected cheese.

Milk Type and Treatment

Fontina Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically raw or pasteurized. Red Leicester Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized or unpasteurized.

Composition and Texture

Fontina Cheese has a fat content of ~30-45% and a moisture content of ~45-50%. Fontina's texture can be described as "semi-soft". Red Leicester Cheese has a fat content of high and a moisture content of ~45-50%. Red Leicester's texture can be described as "hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly".

Taste and Aroma

Fontina Cheese has a mild, buttery, nutty taste. Fontina's aroma can be described as "mild to pungent (earthier in aged versions)". Red Leicester Cheese has a caramel, sweet taste. Red Leicester's aroma can be described as "mild".

Appearance and Aging

Fontina Cheese's appearance is colored pale yellow to golden , is available in wheel, block, sliced, shredded and is aged typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor) . Red Leicester Cheese has a color of reddish-orange , comes in traditional cylindrical, industrial block and has an aging period of 6 months (traditional), varies for industrial .

Rind and Rennet Type

Fontina Cheese's rind is described as natural, often washed and uses traditional (animal) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. Red Leicester Cheese's rind is described as clothbound (sparkenhoe farm), plastic (industrial) , with animal rennet.

Ranking

Fontina is ranked #66 out of 996 types based on community views. Red Leicester is ranked #68 out of 996 types based on community views.

Pairing Comparison

For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Fontina and Red Leicester pages.

Side-by-Side Comparison Table

Which One Should You Choose?

If you prefer a semi-soft cheese, go for Fontina. But if you enjoy a hard, similar to cheddar but more moist, crumbly consistency, Red Leicester might be the better pick. Fontina has a mild, buttery, nutty taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Red Leicester offers a caramel, sweet profile, ideal for different meals.

Compare Fontina Cheese to Other Cheeses

Compare Red Leicester Cheese to Other Cheeses