Gorgonzola Cheese vs Toma Piemontese Cheese

Gorgonzola Cheese is a soft to crumbly cow-milk cheese from Italy, while Toma Piemontese Cheese is elastic / consistent and made from cow milk, originating in Italy.

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 Toma Piemontese Cheese?

Toma Piemontese is the Piedmont version of Toma, a cow's milk cheese that runs from soft to semi-hard and melts well. It is the variety that carries protected designation of origin status under EU legislation.

What's the Difference Between Gorgonzola Cheese and Toma Piemontese Cheese?

• Texture: Gorgonzola Cheese (Soft to crumbly), Toma Piemontese Cheese (Elastic / Consistent)
• Rind: Gorgonzola Cheese (None), Toma Piemontese Cheese (natural)
• Aging: Gorgonzola Cheese (2 to 3 months), Toma Piemontese Cheese (15 days (small), 60 days (large))
• Taste: Gorgonzola Cheese (Sweet to savory), Toma Piemontese Cheese (Mild, sweet / Savory, salty)

Side-by-Side Comparison

Taste Comparison: Does Gorgonzola Cheese Taste Like Toma Piemontese Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Toma Piemontese Cheese brings mild, sweet / savory, salty character. On the nose, Gorgonzola Cheese offers nutty, contrasted with Toma Piemontese Cheese's mild odor with milk and cream characteristics / strong and persistent. More specifically, Gorgonzola Cheese shows dolce: creamy, slightly spicy, delicate. piccante: blue-veined, crumbly, strong, with widespread bluish-green marbling, while Toma Piemontese Cheese leans toward dough-white or ivory-white with milk and cream characteristics / yellowish with a savory flavor. Aging plays into this as well. Gorgonzola Cheese at 2 to 3 months develops a different profile than Toma Piemontese Cheese at 15 days (small), 60 days (large).

Can You Substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Toma Piemontese Cheese?

In most recipes, Gorgonzola Cheese and Toma Piemontese 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 elastic / consistent. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory while Toma Piemontese Cheese brings mild, sweet / savory, salty notes.

Which Is Better, Gorgonzola Cheese or Toma Piemontese 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 elastic / consistent profile, Toma Piemontese Cheese is the better fit. Flavor-wise, Gorgonzola Cheese suits recipes that want sweet to savory notes, while Toma Piemontese Cheese fits dishes calling for mild, sweet / savory, salty.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Gorgonzola Cheese the same as Toma Piemontese Cheese?

No, they're distinct cheeses. Aging also differs: Gorgonzola Cheese is typically aged 2 to 3 months, Toma Piemontese Cheese 15 days (small), 60 days (large).

Is Gorgonzola Cheese similar to Toma Piemontese Cheese?

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

Can I substitute Gorgonzola Cheese for Toma Piemontese Cheese?

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

Does Gorgonzola Cheese taste like Toma Piemontese Cheese?

Gorgonzola Cheese reads as sweet to savory, while Toma Piemontese Cheese is mild, sweet / savory, salty. Aromas also diverge. Gorgonzola Cheese leans nutty, and Toma Piemontese Cheese is closer to mild odor with milk and cream characteristics / strong and persistent.

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 Toma Piemontese Cheese made of?

Toma Piemontese Cheese is made from cow milk (pasteurized or whole). It's typically aged 15 days (small), 60 days (large). It originates in Italy.

Which should I choose, Gorgonzola Cheese or Toma Piemontese Cheese?

It depends on the dish. The texture difference is the biggest practical tell. Gorgonzola Cheese is soft to crumbly, while Toma Piemontese Cheese is elastic / consistent.