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Fontina Cheese vs Stilton Cheese
Fontina Cheese
Stilton Cheese
In this article, we'll explore the answers to the most common questions about Fontina Cheese and Stilton Cheese, including:
- "What is the difference between Fontina Cheese and Stilton Cheese?"
- "Is Fontina Cheese and Stilton Cheese the same?"
- "How does Fontina Cheese compare to Stilton Cheese cheese?"
- "How does the taste of Fontina Cheese compare to Stilton Cheese?"
- "Is Fontina Cheese or Stilton 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.
Stilton Cheese Overview
Stilton is one of the best-known British blue cheeses, traditionally made in two varieties: blue and white. Blue Stilton is creamy and crumbly with a distinctively sharp, rich flavor produced by the blue veins. White Stilton, less common, is the milder of the two and does not have the blue veining.
Comparing the Two Cheeses
Country of Origin
Fontina Cheese comes from Italy. Stilton Cheese originated from England.
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). Stilton Cheese has a PDO (1996).
Milk Type and Treatment
Fontina Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically raw or pasteurized. Stilton Cheese is made with cow milk that is typically pasteurized.
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". Stilton's texture can be described as "hard, blue-veined".
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)". Stilton Cheese has a spicy, strong taste.
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) . Stilton Cheese has a color of blue-grey .
Rind and Rennet Type
Fontina Cheese's rind is described as natural, often washed and uses traditional (animal) or microbial (varies by producer) rennet. Stilton Cheese's rind is described as natural .
Ranking
Fontina is ranked #66 out of 996 types based on community views. Stilton is ranked #24 out of 996 types based on community views.
Pairing Comparison
| Fontina | Stilton | |
|---|---|---|
| Best Pairings | Chardonnay | Barleywine, Madeira |
| Other Good Pairings | Grilled Cheese, Macaroni and Cheese, Mushrooms, Prosciutto, Sangiovese | No additional pairings listed. |
For more details, check the full pairing guides on the Fontina and Stilton pages.
Side-by-Side Comparison Table
| Fontina Cheese | Stilton Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | England |
| Specific Origin | Not Specified | Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire |
| Certification | PDO (1996) | PDO (1996) |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow's milk |
| Milk Treatment | Raw (for traditional Italian Fontina), Pasteurized (for most American versions) | Pasteurized |
| Fat Content | ~30-45% | Not Specified |
| Moisture Content | ~45-50% | Not Specified |
| Rind | Natural, Often Washed | Natural |
| Texture | Semi-Soft | Hard, blue-veined |
| Taste | Mild, Buttery, Nutty | Spicy, strong |
| Aroma | Mild to Pungent (earthier in aged versions) | Not Specified |
| Colors | Pale Yellow to Golden | Blue-grey |
| Forms | Wheel, Block, Sliced, Shredded | Not Specified |
| Age | Typically 2-3 months (can be aged longer for stronger flavor) | Not Specified |
| Rennet Type | Traditional (Animal) or Microbial (varies by producer) | Not Specified |
Which One Should You Choose?
If you prefer a semi-soft cheese, go for Fontina. But if you enjoy a hard, blue-veined consistency, Stilton might be the better pick. Fontina has a mild, buttery, nutty taste, making it great for various dishes. Meanwhile, Stilton offers a spicy, strong profile, ideal for different meals.
