Gorgonzola Cheese vs Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese
Gorgonzola Cheese is a soft to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals and made from cow milk.
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 Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar is a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) cheese made in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It is crafted using local milk and a unique dry stir technique developed in 1984, which gives it a firm, dense texture. The cheese matures for 6 to 18 months, creating medium, mature, and extra mature varieties with savory, nutty flavors. The production process includes hand-salting the curd for even distribution and controlled maturation for consistent quality. Orkney Cheddar has won multiple awards and is known for its excellent melting properties. It is available in both white and colored forms, with the latter containing a vegetable-based pigment.
What's the Difference Between Gorgonzola Cheese and Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
- Texture: Gorgonzola Cheese (Soft to crumbly), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese (Firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals)
- Aging: Gorgonzola Cheese (2 to 3 months), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese (6 to 18 months)
- Taste: Gorgonzola Cheese (Sweet to savory), Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese (Savory and nutty with varying sharpness depending on aging)
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Gorgonzola Cheese | Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese | |
|---|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Italy | — |
| Specific Origin | Lombardy, Piedmont | Orkney Islands, North Of Scotland |
| Milk Type | Cow's milk | Cow |
| Milk Treatment | Pasteurized | Pasteurized |
| Texture | Soft to crumbly | Firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals |
| Rind | None | None |
| Aging | 2 to 3 months | 6 to 18 months |
| Taste | Sweet to savory | Savory and nutty with varying sharpness depending on aging |
Taste Comparison: Does Gorgonzola Cheese Taste Like Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese brings savory and nutty with varying sharpness depending on aging character. On the nose, Gorgonzola Cheese offers nutty, contrasted with Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese's clean and characteristic of cheddar. More specifically, Gorgonzola Cheese shows dolce: creamy, slightly spicy, delicate. piccante: blue-veined, crumbly, strong, with widespread bluish-green marbling, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese leans toward moderate sharp acid notes, rounded with savory and nutty undertones. Aging plays into this as well. Gorgonzola Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese at 6 to 18 months.
Can You Substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
In most recipes, Gorgonzola Cheese and Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar 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 but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese brings savory and nutty with varying sharpness depending on aging notes.
Which Is Better, Gorgonzola Cheese or Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar 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 but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals profile, Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese suits recipes that want sweet to savory notes, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese fits dishes calling for savory and nutty with varying sharpness depending on aging.
Which is your favorite?
One click, anonymous. See what others chose.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Gorgonzola Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese 6 to 18 months.
Is Gorgonzola Cheese similar to Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Somewhat. They share a cow-milk base but diverge in texture and flavor.
Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
You can, but expect a shift in bite and mouthfeel.
Does Gorgonzola Cheese taste like Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is savory and nutty with varying sharpness depending on aging. Aromas also diverge. Gorgonzola Cheese leans nutty, and Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is closer to clean and characteristic of cheddar.
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 Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese made of?
Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized). It's typically aged 6 to 18 months.
Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese?
It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Gorgonzola Cheese is soft to crumbly, while Orkney Scottish Island Cheddar Cheese is firm but malleable; smooth and closed; extra mature may have a slightly brittle texture with lactate crystals.