Comté Cheese vs Frinault Cheese

Comté Cheese is a smooth; semi-hard cow-milk cheese from France, while Frinault Cheese is soft, soft-ripened and made from cow milk, originating in France.

What Is Comté Cheese?

Comté is a hard cheese from eastern France, made daily from raw cow's milk in village dairies called fruitières. It holds PDO status, has the largest production of any French PDO cheese, and tastes mild, nutty, salty and slightly sweet.

What Is Frinault Cheese?

Frinault is a soft cheese from the countryside around Orléans in France, made with pasteurized whole cow's milk at 50% fat. It comes as a small 120 g disc in three versions: plain, ash-ripened Frinault cendré, and the longer-aged Frinault sec.

What's the Difference Between Comté Cheese and Frinault Cheese?

• Milk treatment: Comté Cheese (Raw), Frinault Cheese (pasteurized)
• Texture: Comté Cheese (Smooth; Semi-hard), Frinault Cheese (soft, soft-ripened)
• Rind: Comté Cheese (Natural), Frinault Cheese (natural)
• Aging: Comté Cheese (4 months to 3 years), Frinault Cheese (about 2 weeks)
• Taste: Comté Cheese (Nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted), Frinault Cheese (spicy)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Comté Cheese Taste Like Frinault Cheese?

Comté Cheese reads as nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted, while Frinault Cheese brings spicy character. More specifically, Comté Cheese shows nutty, creamy, sweet through more meaty and roasted flavors, smooth texture, range of ages from 4 months to 3 years, while Frinault Cheese leans toward fruity and more perfumed in the cendré version, close to olivet cendré. Aging plays into this as well. Comté Cheese at 4 months to 3 years develops a different profile than Frinault Cheese at about 2 weeks.

Can You Substitute Comté Cheese for Frinault Cheese?

In most recipes, Comté Cheese and Frinault Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect smooth; semi-hard bite and body where the recipe calls for soft, soft-ripened. Flavor-wise, Comté Cheese reads as nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted while Frinault Cheese brings spicy notes.

Which Is Better, Comté Cheese or Frinault Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a smooth; semi-hard cheese, go with Comté Cheese. For a soft, soft-ripened profile, Frinault Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Comté Cheese suits recipes that want nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted notes, while Frinault Cheese fits dishes calling for spicy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Comté Cheese the same as Frinault Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Comté Cheese is typically aged 4 months to 3 years, Frinault Cheese about 2 weeks.

Is Comté Cheese similar to Frinault Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Comté Cheese for Frinault Cheese?

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

Does Comté Cheese taste like Frinault Cheese?

Comté Cheese reads as nutty, creamy, sweet to meaty, roasted, while Frinault Cheese is spicy.

What is Comté Cheese made of?

Comté Cheese is made from cow milk (raw). It's typically aged 4 months to 3 years. It originates in France.

What is Frinault Cheese made of?

Frinault Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged about 2 weeks. It originates in France.

Which should I choose, Comté Cheese or Frinault Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Comté Cheese is smooth; semi-hard, while Frinault Cheese is soft, soft-ripened.