Gorgonzola Cheese vs Leicester Cheese

Gorgonzola Cheese is a soft to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Leicester Cheese is firm, dry, crumbly and made from cow milk, originating in United Kingdom.

What Is Gorgonzola Cheese?

Gorgonzola is an Italian blue cheese made from unskimmed cow's milk, named for a town near Milan. It comes in two styles: dolce, mild and buttery, and piccante, sharper with a firm, crumbly body.

What Is Leicester Cheese?

Red Leicester is a crumbly cow's milk cheese from Leicestershire, England, close to Cheddar and coloured orange with annatto. Young wheels taste very mild and slightly sweet; after about six months the cheese picks up a tang.

What's the Difference Between Gorgonzola Cheese and Leicester Cheese?

• Origin: Gorgonzola Cheese (Italy), Leicester Cheese (United Kingdom)
• Texture: Gorgonzola Cheese (Soft to crumbly), Leicester Cheese (firm, dry, crumbly)
• Rind: Gorgonzola Cheese (None), Leicester Cheese (reddish-orange with a powdery mould)
• Aging: Gorgonzola Cheese (2 to 3 months), Leicester Cheese (6 to 12 months)
• Taste: Gorgonzola Cheese (Sweet to savory), Leicester Cheese (slightly sweet, mellow, nutty)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Gorgonzola Cheese Taste Like Leicester Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Leicester Cheese brings slightly sweet, mellow, nutty character. More specifically, Gorgonzola Cheese shows dolce: creamy, slightly spicy, delicate. piccante: blue-veined, crumbly, strong, with widespread bluish-green marbling, while Leicester Cheese leans toward very mild when young, tangier after six months. Aging plays into this as well. Gorgonzola Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Leicester Cheese at 6 to 12 months.

Can You Substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Leicester Cheese?

In most recipes, Gorgonzola Cheese and Leicester Cheese can be swapped with reasonable results. Both are cow-milk cheeses, so the base character carries over. Expect soft to crumbly bite and body where the recipe calls for firm, dry, crumbly. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory while Leicester Cheese brings slightly sweet, mellow, nutty notes.

Which Is Better, Gorgonzola Cheese or Leicester Cheese?

There's no single winner. It depends on your recipe and the profile you want. If you want a soft to crumbly cheese, go with Gorgonzola Cheese. For a firm, dry, crumbly profile, Leicester Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese suits recipes that want sweet to savory notes, while Leicester Cheese fits dishes calling for slightly sweet, mellow, nutty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as Leicester Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Gorgonzola Cheese originates in Italy, while Leicester Cheese comes from United Kingdom. Aging also differs: Gorgonzola Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Leicester Cheese 6 to 12 months.

Is Gorgonzola Cheese similar to Leicester Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Leicester Cheese?

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

Does Gorgonzola Cheese taste like Leicester Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Leicester Cheese is slightly sweet, mellow, nutty.

What is Gorgonzola Cheese made of?

Gorgonzola Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 2 to 3 months. It originates in Italy.

What is Leicester Cheese made of?

Leicester Cheese is made from cow milk. It's typically aged 6 to 12 months. It originates in United Kingdom.

Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or Leicester Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Gorgonzola Cheese is soft to crumbly, while Leicester Cheese is firm, dry, crumbly.